FIRE Releases College Free Speech Rankings

News Release from the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, Sept, 2025

If America's college campuses were graded on free speech, what score would they get?

The results are in, and most of them got an F.

Today, FIRE released the College Free Speech Rankings, the largest survey ever conducted on free expression at America's colleges.

Based on almost 70,000 student survey responses, along with data on administrative support for expressive rights during campus controversies, this year's rankings compare 257 colleges and universities on their overall climate for free expression.

The best colleges for free speech:

Claremont McKenna College
Purdue University
University of Chicago
Michigan Technological University
University of Colorado, Boulder

The worst colleges for free speech:

Northeastern University
University of Washington
Indiana University
Columbia University
Barnard College

Here are a few more key findings:

166 of the 257 schools surveyed got an F for their speech climate, while only 11 schools received a speech climate grade of C or higher.

A record 1 out of 3 students now believe violence is acceptable, at least in rare cases, to stop a campus speech.

For the first time ever, a majority of students oppose their school allowing any of the 6 hypothetical controversial speakers they were asked about — 3 conservative and 3 liberal.

SEE THE FULL RANKINGS

Hawaii

One Hawaii school is ranked in the 2026 College Free Speech Rankings. The University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa ranks 115 overall and earns an F speech-climate grade. 

The university has not adopted the pro-free speech Chicago Statement or a statement on institutional neutrality. It holds a “yellow light” rating in FIRE’s Spotlight database, meaning at least one written policy threatens student expression.

UH Mānoa could improve its climate by reforming restrictive policies and making a stronger commitment to expressive rights.

OVERVIEW:

• Population 1,446,146
• Median Household Income $95,322
• % Of Adults With HS Degree 93.0%
• % of Adults with BA Or Higher 35.0%
• Total Enrollment (Ug + Grad) 58,841
• # Public, 4-year 4
• # Private, Non-Profit 4
• # Schools Ranked 1

Highlights

• 41% of students say they have self-censored on campus at least once or twice a month.
• 62% of students say shouting down a speaker to prevent them from speaking on campus is acceptable, at least in rare cases.
• 27% of students say using violence to stop someone from speaking on campus is acceptable, at least in rare cases.
• Across Hawaii, there are roughly 2.83 liberal students for every one conservative student.

Average Score -- 58.0/100 -- Trending Down -1.6 from 2024

Average Rank -- 115/257 -- Trending Down 73 from 2024

Average Grade -- F -- Trending Down

Speech Controversies --0 --Trending Neutral in 2025