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.
66.4 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.
65 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).
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.
1
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).
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).
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
Three Oklahoma 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-.The University of Tulsa ranks 20 overall and is the top-ranked school in the state. It holds a “green light” Spotlight rating and has officially adopted the pro-free speech Chicago Statement.
Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma rank 75 and 99, respectively. Both hold “yellow light” ratings. OSU ranks in the top 25 for “Administrative Support,” suggesting students trust administrators to defend speech. OU ranks in the bottom 50 for “Self-Censorship,” suggesting students struggle to speak openly. OU’s board and the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education have also affirmed the Chicago Statement. Revising restrictive student policies at OU and OSU, and adopting institutional neutrality, would help improve these schools’ speech climates.
Highlights
45% 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.
24% of students say using violence to stop someone from speaking on campus is acceptable, at least in rare cases.
1.17:1
Across Oklahoma, there are roughly 1.17 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 Oklahoma. 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.
1
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.
0
Deplatformings Deplatformings are the number of incidents where a scheduled event or speaker is canceled or prevented from taking place.
1
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.
1
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.
0
Deplatformings
| Year | School | Target | Controversy Explanation | Score Impact | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | The University of Tulsa | Nida'a Abu Jbara/Sophia Rehman | The campus chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine at the University of Tulsa held a permitted memorial and evening vigil on Dietler Commons to mourn Palestinians killed over the course of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, featuring Abu Jbara, a Tulsa Community College professor, as a speaker, and Rehman, a student organizer. Despite SJP having reserved the space and secured university authorization for the display, a small, loosely affiliated group of counter-protesters, including at least one non-student, showed up throughout the afternoon and during the vigil; one man in a USA-themed suit positioned himself directly behind the speakers with a large American flag, repeatedly shouting “God bless the USA,” and later blasting loud music in an apparent attempt to drown out the event. Campus security eventually escorted the main protester to a nearby sidewalk because the counter-protesters had not requested use of the space, with administrators saying they had offered an alternative location and affirming support for student speech rights. | 0.0 | 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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