The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression released its 2027 college free speech rankings Wednesday. The University rose to No. 9 from last year's No. 21 ranking. Still, the University was not able to fully recover its No. 1 ranking from the 2025 rankings.
The University’s single-year tumble of 21 spots a year ago is not unique for FIRE’s rankings. This year, the University of California, Davis rose over 200 spots to the No. 24 position — nearly traversing the entire list of 261 institutions. On the other side of the fluctuation, Texas State University fell 147 spots to No. 259.
Other institutions are more fixed in their positions. At the top of the list, the University of Chicago is a staple, having been No. 1 three times in seven years, FIRE noted in the statement that accompanied the ranking release.
The ranking also gave institutions “grades” that corresponded with a numerical score out of 100. The University of Virginia received a grade of C and a score of 76. Only two institutions received grades higher than a C+ — the University of Chicago and Claremont McKenna College received B- grades with scores of 81 and 80, respectively.
At the bottom was New York University with an overall grade of F and a score of 45 out of 100. The University of Washington and Texas State University also had scores under 50.
FIRE’s methodology relies on three scoring categories — “Student Perceptions,” “Campus Speech Policies” and “Speech Controversies.” The “Student Perceptions” category is derived from a survey completed by students at all ranked institutions. The survey includes six components, including “Self-Censorship,” “Political Tolerance” and “Administrative Support.” For the recent ranking, 320 U.Va. students were surveyed — 1.2 percent of the student body.
The “Campus Speech Policies” category rewards institutions for adopting certain commitments to protect free speech, including the Chicago Statement on institutional neutrality. The Chicago Statement, promulgated in 2015, was the result of the University of Chicago’s Committee on Freedom of Expression and asserted that institutions of higher learning must promote and protect lively and free debate. The University of Virginia adopted the Chicago Statement in 2021 — making it the 81st institution to do so, according to FIRE.
The “Speech Controversies” score relies on FIRE’s database of “Campus Deplatformings,” “Scholars under Fire” and “Students under Fire.” According to the methodology, attempts to obstruct someone’s speech or expression on a campus constitute a “Campus Deplatforming.” FIRE’s methodology also explains that scholars and students are determined to be “under Fire” when their institution or the government attempts to punish or restrict their protected speech and relevant scholarly inquiry. Each individual “Speech Controversy” can add as many as two points to an institution’s yearly score if a school “protect[s] speech during a controversy” or remove as many as five points for restricting speech during a controversy.
The debate over free speech on college campuses has grown to be highly polarized. The federal government has threatened revocation of funding against institutions over speech and demonstrations it finds inflammatory — contributing to what some students are calling a “chilling effect” on campuses. Meanwhile, the same administration has lamented a “lack of ideological diversity” at colleges and universities — the Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education offered to the University by the Trump administration in October asked that the University maintain a “vibrant marketplace” of ideas and differing viewpoints.
For a complete look at the 2027 FIRE rankings, visit FIRE’s website.
Nicolas Biernacki is a staff writer on the news desk. He is a fourth-year College student studying government from Ashburn, Va.
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