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.
55.2 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.
177 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).
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.
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).
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 Washington schools are ranked in the 2027 College Free Speech Rankings. The state’s average speech climate grade is F, below the national average of D-.Washington State University ranks 93 overall and is the top-ranked school in the state. It holds a “yellow light” rating in FIRE’s Spotlight database. WSU has adopted a statement on institutional neutrality but has not adopted the pro-free speech Chicago Statement.
The University of Washington follows near the bottom of the rankings at 260. It also holds a yellow light rating. UW ranks in the bottom 50 for “Disruptive Conduct,” suggesting students are more likely to support protests that silence speakers. Unlike WSU, UW has not adopted a statement on institutional neutrality. Adopting the Chicago Statement and reforming restrictive written student policies 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.
72% 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.
4.19:1
Across Washington, there are roughly 4.19 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 Washington. 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.
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.
0
Deplatformings Deplatformings are the number of incidents where a scheduled event or speaker is canceled or prevented from taking place.
6
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.
4
Scholars Under Fire
| Year | School | Target | Controversy Explanation | Score Impact | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | University of Washington | Mara Maughan | Maughan, a research scientist/engineer at the university, drew criticism after commenting on an X post by school-choice activist Corey DeAngelis, “may there be tyler robinsons for you all.” Commentators interpreted the remark as endorsing political violence, referencing Tyler Robinson, the suspect charged in the September 2025 killing of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk. DeAngelis shared a screenshot of the comment and publicly urged the university to take action, encouraging others to contact the university to “demand accountability.” Accuracy in Media (AIM) backed a campaign urging the university to discipline or remove Maughan, including outreach to the university's governing leadership and plans for public pressure tactics. In response, the university announced it was investigating the matter. | -1.0 | Read More |
Deplatformings
| Year | School | Target | Controversy Explanation | Score Impact | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | University of Washington | Nick Freitas | The campus chapter of Turning Point USA hosted a “Prove Me Wrong” event featuring Freitas, a former member of the Virginia House of Delegates. Before and during the event, opposing student-side actors sought to interfere with it. Counterprotesters gathered outside the event tent, chanting and using drums to drown out the speaker, and the campus chapter of Students for a Democratic Society had urged students beforehand to “shutdown” and “yell [Turning Point USA] off our campus.” Institutional Climate Action was also tied to the protest response, and one drummer protester was arrested after repeated warnings. Despite the noise and disruption effort, Freitas still spoke and the event was not stopped. | -2.0 | Read More |
| 2026 | University of Washington | Noa Cochva | StandWithUs Northwest scheduled Cochva, a former Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) combat medic and Miss Israel 2021, to speak at the university in Red Square. The event drew opposition from SUPER UW, SDS, and other students and community members because of Cochva’s Israeli military background and the broader Israel-Gaza controversy. Opponents gathered to rally and march against the appearance. Before Cochva arrived, organizers canceled the campus event due to anticipated safety concerns, and a SUPER UW organizer described that cancellation as the protest’s success. | -3.0 | Read More |
| 2026 | University of Washington | Chloe Cole | The campus chapter of Turning Point USA invited Cole, a detransitioner and opponent of gender-affirming care, as part of a "Pick Up the Mic" event. After the killing of a 19-year-old transgender student connected to university-affiliated housing, students and aligned groups objected to the event and argued that TPUSA’s rhetoric was harmful to trans students. UW Divestment Campaign, Students for a Democratic Society, and Seattle Palestine Action Network publicly called for the university to cancel the event, revoke TPUSA’s club status, ban future events, and encouraged supporters to pressure administrators and attend a noisy protest. The event did not proceed after organizers announced it was being canceled/postponed in light of threats and security concerns. | -1.0 | Read More |
| 2025 | University of Washington | Olivia Krolczyk | Krolczyk was invited to speak on campus about women's rights by the university's Turning Point USA chapter at an event titled "Protect Women from Men: The Threat of the Trans Agenda." Protesters surrounded the room where the talk was scheduled to take place. As the event began some protesters became more disruptive and one pulled the fire alarm in the building. Krolczyk and members of the Turning Point USA chapter barricaded themselves inside the room before they were escorted out by university police and security. | -2.0 | Read More |
| 2024 | University of Washington | Board of Regents Meeting | During a Board of Regents meeting, protestors affiliated with UW Divest for Palestine shouted down speakers during the public comment period of a proposal to form a committee to consider university divestment from "weapons companies" that do business with Israel. Protesters were warned by the board multiple times that the room would be cleared if the disruption continued. The board ultimately decided to adjourn the meeting "after disruptions made orderly conduct of the meeting impossible." | -1.0 | Read More |
| 2024 | University of Washington | Daniel Kurtzer | Kurtzer, a former U.S. ambassador to Israel, was invited as the final speaker in the university's War in the Middle East Lecture Series. The UW United Front for Palestinian Liberation organized a protest both outside the venue and in the hallways of the building. About 30 minutes into Kurtzer's talk a protester began standing up and shouting over Kurtzer. The protester was removed by security. About 15 minutes later a different set of protesters began chanting and holding signs up. These protesters were also escorted out. In total, Kurtzer and the event organizers experienced seven different disruptions before the event ended early during the Q&A session. | -1.0 | Read More |
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Rankings and Survey Results
Rankings and Survey Results
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