Table of Contents

2020 Free Speech Rankings Tables

Research & Learn

2020 College Free Speech Rankings

How acceptable would you say it is for students to engage in the following action to protest a campus speaker:

Removing flyers or other advertisements for an upcoming speaker or event on campus
Always Acceptable
6%
Sometimes Acceptable
23%
Rarely Acceptable
34%
Never Acceptable
36%
Shouting down a speaker or trying to prevent them from speaking on campus
Always Acceptable
4%
Sometimes Acceptable
23%
Rarely Acceptable
34%
Never Acceptable
39%
Blocking other students from entering a campus event
Always Acceptable
2%
Sometimes Acceptable
9%
Rarely Acceptable
26%
Never Acceptable
63%
Using violence to stop a speech or event on campus
Always Acceptable
1%
Sometimes Acceptable
3%
Rarely Acceptable
13%
Never Acceptable
82%

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Table 1. Top Colleges Overall for Free Speech

Rank
1
School
University of Chicago
Overall Score
64.19
Liberal Score
63.1
Conservative Score
59.92
Rank
2
School
Kansas State University
Overall Score
57.31
Liberal Score
48.4
Conservative Score
62.46
Rank
3
School
Texas A&M University
Overall Score
56.22
Liberal Score
45.6
Conservative Score
62.83
Rank
4
School
University of California-Los Angeles
Overall Score
55.8
Liberal Score
57.75
Conservative Score
54.64
Rank
5
School
Arizona State University
Overall Score
55.64
Liberal Score
52.15
Conservative Score
58.42
Rank
6
School
University of Virginia
Overall Score
55.62
Liberal Score
55.02
Conservative Score
57.59
Rank
7
School
Duke University
Overall Score
55.36
Liberal Score
54.87
Conservative Score
54.38
Rank
8
School
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Overall Score
55.34
Liberal Score
51.97
Conservative Score
57.25
Rank
9
School
Brown University
Overall Score
55.32
Liberal Score
54.72
Conservative Score
51.62
Rank
10
School
University of Arizona
Overall Score
55.32
Liberal Score
51.93
Conservative Score
55.73
Rank
11
School
University of Tennessee
Overall Score
55.23
Liberal Score
47.35
Conservative Score
59.05
Rank
12
School
Yale University
Overall Score
55.02
Liberal Score
56.42
Conservative Score
51.02
Rank
13
School
University of Missouri
Overall Score
54.59
Liberal Score
47.82
Conservative Score
57.98
Rank
14
School
Rutgers-the State University of New Jersey
Overall Score
54.47
Liberal Score
51.69
Conservative Score
55.2
Rank
15
School
University of Washington
Overall Score
54.17
Liberal Score
52.1
Conservative Score
53.82
Rank
16
School
University of Colorado[10]
Overall Score
54.13
Liberal Score
53.54
Conservative Score
52.37
Rank
17
School
Northwestern University
Overall Score
54.06
Liberal Score
51.77
Conservative Score
48.76
Rank
18
School
Indiana University
Overall Score
54
Liberal Score
50.96
Conservative Score
54.37
Rank
19
School
University of Iowa
Overall Score
53.95
Liberal Score
51.52
Conservative Score
55.21
Rank
20
School
University of Utah
Overall Score
53.92
Liberal Score
51.18
Conservative Score
53.26
Rank
21
School
Columbia University
Overall Score
53.88
Liberal Score
54.09
Conservative Score
46.04
Rank
22
School
University of Oregon
Overall Score
53.83
Liberal Score
53.46
Conservative Score
49.19
Rank
23
School
Washington State University
Overall Score
53.83
Liberal Score
48.13
Conservative Score
55.9
Rank
24
School
University of California-Davis
Overall Score
53.7
Liberal Score
53.36
Conservative Score
50.09
Rank
25
School
Pennsylvania State University
Overall Score
53.45
Liberal Score
52.93
Conservative Score
54.53
Rank
26
School
University of Arkansas
Overall Score
53.42
Liberal Score
45.7
Conservative Score
57.68
Rank
27
School
University of Minnesota
Overall Score
53.42
Liberal Score
52.12
Conservative Score
52.35
Rank
28
School
University of California-Berkeley
Overall Score
53.31
Liberal Score
52.81
Conservative Score
51.04
Rank
29
School
Princeton University
Overall Score
53.27
Liberal Score
52.46
Conservative Score
50.25
Rank
30
School
Ohio State University
Overall Score
53.15
Liberal Score
52.43
Conservative Score
52.97
Rank
31
School
University of Nebraska
Overall Score
52.99
Liberal Score
46.97
Conservative Score
54.95
Rank
32
School
University of Pennsylvania
Overall Score
52.78
Liberal Score
52.04
Conservative Score
53.07
Rank
33
School
University of Texas at Dallas
Overall Score
52.74
Liberal Score
51.08
Conservative Score
52.48
Rank
34
School
University of Michigan
Overall Score
52.66
Liberal Score
52.96
Conservative Score
48.66
Rank
35
School
Stanford University
Overall Score
52.44
Liberal Score
53.5
Conservative Score
51.64
Rank
36
School
Clemson University
Overall Score
52.25
Liberal Score
43.75
Conservative Score
56.11
Rank
37
School
University of North Carolina
Overall Score
52.11
Liberal Score
53.91
Conservative Score
52.38
Rank
38
School
University of Oklahoma
Overall Score
51.43
Liberal Score
47.64
Conservative Score
53.46
Rank
39
School
University of Alabama
Overall Score
51.29
Liberal Score
41.18
Conservative Score
58.58
Rank
40
School
Cornell University
Overall Score
51.2
Liberal Score
51.32
Conservative Score
50.88
Rank
41
School
University of Wisconsin
Overall Score
50.95
Liberal Score
51.42
Conservative Score
52.15
Rank
42
School
University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
Overall Score
50.74
Liberal Score
49.65
Conservative Score
51.45
Rank
43
School
University of Georgia
Overall Score
50.4
Liberal Score
44.2
Conservative Score
51.23
Rank
44
School
University of Illinois at Chicago
Overall Score
50.33
Liberal Score
46.83
Conservative Score
52.07
Rank
45
School
University of South Carolina
Overall Score
49.82
Liberal Score
46
Conservative Score
51.29
Rank
46
School
Harvard University
Overall Score
49.61
Liberal Score
51.68
Conservative Score
48.2
Rank
47
School
Wake Forest University
Overall Score
49.44
Liberal Score
43.34
Conservative Score
48.15
Rank
48
School
Georgetown University
Overall Score
49.26
Liberal Score
46.91
Conservative Score
48.34
Rank
49
School
Brigham Young University
Overall Score
49.23
Liberal Score
35.31
Conservative Score
59.23
Rank
50
School
Oklahoma State University
Overall Score
48.96
Liberal Score
39.72
Conservative Score
52.57
Rank
51
School
Syracuse University
Overall Score
48.92
Liberal Score
46.58
Conservative Score
50.17
Rank
52
School
Dartmouth College
Overall Score
48.57
Liberal Score
48.21
Conservative Score
47.74
Rank
53
School
Louisiana State University
Overall Score
47.85
Liberal Score
40.58
Conservative Score
50.24
Rank
54
School
University of Texas at Austin
Overall Score
44.54
Liberal Score
44.98
Conservative Score
46.58
Rank
55
School
DePauw University
Overall Score
44.18
Liberal Score
41.13
Conservative Score
44.89

