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.
55.9 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.
170 Treanding Down
/ 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.
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).
F
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 Rhode Island schools are ranked in the 2026 College Free Speech Rankings. The state’s average speech-climate grade is F, matching the national average.The University of Rhode Island ranks 152 overall and is the top-ranked school in the state. It holds a “yellow light” rating in FIRE’s Spotlight database, meaning its written policies threaten student expression. It has not adopted the pro-free speech Chicago Statement or a statement on institutional neutrality.
Brown University ranks 187 and also holds a “yellow light” rating. It has adopted a statement on institutional neutrality but has not adopted the Chicago Statement. Clarifying speech-related policies and adopting stronger public commitments could help both campuses improve their speech climates.
Highlights
46% of students say they have self-censored on campus at least once or twice a month.
73% of students say shouting down a speaker to prevent them from speaking on campus is acceptable, at least in rare cases.
32% of students say using violence to stop someone from speaking on campus is acceptable, at least in rare cases.
3.17:1
Across Rhode Island, there are roughly 3.17 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 Rhode Island. 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.
0
New in 2025 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 | Brown University | Alex Shieh/Benjamin Marcus/Gary Bittker | Administrators investigated Shieh on allegations that he had “emotionally harmed” Brown employees when sending an email asking administrators to explain their role and what they have done in the past week. Using the university’s organizational chart, Shieh created a database of campus administrators and used an algorithm to analyze their perceived efficiency. He then, in his capacity as a member of the conservative campus newspaper The Brown Spectator, sent an email similar to one recently sent by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to government employees asking administrators to explain what tasks they had accomplished in the past week. Claiming that Shieh had used “confidential information” in the database’s construction, administrators demanded he return or destroy said information or else be charged with “failure to comply” unless he provides proof of its deletion. Ultimately, Shieh was not formally disciplined. Administrators also investigated Marcus, editor-in-chief of The Brown Spectator, and Gary Bittker, the paper’s managing editor, after fellow member Alex Shieh’s “Bloat @ Brown” project emailed all 3,800 staff asking them to list their week’s accomplishments. Administrators charged Marcus and the others with a trademark violation due to the paper’s name. Ultimately, the university found Marcus and Bittker not responsible and closed the case. | -1.0 | Read More |
Deplatformings
| Year | School | Target | Controversy Explanation | Score Impact | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Brown University | Christina Paxson | Paxson’s commencement speech was briefly disrupted by students in attendance and members of Brown Alumni for Palestine, who claimed responsibility for leading the disruption. The protesters called on Paxson, and Brown, to divest from “companies complicit with the genocide in Palestine.” After a few minutes, Paxson resumed her remarks and successfully completed the commencement address. | -1.0 | Read More |
| 2023 | Brown University | Christina Paxson | A vigil for a university student from Palestine seriously injured in a shooting in Vermont was cut short after students shouted down the university president by calling for the university to divest its endowment from companies affiliated with Israel. | -1.0 | Read More |
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Rankings and Survey Results
Rankings and Survey Results
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