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.
58.5 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.
129 Treanding Up
/ 257
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).
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).
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
Two Louisiana schools are ranked in the 2026 College Free Speech Rankings. The state’s average speech-climate grade is F, matching the national average.Louisiana State University ranks 50 overall and is the top-ranked school in the state. LSU has adopted a statement on institutional neutrality, and the pro-free speech Chicago Statement. Students at LSU give relatively strong marks for “Disruptive Conduct,” suggesting they are less likely to approve of shouting down or blocking a speaker. However, it holds a “yellow light” rating in FIRE’s Spotlight database, meaning its written policies contain at least one provision that threatens student expression.
Tulane University ranks 207 and also holds a “yellow light” rating. Louisiana’s top public university has laid important policy groundwork. Turning those commitments into action and revising the schools’ “yellow light” policies could help Louisiana’s campuses rise in future rankings.
Highlights
49% of students say they have self-censored on campus at least once or twice a month.
74% 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.
2.45:1
Across Louisiana, there are roughly 2.45 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 Louisiana. 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.
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.
1
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 2025 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Louisiana State University | Ken Levy | Levy, a professor of criminal and constitutional law at the university, faced administrative action following remarks made during a lecture. During a criminal law class, Levy used explicit language to criticize Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry and former President Donald Trump, expressing surprise over Trump’s election and making a profane comment about the governor. He also humorously warned students against recording his lectures, referencing concerns about potential repercussions. A student complaint led to Levy’s suspension from teaching duties pending an investigation. Levy contested this action by filing a lawsuit, asserting that his comments were made in jest and that his suspension infringed upon his rights to academic freedom and free speech. On Jan. 30, 2025, a district judge issued a temporary restraining order mandating Levy’s immediate reinstatement. This decision was subsequently overturned on Feb. 4, 2025, by a state appeals court, which maintained the suspension pending a comprehensive evidentiary hearing. On Feb. 11, 2025, following further hearings, Judge Tarvald Smith ruled in favor of Levy, ordering LSU to reinstate him. The judge emphasized the importance of academic freedom and the necessity for law students to engage with diverse perspectives. Throughout this period, Governor Landry publicly criticized Levy’s conduct, stating that such behavior should not be tolerated in taxpayer-funded universities. | -1.0 | Read More |
Students Under Fire
| Year | School | Target | Controversy Explanation | Score Impact | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Tulane University | Adelaide Ritzman/Atticus Pratt/Cameron McLaren/Preston Seligman/Rory MacDonald/Two Unnamed Students | All seven students received an email from administrators announcing that they were being investigated for participating in an off-campus protest organized by suspended student group Students for a Democratic Society. Protesters called upon the institution to not cooperate with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency and to declare itself a sanctuary for immigrants. All of the students were investigated, and Ritzman was placed on disciplinary probation, and mandated to participate in 20 hours of community service. McLaren was also under investigation for another incident involving him leaving (or forgetting) his bag with a note reading “never the audacious; protect DEI,” which administrators treated as a possible threat. Though already suspended at the time of the protest due to his participation in last spring’s encampment protests, MacDonald claims he’s been told that his latest activism, which occurred off-campus, could result in him facing further consequences including expulsion. | -1.0 | Read More |
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Rankings and Survey Results
Rankings and Survey Results
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