2022 Free Speech and Viewpoint Diversity Rankings

FIRE and Eric Kaufmann

In September 2022, FIRE came out with the 2022 Free Speech Rankings. Harvard ranked 170 out of 203 schools, or the bottom 16%.

“The University of Chicago was the top-ranked school in the College Free Speech Rankings for the second time in three years. Columbia University had, by far, the lowest score… with a Speech Climate rating of ‘Abysmal.’ The University of Pennsylvania, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Georgetown University, and Skidmore College are also ranked in the bottom five.”

Meanwhile, based on FIRE’s data, Eric Kaufmann put together the Viewpoint Diversity Ranking of Leading US Colleges — Harvard ranked 131 out of 159 schools, or the bottom 17%. “Based on percentage of students reporting a given partisan or ideological identification in the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) 2020 and 2021 combined campus free speech ranking surveys…2022 data broadly confirm this ranking pattern.”

University of Arkansas topped the list with Wellesley anchoring the 159 schools with its lack of viewpoint diversity.

Harvard-viewpoint diversity (2020-2021)

  • Ranked: 131/159

  • Liberal: 70%

  • Moderate: 18%

  • Conservative 12%

  • Democrat 67%

  • Republican: 9%

See the 2022 Free Speech Rankings

See the 2020/21 Kaufmann Viewpoint Diversity Rankings

Related:

All US students are afraid to speak – and we should be worried (Times Higher Ed, 9/19/22)— by Harvard alum Samuel Abrams (AM ‘07, PHD ‘10)

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