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.
60.7 Treanding Up
/ 100
Overall Rank The Overall Rank shows where a school stands among the 257 institutions evaluated, based on its Overall Score.
75 Treanding Up
/ 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.
3
Overview
Stanford University ranks 75 out of 257 schools in the 2026 College Free Speech Rankings with a score of 61 and a D- speech climate grade. The school earned a 2-point penalty for a disruptive protest of a debate between economists Emmanuel Saez and Larry Summers. The university earns a “yellow light” Spotlight rating and has adopted both the Chicago Statement and a statement on institutional neutrality.Student perceptions place Stanford in the top 25 for “Openness” to discussing controversial topics.
Stanford could make further progress by revising its speech policies to earn a “green light” Spotlight rating, educating students on when expression crosses into unprotected conduct, and by reinforcing that disruptive tactics will not be tolerated.
Highlights
44% 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.
34% of students say using violence to stop someone from speaking on campus is acceptable, at least in rare cases.
5.33:1
There are roughly 5.33 liberal students for every one conservative student.
Spotlight Rating
Yellow
Score over time
Student Voices
In general talking about the election. People would just assume I was disappointed, and while I don't want to rub it into anyone's face as a trump supporter, I wish people would be more understanding that even at Stanford, which leans very left, not everyone has the same views.
I felt that I could not discuss my support for Israel without getting cancelled by fellow students
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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.
60.7 Treanding Up
/ 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.
75 Treanding Up
/ 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.
3
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).
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
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.
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.
0
Deplatformings Deplatformings are the number of incidents where a scheduled event or speaker is canceled or prevented from taking place.
3
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
Deplatformings
Year | School | Target | Controversy Explanation | Score Impact |
---|---|---|---|---|
2025 | Stanford University | Emmanuel Saez/Larry Summers | Saez appeared at the "Democracy and Disagreement" lecture series to debate economist, and former Harvard president, Larry Summers on the merits of a wealth tax. During the event, members of the activist group Climate Defiance, stormed the stage, unfurled banners reading "Larry Summers your time is up," "toxic mess," and "tax the rich," and accused Summers of being a "climate criminal." They also threw fake money into the audience with messages criticizing Summers' alleged support for climate-destructive policies. The audience responded with boos and chants of "let him speak," expressing frustration over the interruption. Summers invited the protesters to return to their seats to facilitate a constructive discussion, but they declined, prolonging the disruption for over ten minutes. Summers ultimately resumed speaking and finished his remarks. | -2.0 |
2024 | Stanford University | Jafi Lipson/Jenny Martinez/Kevin Feigelis/Larry Diamond/Michal Cotler-Wunsh/Richard Saller | Saller, the university's president, held a fireside chat with Jenny Martinez, the university's provost; Michal Cotler-Wunsh, Israel's special envoy for combating antisemitism; Kevin Feigelis, a physics Ph.D. student; and Jafi Lipson, an associate professor in the school of medicine. The chat was moderated by Larry Diamond. Prior to the event, a student group, Jewish Voice for Peace condemned Saller and Martinez for sharing the stage with Cotler-Wunsh, and during the Q&A submitted about 30 questions, none of which the panelists were asked. A member of Jewish Voice for Peace interrupted Cotler-Walsh's response the last question and asked why none of their questions had been asked. Another student repeatedly chanted "Ceasefire now!" Both protesters were escorted out of the event by campus security. | -1.0 |
2023 | Stanford University | Kyle Duncan | Law students interrupted Duncan’s prepared remarks at a Federalist Society event with almost nonstop shouting and heckling. During the Q&A session, an administrator who came to the podium ostensibly to restore order defended Duncan's right to speak, but also seemed to side with the protesters, questioning whether Duncan's remarks were worth student distress. | 0.0 |
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More Student Voices
I never feel that I can speak when Israel/Palestine is brought up. I don't even fully know what my views are on the matter but it is so charged that I will never touch it in a conversation unless with trusted friends.
Survey Results
Survey Results: Student Perspectives
See how students at Stanford University 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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The College Free Speech Rankings are based on student surveys, campus policies, and recent speech-related controversies.
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