Harvard and Columbia Rank Lowest for Free Speech in 2025 College Survey

Annual report by FIRE highlights ongoing challenges at top institutions as protests and administrative actions impact campus speech climates.

Harvard University ranks last for free speech for the second consecutive year, joined by Columbia University at the bottom.
The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) surveyed over 58,000 students across 250 colleges.
Protests related to the Israel-Hamas war significantly influenced the rankings, with many incidents of speech suppression reported.
Top-ranked universities for free speech include the University of Virginia, Michigan Technological University, and Florida State University.
The report underscores a growing discomfort among students in discussing controversial topics like the Israel-Hamas conflict and abortion.