Overall Score The Overall Score is made up of 12 parts. Six measure how students feel about free speech on campus. Three look at school speech policies. The last three look at how people on campus respond during speech controversies. A higher score reflects a better free speech climate.
52.8 Treanding Up
/ 100
Overall Rank The Overall Rank shows where a school stands among the 261 institutions evaluated, based on its Overall Score.
246 Treanding Up
/ 261
Overall grade The Grade is a letter based on the college's rounded Overall Score. Scores fall into standard grade ranges from A (93-100) to F (below 60).
F
Speech Controversies Controversies are campus incidents where a student, professor, or speaker faces backlash or pressure for speech that's protected by the First Amendment or academic freedom.
6
Overview
Columbia University ranks 246 out of 261 schools in the 2027 College Free Speech Rankings with a score of 53 and an F speech climate grade. It received a penalty for placing a student group on interim suspension for associating with a banned organization.Columbia ranks in the top 25 for “Political Tolerance,” showing greater student willingness to host controversial speakers. It lands in the bottom 25 for “Administrative Support,” meaning students doubt officials will defend speech, and in the bottom 50 for “Disruptive Conduct,” signaling student acceptance of non-peaceful protest.
Columbia retains a “yellow light” Spotlight rating and has adopted the pro-free speech Chicago Statement. It should revise student policies to earn a “green light” Spotlight rating and adopt a statement on institutional neutrality. Administrators should clearly and forcefully defend free speech whenever censorship occurs or is demanded.
Highlights
54% of students say they have self-censored on campus at least once or twice a month.
82% of students say shouting down a speaker to prevent them from speaking on campus is acceptable, at least in rare cases.
36% of students say using violence to stop someone from speaking on campus is acceptable, at least in rare cases.
5.52:1
There are roughly 5.52 liberal students for every one conservative student.
Spotlight Rating
Yellow
Score over time
Student Voices
international students can't express any opinion
I do not feel that I can express my views about the Israel - Palestine conflict due to the new rules implemented by my university and the policies preventing student protests.
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Score Deep Dive
Inside the Score
Explore the key factors shaping this score. This section provides a detailed look at the data, policies, and student experiences that influence free speech on campus.
Overall Score The Overall Score is made up of 12 parts. Six measure how students feel about free speech on campus. Three look at school speech policies. The last three look at how people on campus respond during speech controversies. A higher score reflects a better free speech climate.
52.8 Treanding Up
/ 100
This score out of 100 reflects how open and supportive a campus is for free speech, based on student surveys, campus policies, and recent speech-related controversies.
Overall Rank The Overall Rank shows where a school stands among the 261 institutions evaluated, based on its Overall Score.
246 Treanding Up
/ 261
A comparison of 261 U.S. colleges and universities on free speech, based on overall scores from student surveys, campus policies, and speech-related controversies.
Overall grade The Grade is a letter based on the college's rounded Overall Score. Scores fall into standard grade ranges from A (93-100) to F (below 60).
F
A school’s speech climate, shown as a letter grade (A–F), based on its overall score from student surveys, campus policies, and speech-related controversies.
Speech Controversies Controversies are campus incidents where a student, professor, or speaker faces backlash or pressure for speech that's protected by the First Amendment or academic freedom.
6
Reflect recent incidents where a speaker, professor, student, or student group faced efforts to punish, disinvite, or silence them for expressing a controversial view.
Chicago Statement for Free Speech
Adopted
Institutional Neutrality
Not Adopted
Spotlight Rating
Yellow
Comfort Expressing Ideas Comfort Expressing Ideas measures how comfortable students feel sharing their views on controversial topics in different campus settings. The grade falls into standard grade ranges from A (93-100) to F (below 60).
D-
Disruptive Conduct Disruptive Conduct measures how acceptable students think it is to disrupt a campus speaker. The grade falls into standard grade ranges from A (93-100) to F (below 60).
