The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression's mission is to defend and sustain the individual rights of all Americans to free speech and free thought — the most essential qualities of liberty.
2026 College Free Speech Rankings: America’s colleges get an ‘F’ for poor free speech climate
The largest report of its kind, the rankings draw from more than 68,000 student respondents from 257 colleges and universities and are designed to help parents and prospective students choose the right school.
| Rank | School | Overall | Speech Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Claremont McKenna College Private | 79.90/100 | Green |
| 2 | Purdue University Public | 76.20/100 | Green |
| 3 | University of Chicago Private | 76.10/100 | Green |
| 4 | Michigan Technological University Public | 75.60/100 | Green |
| 5 | University of Colorado, Boulder Public | 74.50/100 | Green |
| 6 | University of North Carolina, Greensboro Public | 74.20/100 | Green |
| 7 | Vanderbilt University Private | 74.00/100 | Green |
| 8 | Appalachian State University Public | 73.20/100 | Green |
| 9 | Eastern Kentucky University Public | 73.10/100 | Green |
| 10 | North Carolina State University Public | 72.60/100 | Green |
What is the Federal Communications Commission, and why does its chairman think the agency can regulate Jimmy Kimmel's jokes? Note: Shortly after recording this episode, Nexstar and Sinclair announced they would return "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" to...
For episode two of Fire w/FIRE, host Ryan J. Downey sits down with Avenged Sevenfold frontman M. Shadows, one of the biggest names in heavy metal and hard rock.
Every other week this summer, FIRE sits down with some of the biggest and up-and-coming artists in heavy metal and punk rock to discuss free expression, artistic freedom, and much more.
FIRE defends and promotes the individual rights of all Americans in our courtrooms, on our campuses, and in our culture.
Freedom of speech is a human right and a fundamental American freedom.
College faculty must be free to ask tough questions and facilitate learning without the threat of institutional censorship.
Due process demands that authorities provide fair, unbiased, and equitable procedures when determining a person’s guilt or innocence.
Freedom of the press protects the ability of journalists and news media to publish information free from official censorship.
Freedom of assembly is the right of individuals to come together to express shared ideas, and is guaranteed by the First Amendment.
Religious liberty is the right to follow the faith of your choice — or to follow no faith at all.
If you face retaliation over protected speech, or if you are a college student or faculty member whose First Amendment rights may have been violated on campus, reach out to FIRE to learn more about how we can protect your rights.
FIRE defends and sustains the individual rights of all Americans to free speech and free thought — the essential qualities of liberty — and carries out this mission through several core services.
FIRE’s signature, core defense program provides free, non-legal assistance to individuals whose fundamental civil liberties are violated.
FIRE strategically litigates in courts nationwide to vindicate the First Amendment and due process rights of everyday Americans.
FIRE’s College Policy Reform team works to proactively and systematically challenge campus policies that violate the free speech rights of students and faculty.
FIRE defends your individual rights at the state and federal level by advocating for rights-protective legislation and against bills that would abridge those rights.
Help us build a new free speech movement and promote a strong culture of free speech by supporting FIRE with a donation today. Please join us in this important work!
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