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.
58.6 Treanding Up
/ 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.
164 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.
2
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
Overview
Five Connecticut 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-.Yale University ranks 72 overall and is the top-ranked school in the state. It holds a “yellow light” rating in FIRE’s Spotlight database and is one of the top-performing schools in the country for “Political Tolerance,” suggesting students are exceptionally open to controversial speakers. Yale has adopted a statement on institutional neutrality.
Wesleyan University, the University of Connecticut, Connecticut College, and Trinity College all rank below the top 100. Connecticut College (209) holds a “red light” rating, while the other three maintain yellow light ratings. None of the five schools has adopted the pro-free speech Chicago Statement. Adopting this commitment and reforming restrictive written student policies would help improve these schools’ speech climates.
Highlights
43% of students say they have self-censored on campus at least once or twice a month.
75% of students say shouting down a speaker to prevent them from speaking on campus is acceptable, at least in rare cases.
31% of students say using violence to stop someone from speaking on campus is acceptable, at least in rare cases.
5.48:1
Across Connecticut, there are roughly 5.48 liberal students for every one conservative 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 Connecticut. 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.
2
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.
0
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.
1
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.
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.
1
Students Under Fire
| Year | School | Target | Controversy Explanation | Score Impact | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Yale University | Student Protesters | Administrators warned student protesters that they would have to relocate their planned demonstration because it was “not organized by a registered student group” and therefore could not reserve the space. The controversy arose in April 2026 ahead of a planned protest connected to farmworkers rights initiatives, when administrators emailed organizers stating that unaffiliated protesters could not use Cross Campus under university rules governing reservations and registered organizations. Ultimately, the protest relocated to the off-campus New Haven Green, with one student calling it "jarring" that it was easier to protest there than on campus. | -1.0 | Read More |
Deplatformings
| Year | School | Target | Controversy Explanation | Score Impact | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | University of Connecticut | Kevan "K-Von" Moezzi | The campus chapter of Turning Point USA invited Moezzi to campus to perform his comedy act. About three hours before the show was scheduled to start Moezzi was informed by a campus administrator that it was canceled because the performance contract was null and void because of receiving "incorrect information" and not being informed about who was performing at the comedy show. Moezzi performed his set off-campus. | -1.0 | Read More |
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Rankings and Survey Results
Rankings and Survey Results
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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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