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.
61.0 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.
123 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.
3
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
Thirteen Ohio schools are ranked in the 2027 College Free Speech Rankings. The state’s average speech climate grade is D-, matching the national average.Wright State University ranks 64 overall and is the state’s top-ranked school. WSU holds a “yellow light” Spotlight rating and ranks in the top 25 for “Administrative Support,” suggesting students trust administrators to defend speech. The school has adopted the pro-free speech Chicago Statement.
The University of Dayton ranks lowest at 237 and maintains a “red light” rating. Most Ohio campuses hold yellow light ratings. Ten of the schools have adopted the Chicago Statement, but only The Ohio State University has adopted a statement on institutional neutrality. Revising restrictive written student policies and adopting institutional neutrality 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.
66% of students say shouting down a speaker to prevent them from speaking on campus is acceptable, at least in rare cases.
29% of students say using violence to stop someone from speaking on campus is acceptable, at least in rare cases.
2.14:1
Across Ohio, there are roughly 2.14 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 Ohio. 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.
3
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.
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.
1
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | The Ohio State University | Guy Christensen | According to a lawsuit filed by the ACLU of Ohio, pro-Palestinian influencer and student Guy Christenson was suspended and later expelled from Ohio State University without a hearing after the university received numerous complaints from community members expressing fear over his social media posts. In one post, Christenson urged followers to “support” the man accused of killing two Israeli embassy staffers in Washington, D.C.; in another, he condemned Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) for his support of Zionism, stating Torres would “end up in a Nuremberg trial.” Torres called on U.S. Capitol Police to investigate, and Jewish advocacy groups and others demanded Christenson’s expulsion. OSU ultimately removed him from campus without a formal disciplinary process. | -2.0 | Read More |
Deplatformings
| Year | School | Target | Controversy Explanation | Score Impact | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | The Ohio State University | Lior Biran/Yossi Hertz | The campus chapter of Students Supporting Israel hosted an event featuring Biran and Hertz, both of whom are Israeli Defense Force soldiers, to discuss their firsthand experiences after the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attacks. Before the event, Students for Justice in Palestine posted about plans to protest and called the invited soldiers “war criminals,” and accusing them of participating in genocide in Gaza. During the indoor event, two individuals disrupted the program, were warned multiple times, and were then arrested for criminal trespass. The event resumed and was completed successfully. | -2.0 | Read More |
| 2025 | Kent State University | "We only have to get lucky once." | The university removed an art installation that depicted a picture of President Donald Trump's face with a rifle pointed towards it and the phrase "we only have to get lucky once." After images of the art installation circulated in the press and on social media, the university was accused of hosting "assassination art," and state lawmakers condemned the exhibit and stated that a review of the university's funding was warranted. In response the university removed the display, denouncing it as "inconsistent with the university’s values." | -2.0 | 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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