LOGAN, Utah — Utah State University has fallen sharply in a national survey of campus free speech, dropping from 66th place last year to 141st out of 257 schools in 2026.
The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) gave Utah State an overall score of 56.9, an “F” grade for speech climate. The rankings, released Sept. 9, come as the Logan campus has grappled with free expression debates surrounding the planned visit of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated before his scheduled appearance.
Kirk’s invitation, coordinated with Turning Point USA, sparked petitions and dozens of letters to the editor at Cache Valley Daily. Alumni, students, and faculty clashed publicly over whether the event should proceed, with opponents calling for its cancellation and supporters defending it as a test of USU’s commitment to free speech.
The controversy mirrored national trends highlighted in FIRE’s report. For the first time, a majority of students across the country said they would prevent controversial speakers — whether liberal or conservative — from appearing on campus. Overall, 166 of 257 colleges surveyed received an F, while only 11 schools earned a C or better.
“Rather than hearing out and then responding to an ideological opponent, both liberal and conservative college students are retreating from the encounter entirely,” said FIRE President and CEO Greg Lukianoff.
The survey of more than 68,000 students across the country found that only 36% believe their administration clearly protects free expression. A record one in three students said they find some level of acceptance in using violence to stop speech.
Claremont McKenna College topped the rankings, while Barnard College, Columbia University, and Indiana University finished at the bottom.
For Cache Valley, Utah State’s decline underscores the tension between its stated commitment to open dialogue and the reality of a fractured speech climate — now compounded by the fallout from Kirk’s canceled event.