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.
70.0 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.
43 Treanding Neutral
/ 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).
C-
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).
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
Ten North Carolina schools are ranked in the 2027 College Free Speech Rankings. The state’s average speech climate grade is C-, compared to the national average of D-.Appalachian State University ranks 8 overall and is the state’s top-ranked school. ASU is part of the University of North Carolina System, whose board has affirmed the pro-free speech Chicago Statement and a statement on institutional neutrality for all seven ranked system campuses. Six of these hold “green light” ratings in FIRE’s Spotlight database. Four other system campuses rank in the top 25.
Duke University (50) holds a green light rating but has not adopted either major policy statement. North Carolina A&T State University, Davidson College, and Wake Forest University trail with “yellow light” ratings. Adopting these public statements at Duke and Wake Forest, and revising restrictive student policies elsewhere, would help improve these schools’ speech climates.
Highlights
41% 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.
3.29:1
Across North Carolina, there are roughly 3.29 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 North Carolina. 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.
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.
3
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.
3
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.
3
Students Under Fire
| Year | School | Target | Controversy Explanation | Score Impact | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Duke University | Students for Justice in Palestine | Duke University administrators suspended (and later reinstated) Students for Justice in Palestine following complaints about a social media post. The controversy arose in March 2026 after SJP promoted an upcoming event with an Instagram post featuring an illustration reportedly first published in a 1970s Black Panther Party newspaper. The image features two pigs; one holding a Star of David and labeled "Zionism," and the other holding the Statue of Liberty's torch and labeled "U.S. Imperialism." After receiving 10 student complaints, the Student Affairs office asked SJP to remove their post and then suspended the group over "alleged harassment under the Policy on Prohibited Discrimination, Harassment and Related Misconduct." Off-campus activist group StopAntisemitism praised the administration's decision, but claimed they "stopped just short of full accountability, failing to meaningfully discipline the individuals responsible for this blatant antisemitic imagery." However, the university ultimately lifted SJP's suspension and unfroze funding, citing "insufficient information to support the existence of a hostile educational environment." | -2.0 | Read More |
| 2026 | The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill | The Daily Tar Heel/Hill After Hours | Administrators released (and later updated) a public statement announcing that Student Affairs would meet with student leaders of “The Daily Tar Heel" following backlash to its April Fools’ satire edition. The controversy arose after the student newspaper published satirical headlines including “The Daily Woke Heel,” “Trump orders ALE in Chapel Hill to be replaced with ICE agents,” and “UNC brings back DEI — for whites,” which drew criticism from students and campus groups who called the content “harmful” and “unsettling. The statement also announced an investigation into Hill After Hours following backlash to a satirical video also released for April Fools’ Day. The student comedy group published a video sketch depicting a white student traveling to South Campus and describing it with language that critics said invoked racist stereotypes. In response to the article and video, university officials announced a campuswide “conversation” for those who “experienced harm,” and stated that Student Affairs would investigate the video and meet with the DTH. A week later, and after receiving a letter from FIRE, UNC updated its public statement, clarifying that no student group was under investigation and that the university is committed to upholding the First Amendment. | 0.0 | Read More |
| 2026 | University of North Carolina Charlotte | Unnamed Student Group | U.S. Rep. Mark Harris demanded answers from the university and called for changes after an unnamed student group hosted a campus event providing abortion support training to minors. The November 2025 event featured the Youth Abortion Support Collective, a network affiliated with Advocates for Youth, and offered “abortion doula” training to participants ages 14–24. In March 2026, Harris publicly called the event “unacceptable,” requested “answers” from the university, and expressed a desire that “something like this never happens again.” No disciplinary action was taken; a university spokesperson instead stated the event was privately funded and that “the University is a marketplace of ideas… [and] provide[s] space on our campus for our students and student organizations to hold a wide range of events and discussions.” | +1.0 | Read More |
Deplatformings
| Year | School | Target | Controversy Explanation | Score Impact | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill | Palestinian Resilience Mural | University administrators directed facilities staff to cover a large pro-Palestinian art mural in the Hanes Art Center lobby with plywood boards. The piece, created by students and community members in Professor Hồng-An Trương’s Studio Art 490: Art as Social Action class, had been on display for about a year and featured Palestinian colors and text calling for an end to genocide. The decision to cover up the mural was made without consulting the Art department. A university spokesperson said the mural had been up long enough, and that it was boarded to prevent damage until it was removed. Faculty and students criticized the move as censorship and a threat to academic freedom, while the Art department chair protested with a posted sign. The mural had originated after UNC police dismantled a pro-Palestinian encampment in April 2024, and although an alum had previously complained about the work, university counsel reportedly concluded it did not violate university rules since it was produced as classwork. | -2.0 | Read More |
| 2025 | University of North Carolina Charlotte | Two IDF Soldiers | The university chapter of Students Supporting Israel (SSI) organized an event titled "Triggered: From Combat to Campus," featuring two active-duty Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers sharing their experiences. Prior to the event, opposition emerged from student organizations, notably Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and the Revolutionary Student Front. They initiated an online petition titled "IDF Off Our Campus," gathering over 400 signatures, urging the university administration to cancel the event. The petition labeled the IDF soldiers as "genociders and war criminals" and argued that hosting them violated the university's neutrality policy by causing distress among students. Despite these protests, the university permitted the event to proceed but required SSI to cover a $5,000 fee for additional security measures, including 16 police officers and six staff security personnel. This decision was made to ensure safety due to the anticipated protests. On the day of the event, supporters and opponents of the event engaged in demonstrations, reflecting the deep divisions among students regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. University officials emphasized their commitment to free speech and the peaceful exchange of ideas, implementing security protocols to maintain a respectful environment. The event was successfully held. | -1.0 | Read More |
| 2025 | North Carolina State University | Hannah Moushabeck | Moushabeck, a Palestinian American author and book publisher, was scheduled to read from her memoir, “Homeland: My Father Dreams of Palestine,” at a university library event. Days before the event, university administrators directed event organizers to cancel the event citing the university's institutional neutrality policy. According to Moushabeck, her talk was canceled because her book did not present "two sides" of the Israeli-Palestinian story. | -2.0 | Read More |
| 2024 | Wake Forest University | Rabab Abdulhadi | The university’s Humanities Institute, Department of History, Department of Politics & International Affairs, Middle East South Asian Studies Program, and the National Endowment for the Humanities scheduled an event featuring Abdulhadi, a professor and founding director of the Arab and Muslim Ethnicities and Diasporas Studies Program at San Francisco State University, for Oct. 7, 2024. Abdulhadi's scheduled talk was titled “One Year Since al-Aqsa Flood: Reflections on a Year of Genocide and Resistance.” A student initiated petition, that garnered over 8,500 signatures, demanded the university rescind Abdulhadi's invitation because Abdulhadi has "publicly threatened Jewish students" and "publicly supported and celebrated terrorists." The university revoked Abdulhadi's invitation to speak on campus. | -1.0 | Read More |
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Rankings and Survey Results
Rankings and Survey Results
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