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.
59.3 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.
6
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).
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
Twelve Illinois 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-.The University of Chicago ranks 1 overall. It holds a “green light” rating in FIRE’s Spotlight database. UChicago is the original author of the pro-free speech Chicago Statement and Kalven Report on institutional neutrality. It ranks first nationally for “Administrative Support,” suggesting students trust leaders to defend speech.
Northeastern Illinois University and Northwestern University follow at 74 and 90, respectively. Northwestern has adopted the Chicago Statement and a statement on institutional neutrality. Most other campuses hold “yellow light” ratings, but four hold “red light” ratings, including Loyola University Chicago (254). Reforming restrictive student policies would help improve these schools’ speech climates.
Highlights
40% of students say they have self-censored on campus at least once or twice a month.
71% 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.
4.29:1
Across Illinois, there are roughly 4.29 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 Illinois. 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.
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.
1
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.
2
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
Scholars Under Fire
| Year | School | Target | Controversy Explanation | Score Impact | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | DePaul University | Anne D'Aquino | D'Aquino, a professor in the Health Sciences Department at the university, was dismissed following an optional assignment she provided in her "Health 194: Human Pathogens and Defense" course. This assignment invited students to analyze the biological and health impacts of the conflict in Gaza on Palestinians, encouraging scientific analysis and critical thinking regarding the effects of genocide on human biology. The university received multiple student complaints expressing discomfort with the introduction of political matters into the class. Administrators deemed the assignment unrelated to the course objectives and concluded it negatively affected the learning environment. Consequently, D'Aquino's teaching appointment was terminated. | -1.0 | Read More |
Students Under Fire
| Year | School | Target | Controversy Explanation | Score Impact | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | lllini Republicans | The Illini Republicans were reported to the university’s Title VI Office after posting a stylized image on Instagram depicting an ICE agent pressing his gun against a kneeling man resembling Alex Pretti. The post was captioned, “only traitors help invaders,” prompting complaints to the administration. In response, a university spokesperson said the administration was “reviewing reports received about the incident and processing them in accordance with normal protocols,” while condemning “rhetoric or imagery that appears to glorify violence or demean individuals or groups based on identity or beliefs.” The spokesperson also emphasized that the post did not represent the university and acknowledged that the group could not be formally punished “for the viewpoint or content of protected speech.” Ultimately, no further disciplinary action was taken against the Illini Republicans, though Illinois Senate President Don Harmon (D–Oak Park) publicly urged campus leadership to treat the incident seriously, stating that “free expression is not a shield for hate.” | -1.0 | Read More |
| 2025 | DePaul University | Students for Justice in Palestine | The campus chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine was suspended until fall 2027 following a student complaint about their social media activity. The controversy stemmed from Instagram stories reposted by SJP that accused Israel of “organ and skin theft from Palestinian bodies." According to SJP, administrators told the group that the posts could be perceived as a “threat” and directed them to remove the content from Instagram, a claim the group supported with a screenshot of administrative correspondence. The administration ultimately suspended the group through fall 2027. | -1.0 | Read More |
| 2025 | DePaul University | Planned Parenthood Generation Action | During a June 3 meeting with Planned Parenthood Generation Action and its faculty advisor, administrators announced that the group would be de-activated effective immediately. In a followup email to the group, administrators wrote that "in alignment with DePaul's Catholic and Vincentian identity" the university was de-activating the group "due to its affiliation with external group Planned Parenthood" and that not only would any scheduled reservations and events be canceled, but that the group was also prohibited from "any social media posts representing PPGA." | -2.0 | Read More |
Deplatformings
| Year | School | Target | Controversy Explanation | Score Impact | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Northwestern University | Assassins | The university's student theater group, Lovers & Madmen, canceled the final two performances of Stephen Sondheim's musical “Assassins” following backlash over the inclusion of a racial slur in the script. The controversy centered on the character John Wilkes Booth's use of the N-word in the song "The Ballad of Booth," which some students felt was harmful and insensitive. Prior to the show's opening, the production team issued a content warning on social media, acknowledging the presence of the slur and providing resources to contextualize its use. Despite these efforts, many students expressed dissatisfaction, arguing that the inclusion of the word perpetuated a culture dismissive of Black students' concerns. Some called for the removal of the word from the script, while others demanded the cancellation of the remaining shows. The decision to cancel the performances was announced just before a scheduled show, leaving audience members with unredeemed tickets. In an official statement, Lovers & Madmen apologized for not engaging in meaningful conversations with the Black community and acknowledged the harm caused by their actions. | -2.0 | Read More |
| 2024 | Loyola University Chicago | Josh Hammer | Hammer's debate with Professor John Dehn was interrupted by pro-Palestinian protesters affiliated with the campus’s Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) chapter. Hammer, who planned to speak about presidential immunity, was met with disruptive actions and personal accusations by attendees. After Hammer made a remark about needing to take the "trash" out and told the protesters that he "hope[d] their beepers don't go off," Dehn ended the event prematurely. Hammer later described the experience on X as harassment based on his Jewish identity and pro-Israel stance. | -1.0 | Read More |
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Rankings and Survey Results
Rankings and Survey Results
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