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Table 2. Top 10 Colleges and FIRE and Chicago Statement Adoption

Rank
1
School
University of Chicago
Overall Score
64.19
Undergrad. Enrollment
6298
FIRE Rating
Green
Adopted Chicago Statement
Yes
Rank
2
School
Kansas State University
Overall Score
57.31
Undergrad. Enrollment
18,171
FIRE Rating
Green
Adopted Chicago Statement
Yes
Rank
3
School
Texas A&M University
Overall Score
56.22
Undergrad. Enrollment
52,568
FIRE Rating
Green
Adopted Chicago Statement
No
Rank
4
School
University of California-Los Angeles
Overall Score
55.8
Undergrad. Enrollment
30,994
FIRE Rating
Green
Adopted Chicago Statement
No
Rank
5
School
Arizona State University
Overall Score
55.64
Undergrad. Enrollment
42,181
FIRE Rating
Green
Adopted Chicago Statement
Yes
Rank
6
School
University of Virginia
Overall Score
55.62
Undergrad. Enrollment
16,207
FIRE Rating
Green
Adopted Chicago Statement
No
Rank
7
School
Duke University
Overall Score
55.36
Undergrad. Enrollment
6552
FIRE Rating
Green
Adopted Chicago Statement
No
Rank
8
School
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Overall Score
55.34
Undergrad. Enrollment
27,120
FIRE Rating
Yellow
Adopted Chicago Statement
No
Rank
9
School
Brown University
Overall Score
55.32
Undergrad. Enrollment
6,752
FIRE Rating
Yellow
Adopted Chicago Statement
No
Rank
10
School
University of Arizona
Overall Score
55.32
Undergrad. Enrollment
33,428
FIRE Rating
Green
Adopted Chicago Statement
Yes

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Table 3. Bottom 10 Colleges and FIRE and Chicago Statement Adoption