C
Openness Openness measures how many controversial topics students feel they can openly discuss on campus. The grade falls into standard grade ranges from A (93-100) to F (below 60).
C+
Self-Censorship Self-Censorship measures how often students hold back their views on campus. The grade falls into standard grade ranges from A (93–100) to F (below 60).
D
Administrative Support Administrative Support measures how clearly students think their school supports free speech and how likely the administration is to defend a speaker's rights during a controversy. The grade falls into standard grade ranges from A (93-100) to F (below 60).
F
Political Tolerance Political Tolerance measures how willing students are to allow controversial speakers — on both the left and right — to speak on campus, even if they disagree with their views. The grade falls into standard grade ranges from A (93-100) to F (below 60).
F
Speech Controversies
Speech Controversies: When Free Expression Is Challenged
Explore notable incidents where free speech was tested on campus. From speaker deplatformings to administrative actions, these events highlight the challenges — and consequences — of restricting expression.
Total Controversies Controversies are campus incidents where a student, professor, or speaker faces backlash or pressure for speech that's protected by the First Amendment or academic freedom.
6
Scholars Under Fire Scholar Controversies are campus incidents where a professor or academic staff member faces backlash or punishment for speech protected by academic freedom or the First Amendment.
2
Students Under Fire Student Controversies are campus incidents where a student or student group faces punishment or pressure from the school for speech that's protected by the First Amendment.
3
Deplatformings Deplatformings are the number of incidents where a scheduled event or speaker is canceled or prevented from taking place.
1
Honor Roll Statements Honor Roll Statements are the number of public messages from a college or university defending free speech during a campus controversy. Schools that make these statements can earn bonus points on their Overall Score for standing up for free expression when it counts.
1
Attempted Disruptions Attempted Disruptions are the number of incidents where people on campus try to stop a scheduled event or speaker.
1
New in 2026 The number of controversies that have occurred since the previous launch of the College Free Speech Rankings.
3
Scholars Under Fire
| Year | School | Target | Controversy Explanation | Score Impact | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Columbia University | Abdul Kayum Ahmed | Ahmed, a professor at the university's Mailman School of Public Health (SPH), was accused of "pro-Palestinian indoctrination" in a “Wall Street Journal” article that highlighted Ahmed's references to Israel as a "colonial settler state" and his teachings on the health impacts of displacement among Palestinians. Following the article's publication, university administrators took several actions. Ahmed was informed by the director of SPH's Core Curriculum, that he was being removed from the Core Curriculum teaching team, citing concerns about his approach to teaching about Palestinian issues. The interim chair of the Department of Population and Family Health then notified Ahmed that he would not be permitted to teach his Health and Human Rights Advocacy course. Finally, Ahmed received a letter from the dean of the SPH stating that his appointment would not be renewed. The non-renewal of Ahmed's appointment was finalized, ending his tenure at the university. | -1.0 | Read More |
| 2024 | Columbia University | Mohamed Abdou | Abdou, the Arcapita Visiting Assistant Professor in Modern Arab Studies at the university, posted on Facebook: "Yes, I'm with the muqawamah (resistance) be it Hamas and Hezbollah and Islamic Jihad but up to a point — given ultimate differences over our ethical political commitments; that's the difference between a strategy and tactic too." In April 2024, the university's president testified before the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce, stating that Abdou "will never work at Columbia again." Abdou contested this assertion, clarifying that his contract was set to conclude on May 30, 2024, and that he had not been formally terminated prior to its natural end. | -1.0 | Read More |
Students Under Fire
| Year | School | Target | Controversy Explanation | Score Impact | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Columbia University | Columbia University Apartheid Divest | Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD) faced widespread calls for investigation and punishment after its X account posted “Marg bar Amrika” (“Death to America”) in response to a joint U.S.–Israeli military operation in Iran. The post, which CUAD later deleted after it was flagged by the platform, was followed by statements indicating the sentiment “still stands.” Senator Ted Cruz, Rep. Elise Stefanik, Rep. Randy Fine, and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, along with investor Bill Ackman, called for disciplinary action including potential expulsion and deportation of any foreign students responsible. Columbia University distanced itself from the group, stating that CUAD is not a recognized student organization, and announcing that "the matter has been referred to law enforcement for further investigation." | -1.0 | Read More |
