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.
63.5 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.
130 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).
D
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.
7
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).
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
Four Indiana schools are ranked in the 2027 College Free Speech Rankings. The state’s average speech climate grade is D, compared to the national average of D-.Purdue University ranks 7 overall and is the top-ranked school in the state. It holds a “green light” rating in FIRE’s Spotlight database. Purdue has adopted both the pro-free speech Chicago Statement and a statement on institutional neutrality.
DePauw University follows at 25. It holds a green light rating and has adopted the Chicago Statement. The University of Notre Dame (232) and Indiana University (256) rank near the bottom. Notre Dame holds a “red light” rating, while IU holds a “yellow light” rating. IU has affirmed the Chicago Statement, but Notre Dame has adopted neither major free-speech statement. Reforming restrictive written student policies would help improve the speech climates at Notre Dame and IU.
Highlights
50% of students say they have self-censored on campus at least once or twice a month.
65% of students say shouting down a speaker to prevent them from speaking on campus is acceptable, at least in rare cases.
28% of students say using violence to stop someone from speaking on campus is acceptable, at least in rare cases.
2.31:1
Across Indiana, there are roughly 2.31 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 Indiana. 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.
7
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.
2
Deplatformings Deplatformings are the number of incidents where a scheduled event or speaker is canceled or prevented from taking place.
4
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.
0
Scholars Under Fire
| Year | School | Target | Controversy Explanation | Score Impact | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Indiana University | Jim Rodenbush | Rodenbush, the director of student media at the university, was terminated by university administrators after he refused a directive to print no news in the paper and "nothing but information about homecoming — no other news at all, and particularly no traditional front page news coverage." The directive appeared to be related to two recent print editions published in September 2025 which included stories about the university suspending the Palestinian Solidarity Committee and that the university was the lowest ranked public school in FIRE's 2026 College Free Speech Rankings. | -2.0 | Read More |
Students Under Fire
| Year | School | Target | Controversy Explanation | Score Impact | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Indiana University | Palestine Solidarity Committee | Administrators sent a letter to the Palestine Solidarity Committee ordering the group to "suspend all activities" and "provide a complete roster of new and active members" while they investigate allegations of disruption of university operations and damage to property from the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 academic years. Administrators did not specify the alleged incidents in the letter, but in it claimed the group "present[s] an ongoing threat of harm and disruption to the university community" and that they allegedly present "a substantial risk." | -1.0 | Read More |
| 2025 | Indiana University | Interfraternity Council | In a letter to the Interfraternity Council, Indiana University’s vice chancellor for student life suspended all 27 fraternity chapters from hosting a wide range of events, including social gatherings, philanthropy events, tailgates, large performances, and new member education. A few exceptions were made — such as chapter operations and community service with outside agencies — but no explanation was provided for these carveouts. The vice chancellor cited hazing and misconduct violations involving at least four chapters as justification, and stated that “the risk is too high to continue this arrangement given the status of the IFC community.” Although the university later lifted the restrictions for chapters in good standing, the initial sweeping suspension raised concerns about guilt-by-association and infringements upon students' association rights and due process protections. | -1.0 | Read More |
Deplatformings
| Year | School | Target | Controversy Explanation | Score Impact | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Indiana University | Chris Geidner | Geidner was scheduled to be one of the keynote speakers at the LGBTQ+ Health Care Conference but was then informed by the university that the conference was canceled after President Trump issued executive orders restricting the use of federal funds on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. | -2.0 | Read More |
| 2025 | University of Notre Dame | Eman Abdelhadi | Abdelhadi, an assistant professor at the University of Chicago and former faculty fellow at the University of Notre Dame, was scheduled to deliver a keynote address on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at a student-organized conference at Notre Dame. However, approximately a week before the event, the dean of the Keough School of Global Affairs informed Abdelhadi that her participation was canceled. The dean cited the university's inability to provide security due to the conference coinciding with two other annual events on campus, and also stated, "We were unaware of your planned lecture, and since this conference overlaps with two other annual events on campus, we cannot provide security at short notice. For this reason, we respectfully request that you do not participate in the conference." Abdelhadi responded by expressing skepticism about the university's rationale, noting that she had been invited to speak in January, providing ample notice. She questioned the necessity of heightened security for her lecture and criticized the university's decision as a form of censorship. | -2.0 | Read More |
| 2024 | Indiana University | Mosab Hassan Yousef | IU Hillel postponed Yousef's talk, "The Truth About Hamas and Israel," after multiple student groups, including the Palestine Solidarity Committee and the Middle Eastern Student Association, criticized the event and called Yousef "Islamophobic." A counterprotest was organized and a flyer listed 30 buses leaving from eight different locations throughout the state. The university then informed Yousef that it was postponing the event because of "security threats involving the Muslim community and several white supremacist groups." The event was not rescheduled. | -1.0 | Read More |
| 2024 | Indiana University | Samia Halaby: Centers of Energy | Administrators canceled a retrospective art exhibit of paintings by Samia Halaby, a Palestinian-American painter, at the university's Eskenazi Museum of Art because employees of the art museum had concerns about Halaby's comments on social media in support of Palestinian causes, in which she expressed outrage at the violence occuring in Gaza and compared Israel's actions to genocide. | -1.0 | Read More |
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Rankings and Survey Results
Rankings and Survey Results
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