Average Score The Average Score is the average of all Overall Scores from colleges in a state that were included in the College Free Speech Rankings.
56.5 Treanding Down
/ 100
Average Rank The Average Rank is the average of all Overall Ranks from colleges in a state that were included in the College Free Speech Rankings.
188 Treanding Down
/ 261
Average 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.
3
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).
B-
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).
D+
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).
D-
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
Overview
Two Arkansas schools are ranked in the 2027 College Free Speech Rankings. The state’s average speech climate grade is F, below the national average of D-.Arkansas State University ranks 134 overall and is the top-ranked school in the state. ASU ranks in the bottom 50 for “Self-Censorship,” suggesting students frequently withhold their views. It holds a “yellow light” rating in FIRE’s Spotlight database.
The University of Arkansas follows at 242 and earns an F speech climate grade. UA ranks in the bottom 50 for “Openness,” indicating students feel uncomfortable discussing controversial topics. Like ASU, it holds a yellow light rating. Neither school has adopted the pro-free speech Chicago Statement or a statement on institutional neutrality. Adopting these commitments and revising restrictive student policies would help improve these schools’ speech climates.
Highlights
45% of students say they have self-censored on campus at least once or twice a month.
61% of students say shouting down a speaker to prevent them from speaking on campus is acceptable, at least in rare cases.
33% of students say using violence to stop someone from speaking on campus is acceptable, at least in rare cases.
1.21:1
Across Arkansas, there are roughly 1.21 conservative students for every one liberal student.
Average score over time
Speech Controversies
Speech Controversies: When Free Expression Is Challenged
Explore notable incidents where free speech was tested on campuses across Arkansas. From speaker deplatformings to administrative actions, these events highlight the challenges — and consequences — of restricting expression.
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.
3
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.
3
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.
0
Deplatformings Deplatformings are the number of incidents where a scheduled event or speaker is canceled or prevented from taking place.
0
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.
0
Attempted Disruptions Attempted Disruptions are the number of incidents where people on campus try to stop a scheduled event or speaker.
0
New in 2026 The number of controversies that have occurred since the previous launch of the College Free Speech Rankings.
2
Scholars Under Fire
| Year | School | Target | Controversy Explanation | Score Impact | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | University of Arkansas | Emily Suski | Suski, a professor of law and associate dean for strategic and institutional priorities at the University of South Carolina’s Joseph F. Rice School of Law, was announced as the University of Arkansas’ incoming dean of its School of Law, with a planned start date in the summer. Within days, Republican state officials objected to Suski’s prior legal advocacy on behalf of transgender athletes — specifically her signature on an amicus (“friend of the court”) brief supporting transgender students’ ability to participate in school sports consistent with their gender identity in two U.S. Supreme Court cases: Hecox v. Little and West Virginia v. B.P.J. (Nos. 24-38 and 24-43). A few days later, the university publicly reversed course, saying it received “feedback from key external stakeholders” and would “go a different direction.” Reporting from Arkansas outlets identified state Senate President Pro Tempore Bart Hester as one of the officials opposing the hire; he stated he communicated his disapproval to university leaders and argued Suski’s views disqualified her from the role. A Democratic state representative, Nicole Clowney, said multiple elected officials threatened to cut funding over the hire, and the governor’s office praised the university’s decision. | -3.0 | Read More |
| 2026 | University of Arkansas | Mohja Kahf | Kahf, a distinguished professor of English at the university, was ordered by the university's administration to remove two posters they deemed "antisemitic" from her office door for violating the university's discrimination policy, after receiving a complaint about the posters. | -1.0 | Read More |
| 2025 | University of Arkansas | Shirin Saeidi | Saeidi, a professor of political science at the university, was demoted from her position as the director of the Middle Eastern Studies department. The demotion occurred after a Change.org petition calling for Saeidi's termination for her "serious violations of academic integrity, professional ethics, and the standards expected of faculty at a public American university," was launched and garnered almost 4,000 signatures. Public officials also called for her termination. Saeidi was later terminated from her position as a professor at the university. | -2.0 | Read More |
Support the Fight for Free Speech
When you give to FIRE, you join a movement dedicated to restoring free speech as both a legal right and a cultural value celebrated by Americans everywhere. Donations are 100% tax-deductible. Please join us in this important work with a gift today!
Rankings and Survey Results
Rankings and Survey Results
Reach out to FIRE
Have a question or want to share your feedback? We'd love to hear from you! Use the button below to contact us.
See Your School's Ranking
The College Free Speech Rankings are based on student surveys, campus policies, and recent speech-related controversies.
FIRE Fights for Your Rights
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.
