2027 College Free Speech Rankings: Kirk murder adds another difficult topic to dismal climate for student expression

Key Points:

• The University of Chicago ranks highest for free speech on campus, while Texas State University, the University of Washington, and New York University are among the lowest-ranked institutions, with 121 out of 261 schools receiving an “F” grade for their speech climate.
• The assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in 2025 led to increased censorship and reluctance among students to discuss related topics, negatively impacting campus free speech and resulting in some schools falling in the rankings due to punitive actions against faculty and student groups connected to Kirk.
• Despite a slight decline in student support for disruptive tactics like shouting down speakers or using violence, the overall free speech environment remains poor, with many administrators restricting controversial speakers and limiting academic freedom.
• Harvard University and the University of California, Davis showed significant improvement in free speech protections, while several low-ranked schools have restrictive policies and reported multiple incidents of event cancellations and faculty terminations linked to off-campus speech.
• FIRE emphasizes the need for college administrations to protect free speech rights more robustly and encourages reforms to foster an environment where students feel safe expressing diverse and controversial viewpoints.