| 2026 | Columbia University | Young Democratic Socialists of America | Columbia University administrators investigated and placed the Columbia-Barnard Young Democratic Socialists of America (YDSA) on interim suspension following media coverage claiming the group was liaising with a banned organization. A Washington Free Beacon article highlighted YDSA materials stating it would “plan actions and liaise with Columbia University Apartheid Divest,” a student coalition previously associated with posting “Death to America” and subject to the university’s “zero tolerance” policy. In response, administrators announced they were investigating whether YDSA violated the policy prohibiting recognized student groups from collaborating with CUAD. During the investigation, Columbia placed YDSA on interim suspension, rendering the group ineligible for university funding, space, and other benefits afforded to recognized student organizations. | -2.0 | Read More |
| 2025 | Columbia University | Sawyer Huckabee | Columbia placed Huckabee on interim suspension for their alleged involvement in a disruptive campus protest in May. Huckabee identified himself to Public Safety as student press (with the Columbia Spectator student newspaper) before leaving Columbia's library, where a pro-Palestinian protest was taking place. This occurred before Columbia's president had authorized the NYPD to "assist in securing the building," which resulted in 78 arrests. Shortly thereafter, Columbia's Rules Administrator Gregory Wawro reportedly notified Huckabee of his suspension, which was ultimately lifted hours later. | -1.0 | Read More |
Deplatformings
| Year | School | Target | Controversy Explanation | Score Impact | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Columbia University | Yossi Hertz/Eli Wininger | Protesters attempted to disrupt an event hosted by Students Supporting Israel featuring Hertz, an Israeli soldier, and army reservist Eli Wininger. Columbia University Apartheid Divest organized a protest in response to the event, which took place at Lerner Hall. The event, titled “From Combat to Campus,” was part of a tour in which Israeli military personnel speak on college campuses about their service following Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack and the ensuing war in Gaza. During the event, one attendee interrupted the speakers and confronted them for several minutes before Public Safety officers escorted the individual out. Outside Lerner Hall, about 30 demonstrators at a rally organized by Columbia University Apartheid Divest denounced the speakers as “war criminals” and “genocidal soldiers.” The event proceeded despite the interruption. | -1.0 | Read More |
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More Student Voices
Not posting about Israel Palestine on social media in fear of potential consequences
I try to stay silent on the entire Israel/Palestine conflict because I have seen active silencing of students and even deportations over this.
Afraid to speak up about immigration police in fears of getting deported.
Literally my whole college experience. Columbia is all over the news.
During the height of the Israel Palestine conflict, I felt that I could not share my issues with the state of Israel to adminstrators without having consequences.
I have many opinions I could discuss, but the fear of being doxxed online and or disciplined by the administration has kept me from doing so. I could never discuss my views on the israel/palestine war, as Columbia University has adopted a definition of anti-semitism that directly conflates criticism of Israel as discriminatory.
I can't protest at Columbia University and practice free speech within the campus because of fear of getting expelled.
Survey Results
Survey Results: Student Perspectives
See how students at Columbia University perceive free speech on their campus. This section breaks down survey responses to key questions, providing insights into overall trends as well as demographic differences in how students experience free expression.
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The College Free Speech Rankings are based on student surveys, campus policies, and recent speech-related controversies.
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The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression defends and sustains the individual rights of all Americans to free speech and free thought — the most essential qualities of liberty. FIRE educates Americans about the importance of these inalienable rights, promotes a culture of respect for these rights, and provides the means to preserve them.