Rank
55
School
DePauw University
Overall Score
44.18
Undergrad. Enrollment
2,137
FIRE Rating
Red
Adopted Chicago Statement
No
Rank
54
School
University of Texas at Austin
Overall Score
44.54
Undergrad. Enrollment
39,965
FIRE Rating
Red
Adopted Chicago Statement
No
Rank
53
School
Louisiana State University
Overall Score
47.85
Undergrad. Enrollment
23,331
FIRE Rating
Red
Adopted Chicago Statement
Yes
Rank
52
School
Dartmouth College
Overall Score
48.57
Undergrad. Enrollment
4,315
FIRE Rating
Red
Adopted Chicago Statement
No
Rank
51
School
Syracuse University
Overall Score
48.92
Undergrad. Enrollment
14,788
FIRE Rating
Yellow
Adopted Chicago Statement
No
Rank
50
School
Oklahoma State University
Overall Score
48.96
Undergrad. Enrollment
20,743
FIRE Rating
Red
Adopted Chicago Statement
No
Rank
49
School
Brigham Young University
Overall Score
49.23
Undergrad. Enrollment
31,233
FIRE Rating
Warning
Adopted Chicago Statement
No
Rank
48
School
Georgetown University
Overall Score
49.26
Undergrad. Enrollment
7,128
FIRE Rating
Red
Adopted Chicago Statement
Yes
Rank
47
School
Wake Forest University
Overall Score
49.44
Undergrad. Enrollment
5,101
FIRE Rating
Yellow
Adopted Chicago Statement
No
Rank
46
School
Harvard University
Overall Score
49.61
Undergrad. Enrollment
7,532
FIRE Rating
Red
Adopted Chicago Statement
No

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Table 4. Top 10 Colleges for Free Speech for Liberal Students

Rank
1
School
University of Chicago
Liberal Score
63.1
Percent Liberal
76%
Undergrad. Enrollment
6,298
FIRE Rating
Green
Adopted Chicago Statement
Yes
Rank
2
School
University of California-Los Angeles
Liberal Score
57.75
Percent Liberal
61%
Undergrad. Enrollment
30,994
FIRE Rating
Green
Adopted Chicago Statement
No
Rank
3
School
Yale University
Liberal Score
56.42
Percent Liberal
69%
Undergrad. Enrollment
5,742
FIRE Rating
Yellow
Adopted Chicago Statement
No
Rank
4
School
University of Virginia
Liberal Score
55.02
Percent Liberal
66%
Undergrad. Enrollment
16,207
FIRE Rating
Green
Adopted Chicago Statement
No
Rank
5
School
Duke University
Liberal Score
54.87
Percent Liberal
67%
Undergrad. Enrollment
6,552
FIRE Rating
Green
Adopted Chicago Statement
No
Rank
6
School
Brown University
Liberal Score
54.72
Percent Liberal
82%
Undergrad. Enrollment
6,670
FIRE Rating
Yellow
Adopted Chicago Statement
No
Rank
7
School
Columbia University
Liberal Score
54.09
Percent Liberal
74%
Undergrad. Enrollment
8,170
FIRE Rating
Yellow
Adopted Chicago Statement
No
Rank
8
School
University of North Carolina
Liberal Score
53.91
Percent Liberal
64%
Undergrad. Enrollment
18,658
FIRE Rating
Green
Adopted Chicago Statement
Yes
Rank
9
School
University of Colorado
Liberal Score
53.54
Percent Liberal
58%
Undergrad. Enrollment
29,753
FIRE Rating
Yellow
Adopted Chicago Statement
Yes
Rank
10
School
Stanford University
Liberal Score
53.5
Percent Liberal
68%
Undergrad. Enrollment
7,083
FIRE Rating
Yellow
Adopted Chicago Statement
No

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Table 5. Bottom 10 Colleges for Free Speech for Liberal Students

Rank
55
School
Brigham Young University
Score
35.31
Percent Liberal
26%
Undergrad. Enrollment
31,233
FIRE Rating
Warning
Adopted Chicago Statement
No
Rank
54
School
Oklahoma State University
Score
39.72
Percent Liberal
28%
Undergrad. Enrollment
20,743
FIRE Rating
Red
Adopted Chicago Statement
No
Rank
53
School
Louisiana State University
Score
40.58
Percent Liberal
39%
Undergrad. Enrollment
23,331
FIRE Rating
Red
Adopted Chicago Statement
Yes
Rank
52
School
DePauw University
Score
41.13
Percent Liberal
57%
Undergrad. Enrollment
2,137
FIRE Rating
Red
Adopted Chicago Statement
No
Rank
51
School
University of Alabama
Score
41.18
Percent Liberal
33%
Undergrad. Enrollment
32,387
FIRE Rating
Yellow
Adopted Chicago Statement
Yes
Rank
50
School
Wake Forest University
Score
43.34
Percent Liberal
50%
Undergrad. Enrollment
5,101
FIRE Rating
Yellow
Adopted Chicago Statement
No
Rank
49
School
Clemson University
Score
43.75
Percent Liberal
31%
Undergrad. Enrollment
19,172
FIRE Rating
Red
Adopted Chicago Statement
No
Rank
48
School
University of Georgia
Score
44.2
Percent Liberal
47%
Undergrad. Enrollment
28,740
FIRE Rating
Yellow
Adopted Chicago Statement
No
Rank
47
School
University of Texas at Austin
Score
44.98
Percent Liberal
62%
Undergrad. Enrollment
39,965
FIRE Rating
Red
Adopted Chicago Statement
No
Rank
46
School
Texas A&M University
Score
45.6
Percent Liberal
32%
Undergrad. Enrollment
22,763
FIRE Rating
Yellow
Adopted Chicago Statement
No

