Ohio State University, three other Ohio universities receive an ‘F’ in latest free speech rankings

The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression gave four Ohio colleges and universities a failing grade on their 2027 College Free Speech rankings.   

The survey ranked 261 colleges and universities after receiving responses from nearly 63,000 students who were surveyed via College Pulse from Jan. 2 through June 3. 13

Ohio colleges and universities were ranked between No. 64 and 237. 

Half of students surveyed nationwide said the Israeli–Palestinian conflict was difficult to openly discuss on campus. 

Slightly less than half (46%) of students said President Donald Trump was hard to openly talk about on campus. 44% of students said right-wing activist Charlie Kirk who was killed last September while speaking at Utah Valley University, 43% said abortion, 38% said immigration, and 38% said transgender rights were difficult to openly discuss on campus. 

This is the seventh consecutive year FIRE has done this survey, which now gives universities letter grades. Slightly less than half of universities surveyed — 121 out of 261 — received a failing grade for their campus speech climate. 

Only 24 universities received a C or better. 

FIRE summed up 12 parts to come up with an overall score for each college or university: comfort expressing ideas, self-censorship, disruptive conduct, administrative support, openness,  political tolerance, the Chicago statement, institutional neutrality, FIRE’s spotlight rating and various speech controversies on campus.

The University of Chicago received the highest ranking with an overall score of 81.42 and a B- grade. New York University got the lowest ranking with an overall score of 44.97 and an F grade. 

Here’s where Ohio colleges and universities ranked on FIRE’s list:

64. Wright State University — 64.82 overall score — D climate grade — 153 students surveyed. 

76. Kenyon College — 63.57 overall score — D climate grade — 151 students surveyed. 

77. Miami University — 63.56 overall score — D climate grade — 294 students surveyed. 

80. Bowling Green State University — 63.38 overall score — D climate grade — 291 students surveyed. 

88. Denison University — 62.98 overall score — D climate grade — 176 students surveyed. 

91. University of Toledo — 62.86 overall score — D climate grade — 155 students surveyed. 

101. Ohio University — 62.27 overall score — D- climate grade — 307 students surveyed. 

108. University of Cincinnati — 61.84 overall score — D- climate grade — 284 students surveyed. 

121. Case Western Reserve University — 60.47 overall score — D- climate grade — 288 students surveyed. 

174. Ohio State University — 58.18 overall score — F climate grade — 333 students surveyed. 

189. Kent State University — 57.65 overall score — F climate grade — 338 students surveyed. 

194. Oberlin College — 57.19 overall score — F climate grade — 86 students surveyed. 

237. University of Dayton — 53.75 overall score — F climate grade — 275 students surveyed.

Case Western had the biggest positive change and was ranked No. 163 on last year’s survey. 

Ohio State had the biggest negative change and was ranked No. 124 on last year’s survey. Ohio State banned chalking on campus last summer and all dorm decor in the common areas must be Ohio State-specific.

Ohio Senate Bill 1 took effect last summer that bans diversity efforts, regulates classroom discussion, prohibits faculty strikes, creates post-tenure reviews, puts diversity scholarships at risk, and creates a retrenchment provision that blocks unions from negotiating on tenure, among other things.

Follow Ohio Capital Journal Reporter Megan Henry on X or on Bluesky.