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.
58.9 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.
111 Treanding Up
/ 257
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.
5
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).
D+
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).
F
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
Four Wisconsin schools are ranked in the 2026 College Free Speech Rankings. The state’s average speech-climate grade is F, matching the national average.The University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire ranks 52 overall and is the top-ranked school in the state. UW–Milwaukee and UW–Madison follow at 61 and 101, respectively. All three schools hold “yellow light” ratings in FIRE’s Spotlight database, meaning their written policies threaten student expression. The University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents has adopted both the pro-free speech Chicago Statement and a statement on institutional neutrality, applying to each UW System campus in the rankings.
Marquette University ranks 230 and holds a “red light” rating, meaning its written policies clearly and substantially restrict protected expression. It has not adopted either statement. Replacing restrictive speech codes and expanding administrative commitments would help improve the climate for free speech on Wisconsin’s campuses.
Highlights
44% of students say they have self-censored on campus at least once or twice a month.
73% of students say shouting down a speaker to prevent them from speaking on campus is acceptable, at least in rare cases.
35% of students say using violence to stop someone from speaking on campus is acceptable, at least in rare cases.
1.86:1
Across Wisconsin, there are roughly 1.86 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 Wisconsin. 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.
5
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.
2
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
Students Under Fire
| Year | School | Target | Controversy Explanation | Score Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | University of Wisconsin - Madison | Anticolonial Scientists/Mecha | Anticolonial Scientists and Mecha were put on interim suspension while the university investigated them for messages the groups were suspected of writing in chalk at a farmer's market that "endorsed violence, supported terrorist organizations and/or contained antisemitic comments." | -1.0 |
| 2024 | University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee | UWM Popular University for Palestine | UWM Popular University for Palestine -- a coalition of five student groups -- released a message on Instagram announcing that "any organization or entity that supports Israel is not welcome at UWM..." and that those who do "will be treated as extremist criminals." The university condemned the statement, launched an investigation, and suspended the five groups, and Jewish activist groups called for the university to publicly oppose the Boycott, Divestments, and Sanctions (BDS) movement. | -1.0 |
Deplatformings
| Year | School | Target | Controversy Explanation | Score Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | University of Wisconsin - Madison | Linda Thomas-Greenfield | Thomas-Greenfield, a former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, delivered a talk titled “The Art of Negotiation” at the the La Follette School of Public Affairs. The event was disrupted shortly after it began by members of the campus chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), who accused Thomas-Greenfield of complicity in Israel’s actions in Gaza. One protester used a megaphone while others held banners reading “Ceasefire Now.” Their actions prevented the ambassador from continuing her remarks. Audience members booed the disruption, and Thomas-Greenfield responded by emphasizing the importance of mutual respect for free expression, stating that while she appreciated the protester's right to speak, she should also be allowed to share her views. University staff warned the protesters that police had been called, and they were ultimately escorted out by law enforcement. After the disruption, Thomas-Greenfield resumed her talk without further incident, discussing diplomacy, the role of the United Nations, and international negotiation. | -2.0 |
| 2024 | University of Wisconsin - Madison | Michael Knowles | Students objected and planned to protest Knowles talk, titled "Abortion is Not Healthcare." University administrators also informed the event organizers, the campus chapter of Young Americans for Freedom, that they would be responsible for the $4,217.17 security fee required for the event, despite not billing student groups for security fees in the past. After the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty and the Moutain States Legal Foundation wrote the university on behalf of Young Americans for Freedom, the university reversed their decision. Knowles spoke successfully. | -1.0 |
| 2023 | University of Wisconsin - Madison | Bob Woodson/Carol Swain/Diante Johnson/Kali Fontanilla/Wilfred Reilly | During the Q&A period of a panel, co-organized by a faculty member and the Center for the Study of Liberal Democracy, online participants heckled, shouted, and masturbated on-camera. Students working the tech feeds turned off the online portion of the panel, making it impossible for the online audience to continue participating. | -1.0 |
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Rankings and Survey Results
Rankings and Survey Results
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