An ‘A’ for expression: Top 10 US colleges where free speech wins

The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) has released its 2026 College Free Speech Rankings, surveying 68,000 students across 257 colleges. Claremont McKenna tops the list with a B- grade, followed by Purdue and University of Chicago. Despite commitments to free expression, self-censorship and resistance to controversial ideas remain widespread, highlighting challenges for administrators and students alike.