Kent State University

Ohio State University and three other Ohio schools received an "F" grade in FIRE's seventh annual College Free Speech Rankings, part of a broader trend that saw all 13 Ohio universities surveyed earn a "D" grade or lower. The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression compared 261 universities nationwide using nearly 63,000 student survey responses and a review of institutional policies. Ohio schools averaged a D- grade, roughly matching the national average.

Ohio State scored 58 points, hurt by low marks for "administrative support," "comfort expressing ideas," and "openness," along with two of three documented Ohio speech controversies for the 2025-26 school year, including a contested student expulsion and arrests during a campus protest. Ohio State said it remains committed to free expression. Wright State ranked highest among Ohio schools, while the University of Dayton ranked lowest. Nationally, the University of Chicago topped the list; New York University finished last. The findings matter for ongoing debates over campus speech policy and institutional accountability.