Yes, reviews on Rate My Professors can be removed if they violate posting rules; opinions that follow the rules usually remain.
Many instructors ask this after a harsh comment appears on their page. There is a path to removal, but it applies only when a rating breaks site rules. This guide lays out what qualifies, the exact steps to report a rating, what outcome to expect, and practical ways to steady your profile.
What Removal Looks Like On Rate My Professors
Moderators read every submission and compare it against posted rules. They delete content that crosses the line and keep content that expresses a student’s view about a class experience. The site does not edit text to make it comply; it either stays up or comes down based on the rules.
| Scenario | Policy Basis | Likely Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Slurs, profanity, or name-calling | Prohibited content list | Removed after review |
| Contact details or doxxing | Identifiable information rule | Removed after review |
| Claims of crimes or illegal acts | Prohibited accusations | Removed after review |
| Comments on looks, age, or dress | Appearance ban | Removed after review |
| Dogpiling from the same course | One-per-course limit | Extras removed; account lock possible |
| Low score with class-based remarks | Allowed opinion | Usually stays |
| “False” claim with no rule break | Site won’t arbitrate facts | Usually stays |
Getting A Rating Taken Down On Rate My Professors: Rules That Matter
Success hinges on pointing to the exact rule that the text breaks. A short, targeted report beats a long rebuttal. Use the flag on the comment, include a one-to-two sentence explanation, and quote the offending phrase. Here is a step-by-step path that matches how moderators work.
Flagging Steps That Work
- Open the rating and click the “report this rating” link under the comment.
- Choose the reason that matches the rule. If a dropdown is missing, write the rule name in the note.
- Paste the exact sentence or fragment that breaks the rule.
- Keep the note short and neutral. Two lines are enough.
- Submit once. If the flag option disappears later, it means the comment was already reviewed.
What Counts As A Rule Break
The rule set bans hate speech, harassment, vulgarity, and remarks about appearance. It bars phone numbers, emails, and other details that let strangers reach a person off campus. It also rejects claims about private life, sex life, or crimes, and it blocks links and non-English comments except French at select schools. Reviews should be written by real students for a class they took, and only once per course.
What Usually Stays Up
The site avoids judging factual disputes. If a comment gives a view on workload, grading style, or classroom behavior and it does not break a rule, it will likely remain even if a professor says the claim is wrong. The platform explains that it is not suited to weigh evidence and will not negotiate outcomes case by case.
How To Steady Your Page While You Wait
A calm reply helps readers more than a back-and-forth. Create a professor account and write short notes under ratings when context would help a future student. Keep it about the class, not the reviewer. Invite a broad sample of students to share feedback at term’s end so one off remarks do not define the page.
Proof You’ll Want For Fast Decisions
When a post shares contact details, screenshots help moderators act fast. When a post names a crime or uses slurs, quote the line. When a pile of ratings lands in a day for one class, list the dates and the course code. Specifics speed the review.
Expectations: Timing, Replies, And Outcomes
Reports are sent to human reviewers. Deletions happen when the text clearly fits a banned category. Neutral replies by the professor sit under the rating and stay within the same speech rules as students. A report does not hide the rating by default; the page changes only after a moderator decides.
Links To The Rules And The Flag Tool
Review the full rule set on the site’s guidelines. When you’re ready to file a report, use the page linked under report a comment. Both pages outline how moderators treat low scores, repeat posts, and banned topics.
Common Mistakes That Sink A Report
Arguing Feelings Instead Of Rules
“This is unfair” rarely leads to removal. A rule citation does.
Submitting The Same Flag Over And Over
After a re-review, the site can restore a rating and disable the flag button. Resubmitting the same note clogs the queue and does not change the result.
Quoting The Entire Comment
Moderators read faster when you paste the one line that crosses the boundary. Keep it tight.
What You Can And Can’t Delete
You can’t purge your profile or wipe past ratings in bulk. The platform keeps professor pages that were created by users. You can, though, ask for specific posts to be removed if they break the rules, reply to comments, and encourage fresh, class-based feedback to balance the page.
Second Table: Paths And Expectations
| Path | What You Need | What Happens |
|---|---|---|
| Flag a rating | Quote, rule name, link to comment | Moderators review and remove if rule break |
| Email the help team | Links to multiple posts, signs of dogpiling | Team reviews pattern; extras can be removed |
| Public reply | Professor account, short note about course | Context sits under rating and informs readers |
| Legal route | Lawyer, clear evidence, court filing | Site cites immunity for user posts; removal rare |
Why Opinions Without Rule Breaks Stay Online
The platform treats class reviews as protected user speech. The rule page explains that the site is shielded from liability for user posts under a federal law. Because of that, the team leans on the posted rules rather than referee every dispute over facts. That can feel harsh after a tough rating, but it also blocks pressure to silence normal student feedback.
Template You Can Use When Flagging
Copy, paste, and edit this so your report is crisp and complete:
“Rule broken: Identifiable information. The comment includes my email address in the second line: ‘Reach me at ___.’ Please remove under the identifiable information rule.”
Swap in the exact rule and the exact line. Short and specific wins.
Balanced Response Script For Your Page
Not every remark calls for a reply. When one does, a short note like this keeps the tone steady:
“Thanks for the note. The course now uses weekly quizzes and a posted rubric for labs. Office hours run Tue/Thu. Full materials sit in the LMS.”
When Patterns Point To Abuse
Spam bursts sometimes hit a page for a single course. The rules limit one rating per student per course. If you see a wave of short, near-duplicate posts, gather links and dates and write a short email to the team. Ask for a review for “spamming or dogpiling” under the rule. A batch cleanup can follow if the pattern fits.
Frequently Raised Edge Cases
Grade Mentions
The site allows students to say what grade they earned. A naked grade is not a rule break by itself.
Course Policy Disputes
If a comment claims a strict attendance policy, that reads as a view about class rules. It stays unless it crosses into a banned area.
Third-Party Accusations
Reviews should reflect the rater’s own class experience. Hearsay and replies to other reviews can be removed.
What If The Flag Button Is Missing
Two things cause that: the post was already reviewed, or the account is locked due to repeated flags. When a review is re-checked and restored, the flag icon can vanish for that post. That signal simply means the team already looked and did not find a rule break.
Evidence Pack That Speeds A Decision
- Screenshots with the offending line highlighted.
- Direct links to each rating, not just the profile.
- Dates and course codes where a surge appears.
- Short notes that map each quote to a rule.
Reply Strategies That Win Reader Trust
Keep replies short, factual, and class-centered. Post updates that fix the pain point raised by students. Invite office hour times. Link to the public syllabus if your school allows public links. Readers look for cues that the class is structured and fair.
How The One-Per-Course Limit Works
The rules allow one rating per student per course. That cap aims to prevent brigading. A stream of near-identical posts tied to the same class can be trimmed once the team confirms spamming or dogpiling. If you see that pattern, gather the links and write to the help inbox listed in the rules page.
Quick Checklist Before You Hit “Report”
- Does the text include slurs, threats, or sexual remarks?
- Does it include contact details or links?
- Does it talk about looks, age, or dress?
- Does it claim crimes or private life details?
- Is the post part of a same-day pile from one course?
Bottom Line For Faculty Profiles
Removal is possible, but only when the text breaks site rules. A precise flag with the right rule, a calm reply, and a steady stream of class-based feedback does more for readers than a long dispute. Follow the rules, keep notes, and build the record you want students to see.