Overall Score The Overall Score is made up of 12 parts. Six measure how students feel about free speech on campus. Three look at school speech policies. The last three look at how people on campus respond during speech controversies. A higher score reflects a better free speech climate.
59.6 Treanding Down
/ 100
Overall Rank The Overall Rank shows where a school stands among the 257 institutions evaluated, based on its Overall Score.
89 Treanding Down
/ 257
Overall 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.
2
Overview
The University of Alabama ranks 89 of 257 schools in the 2026 College Free Speech Rankings, a D- speech climate grade. A five-point penalty dragged its score down after administrators initially denied recognition to a Young Americans for Freedom chapter when the group refused to adopt school-required language in its constitution. The University of Alabama system officially adopted a statement on institutional neutrality — which applies to the Tuscaloosa campus. Its policies still earn them a “yellow light” Spotlight rating.Alabama places in the top 50 for “Administrative Support,” suggesting students trust the administration to protect free speech at a greater rate than most schools.
Alabama could improve by revising its speech codes to earn a “green light” Spotlight rating and by applying viewpoint-neutral criteria for approving and funding student organizations.
Highlights
41% of students say they have self-censored on campus at least once or twice a month.
55% of students say shouting down a speaker to prevent them from speaking on campus is acceptable, at least in rare cases.
34% of students say using violence to stop someone from speaking on campus is acceptable, at least in rare cases.
1.75:1
There are roughly 1.75 conservative students for every one liberal student.
Spotlight Rating
Yellow
Score over time
Student Voices
In most cases, I have to limit what I say, especially about controversial topics. It is too much of a risk to speak wrongly and destroy my public image.
Being a democrat in an extremely republican state has made me scared to share my opinions due to the violent rhetoric shared by my fellow peers.
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Score Deep Dive
Inside the Score
Explore the key factors shaping this score. This section provides a detailed look at the data, policies, and student experiences that influence free speech on campus.
Overall Score The Overall Score is made up of 12 parts. Six measure how students feel about free speech on campus. Three look at school speech policies. The last three look at how people on campus respond during speech controversies. A higher score reflects a better free speech climate.
59.6 Treanding Down
/ 100
This score out of 100 reflects how open and supportive a campus is for free speech, based on student surveys, campus policies, and recent speech-related controversies.
Overall Rank The Overall Rank shows where a school stands among the 257 institutions evaluated, based on its Overall Score.
89 Treanding Down
/ 257
A comparison of 257 U.S. colleges and universities on free speech, based on overall scores from student surveys, campus policies, and speech-related controversies.
Overall 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-
A school’s speech climate, shown as a letter grade (A–F), based on its overall score from student surveys, campus policies, and speech-related controversies.
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.
2
Reflect recent incidents where a speaker, professor, student, or student group faced efforts to punish, disinvite, or silence them for expressing a controversial view.
Chicago Statement for Free Speech
Adopted
Institutional Neutrality
Adopted
Spotlight Rating
Yellow
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).
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).
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
Speech Controversies
Speech Controversies: When Free Expression Is Challenged
Explore notable incidents where free speech was tested on campus. From speaker deplatformings to administrative actions, these events highlight the challenges — and consequences — of restricting expression.
Total 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.
2
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.
1
Deplatformings Deplatformings are the number of incidents where a scheduled event or speaker is canceled or prevented from taking place.
0
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
Scholars Under Fire
| Year | School | Target | Controversy Explanation | Score Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa | Jennifer Collins | Collins, a professor of American Studies at the university and an instructor in the university's College of Communication, posted a controversial comment on her personal Facebook page regarding an attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. She suggested the incident was staged and added that Trump "had it coming," referencing lyrics from the musical Chicago. Following media coverage of her post, Collins' profile was removed from the university's website, and the university confirmed she was no longer employed there. The university did not specify whether her departure was a direct result of the Facebook post or if her contract had ended prior to the incident. FIRE intervened, asserting that Collins' comments were protected under the First Amendment, which safeguards rhetorical hyperbole and criticism of public figures. FIRE urged the university to reinstate her. In response, the university stated that Collins was an adjunct instructor whose contract had expired before the Facebook post. | -2.0 |
Students Under Fire
| Year | School | Target | Controversy Explanation | Score Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa | Young Americans for Freedom | Administrators denied Young Americans for Freedom's renewal application after the group refused to use required language in its constitution. The university required all student groups to include a nondiscrimination statement in their constitution, which included specific reference to "gender identity," "gender expression," and "sexual identity." Not wishing to validate "gender ideology," the group email the University President along with the Attorney General to complain about the requirement. The university would ultimately grant the group an exception, allowing them to exclude these terms from their constitution, leading to a student protest. | -3.0 |
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More Student Voices
I do not talk about my political beliefs because people cannot discuss in a nice tone
Survey Results
Survey Results: Student Perspectives
See how students at The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa perceive free speech on their campus. This section breaks down survey responses to key questions, providing insights into overall trends as well as demographic differences in how students experience free expression.
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See Your School's Ranking
The College Free Speech Rankings are based on student surveys, campus policies, and recent speech-related controversies.
FIRE Fights for Your Rights
The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression defends and sustains the individual rights of all Americans to free speech and free thought — the most essential qualities of liberty. FIRE educates Americans about the importance of these inalienable rights, promotes a culture of respect for these rights, and provides the means to preserve them.
