We use real student experiences, university policies, and speech controversies to annually determine the free speech rankings. This year FIRE and College Pulse surveyed nearly 63,000 students and ranked 261 U.S. colleges and universities.
The assassination of Charlie Kirk generated a wave of censorship at America's colleges over the past year, further contributing to a climate in which too many students fear expressing themselves on campus.
"Rather than view the tragedy as a warning about the extreme results of partisanship and inability to peacefully engage in dialogue, many college admins took it as an invitation to double down on censorship," said FIRE Chief Researcher Sean Stevens.
Check out the most comprehensive report on free speech on college campuses as FIRE analyzes national and campus-based free speech trends across 261 colleges and universities.
We use real student experiences, university policies, and speech controversies to annually determine the free speech rankings. Learn how the process works.
New overall scores offer an apples-to-apples comparison to previous years, allowing schools to track their progress.
FIRE's speech code reports survey speech policies at America's largest and most prestigious colleges and universities, providing readers with key data on individual schools and national trends.
The largest report of its kind, the rankings draw from nearly 63,000 student respondents from 261 colleges and universities and are designed to help parents and prospective students choose the right school.
| Rank | School | Overall | Speech Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Chicago Private | 81.42/100 | Green |
| 2 | Claremont McKenna College Private | 80.13/100 | Green |
| 3 | Georgia Institute of Technology Public | 78.98/100 | Green |
| 4 | Michigan Technological University Public | 78.72/100 | Green |
| 5 | Vanderbilt University Private | 77.09/100 | Green |
| 6 | Dartmouth College Private | 76.96/100 | Green |
| 7 | Purdue University Public | 76.90/100 | Green |
| 8 | Appalachian State University Public | 76.40/100 | Green |
| 9 | University of Virginia Public | 75.98/100 | Green |
| 10 | George Mason University Public | 75.97/100 | Green |
Read our deep dives into the free speech climates on college campuses from last year.
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