The 2026 College Free Speech Rankings

The latest edition of the annual College Free Speech Rankings, compiled by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) and College Pulse, reveals a continued deterioration of the free speech climate on American campuses. Based on 68,510 responses in the survey spanning 257 schools across the country, the report indicates that students on all sides of the political spectrum are highly reluctant to engage with ideas they consider controversial. The total of 166 schools received an “F” for their speech environment, while only 11 were graded with a “C” or higher. For the first time, one in three students shows some level of tolerance, even if minimal, for resorting to violence to prevent a campus speech.