Three leading Minnesota universities received an average grade of F for protecting free speech on campus, according to rankings released by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression in 2027. The report evaluated Carleton College, Macalester College, and the University of Minnesota through student surveys and reviews of administrative policies. Both the average free speech score and average ranking for Minnesota colleges have dropped since the previous year's assessment.
The report reveals that 72 percent of Minnesota students surveyed consider it acceptable to shout down a speaker to prevent them from talking on campus, with roughly one in three students believing violence can be justified in rare instances. Additionally, 41 percent reported they've held back from expressing their views on campus within the past month. Among the three schools, Carleton College ranked highest at 116th out of 261 institutions with a D- grade, landing in the top 25 nationally for openness while having about 5.64 liberal students for every conservative student. Macalester College came in 207th with its sixth straight F grade for speech climate, ranking fifth nationally for openness but falling into the bottom 50 for political tolerance, with approximately 11.14 liberal students per conservative student.
The University of Minnesota finished lowest among the three at 204th place with an F grade, receiving a penalty for an attempted disruption of an event with an anti-abortion speaker. The report notes that UMN falls in the bottom 25 for "Comfort Expressing Ideas," indicating students feel uneasy sharing perspectives on divisive topics, and lands in the bottom 50 for both "Openness" and "Administrative Support," suggesting many contentious subjects feel forbidden and students question whether officials will defend speech. A majority of UMN students—53 percent—said they'd feel somewhat or very uncomfortable expressing their opinions on a controversial political topic in a common space like a dining hall. The university's admitted student body shows about 3.67 liberal students for every conservative student, a more balanced ratio than either Carleton or Macalester.
The report argues that healthy campuses require strong administrative teams that insist on free speech, turning away disruptive or violent protesters and requiring students to work through disagreements with conversation rather than confrontation. Because one-third of Minnesota students surveyed believe violence is sometimes an acceptable response to a speaker they oppose, the report suggests many students think they face only two choices: complete silence or explosive protest. The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression recommends that college administrators sign the Chicago Statement for Free Speech, adopt policies of institutional neutrality, and reform restrictive written student rules. The report also suggests administrators should avoid publishing ideological statements or open letters responding to events that don't directly involve university business, and shouldn't punish or reward student groups that choose to issue such statements. Campus climates that protect free speech produce graduates capable of engaging in serious cross-party dialogue and building unexpected alliances, making Minnesota's current trajectory a concern that demands advocacy.