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Table 6. Top 10 Colleges for Free Speech for Conservative Students

Rank
1
School
Texas A&M University
Score
62.83
Percent Conservative
43%
Undergrad. Enrollment
52,568
FIRE Rating
Green
Adopted Chicago Statement
Yes
Rank
2
School
Kansas State University
Score
62.46
Percent Conservative
43%
Undergrad. Enrollment
18,171
FIRE Rating
Green
Adopted Chicago Statement
No
Rank
3
School
University of Chicago
Score
59.92
Percent Conservative
11%
Undergrad. Enrollment
6,298
FIRE Rating
Green
Adopted Chicago Statement
Yes
Rank
4
School
Brigham Young University
Score
59.23
Percent Conservative
58%
Undergrad. Enrollment
31,233
FIRE Rating
Warning
Adopted Chicago Statement
No
Rank
5
School
University of Tennessee
Score
59.05
Percent Conservative
40%
Undergrad. Enrollment
22,151
FIRE Rating
Green
Adopted Chicago Statement
No
Rank
6
School
University of Alabama
Score
58.58
Percent Conservative
41%
Undergrad. Enrollment
32,387
FIRE Rating
Yellow
Adopted Chicago Statement
Yes
Rank
7
School
Arizona State University
Score
58.42
Percent Conservative
20%
Undergrad. Enrollment
42,181
FIRE Rating
Green
Adopted Chicago Statement
Yes
Rank
8
School
University of Missouri
Score
57.98
Percent Conservative
37%
Undergrad. Enrollment
23,455
FIRE Rating
Yellow
Adopted Chicago Statement
Yes
Rank
9
School
University of Arkansas
Score
57.68
Percent Conservative
39%
Undergrad. Enrollment
22,763
FIRE Rating
Yellow
Adopted Chicago Statement
No
Rank
10
School
University of Virginia
Score
57.46
Percent Conservative
18%
Undergrad. Enrollment
27,120
FIRE Rating
Yellow
Adopted Chicago Statement
No

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Table 7. Bottom 10 Colleges for Free Speech for Conservative Students

Rank
55
School
DePauw University
Score
44.89
Percent Conservative
22%
Undergrad. Enrollment
2,137
FIRE Rating
Red
Adopted Chicago Statement
No
Rank
54
School
Columbia University
Score
46.04
Percent Conservative
9%
Undergrad. Enrollment
8,170
FIRE Rating
Yellow
Adopted Chicago Statement
Yes
Rank
53
School
University of Texas at Austin
Score
46.58
Percent Conservative
21%
Undergrad. Enrollment
39,965
FIRE Rating
Red
Adopted Chicago Statement
No
Rank
52
School
Dartmouth College
Score
47.74
Percent Conservative
14%
Undergrad. Enrollment
4,315
FIRE Rating
Yellow
Adopted Chicago Statement
No
Rank
51
School
Harvard University
Score
48.20
Percent Conservative
15%
Undergrad. Enrollment
7,532
FIRE Rating
Red
Adopted Chicago Statement
No
Rank
50
School
Georgetown University
Score
48.34
Percent Conservative
18%
Undergrad. Enrollment
7,128
FIRE Rating
Red
Adopted Chicago Statement
Yes
Rank
49
School
Wake Forest University
Score
48.15
Percent Conservative
31%
Undergrad. Enrollment
5,101
FIRE Rating
Yellow
Adopted Chicago Statement
No
Rank
48
School
University of Michigan
Score
48.66
Percent Conservative
18%
Undergrad. Enrollment
29,550
FIRE Rating
Yellow
Adopted Chicago Statement
No
Rank
47
School
Northwestern University
Score
48.76
Percent Conservative
10%
Undergrad. Enrollment
8,489
FIRE Rating
Yellow
Adopted Chicago Statement
No
Rank
46
School
University of Oregon
Score
49.19
Percent Conservative
11%
Undergrad. Enrollment
19,163
FIRE Rating
Yellow
Adopted Chicago Statement
No

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