Failing Grades for Free Speech
National Survey of Nearly 63,000 Students Ranks 261 Campuses With Average D- Grade
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The rankings were based on responses from 62,997 undergraduates surveyed through College Pulse between Jan. 2 and June 3, 2026; one institution was excluded from the final list because of a warning rating related to its speech policies.
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The University of Chicago ranked first with a score of 81.42 and a B- grade, while New York University ranked last with 44.97 and an F; the top three also included Claremont McKenna College and Georgia Institute of Technology.
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At Yale, 49% of students said they self-censored at least once or twice a month, while 74% said shouting down a speaker was acceptable in at least some circumstances. A protest over farm workers’ rights was also moved off campus after administrators said it was not organized by a registered student group, costing Yale a point.
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FIRE President and CEO Greg Lukianoff said there were signs that students may be less willing than in previous years to tolerate shoutdowns and violence, but he also warned that the overall campus free-speech environment remains grim, saying too many administrators “cancel controversial speakers” or “cave to government pressure.”
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The report’s release followed a year shaped by the assassination of conservative activist and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk during an open political debate at Utah Valley University, an event FIRE said had a profound impact on students nationwide.
Nearly 63,000 college students rated their campuses' free-speech climate, and the results are troubling. The average score of 61.36 earned a D-, according to FIRE's 2027 rankings of 261 institutions. Only 24 schools scored a C or better, while 121 campuses received failing grades — a sign that most American colleges are hostile to open debate.
The University of Chicago led the pack with 81.42 points and a B- grade, while New York University ranked dead last with 44.97 and an F. FIRE President Greg Lukianoff warned that despite some modest improvement, "the overall campus free-speech environment remains grim," with too many administrators canceling controversial speakers or buckling to pressure.
Why So Many Campuses Are Failing
The survey, conducted between January and June 2026 through College Pulse, measured three things: student experiences, institutional policies, and how schools handled speech controversies. FIRE found that students across the country still struggle to discuss hot-button topics. Many report self-censoring when talking about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, abortion, immigration, and transgender rights.
At Yale University, 49% of students said they self-censored at least once or twice monthly. Even more telling: 74% said shouting down a speaker was acceptable in some cases. Yale scored 72 overall — Connecticut's highest-ranked school — yet the state's five surveyed colleges averaged an F, well below the national average.
Administrative Crackdowns Are Common
Administrators aren't just failing to protect controversial speech — many are actively suppressing it. FIRE documented schools canceling speakers, bowing to government pressure, and blocking student events. At Yale, administrators moved a farm workers' rights protest off campus because it wasn't organized by a registered student group, directly costing the school ranking points.
Connecticut, Ohio, and Pennsylvania schools all scored below the national average. Ohio State and three other Ohio universities received failing grades. Indiana University Bloomington ranked 256th out of 261 — sixth from the bottom — with an F that reflects widespread censorship concerns.
A Tragedy That Changed Campus Attitudes
Last year, conservative activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated during an open political debate at Utah Valley University. Kirk founded Turning Point USA and was a lightning rod for controversy. FIRE said this event had a profound ripple effect across American campuses, shaking students' faith in open discourse.
One silver lining: FIRE detected early signs that students may be less tolerant of violent shutdowns than before. Fewer students now say silencing speakers through shouting or disruption is justified. Still, Lukianoff stressed that this modest shift doesn't erase the bigger problem — a campus culture where free speech remains under siege.
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