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- College Free Speech Rankings
  Presented by FIRE and College Pulse, the 2026 College Free Speech Rankings is the largest survey of campus free expression ever performed.
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  The National Speech Index is a new quarterly component of America’s Political Pulse, an ongoing weekly survey that will allow researchers to track shifting free speech sentiment in America over time.
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University of California, Santa Cruz

Public University

Santa Cruz, California

Free Speech Rankings

We use real student experiences, university policies, and speech controversies to annually determine the free speech rankings. This year FIRE ranked 257 U.S. colleges and universities and College Pulse surveyed more than 68,000 students.

Explore College Free Speech Rankings

Campus Speech Climate

Overall Score out of 100 55.80
Overall Ranking out of 257 176
Speech Climate Grade F

Student Perceptions Rankings (out of 257 schools)

Openness 75
Administrative Support 199
Comfort Expressing Ideas 144
Disruptive Conduct 217
Self-Censorship 11
Political Tolerance 231

Campus Speech Policies

Spotlight Rating Yellow

Speech Controversies

Deplatformings 0
Scholars Under Fire 0
Students Under Fire 0
Honor Roll Statements 0

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