The UW’s Poor FIRE Ranking Signals a Need for Change

In 2024, the University of Washington again had one of the worst rankings for public universities in FIRE’s (Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression) annual survey of the free speech and free thought atmosphere on campus. Of the 251 colleges and universities surveyed, The UW came in at #226, and earning a red spotlight ranking for its written policies governing student speech. See https://www.thefire.org/research-learn/2025-college-free-speech-rankings. 

• The details behind the UW’s overall ranking are equally troubling.  The school ranked #213 out of 251 on the degree to which students felt comfort expressing ideas, #153 in tolerance of differences, and #212 for student reported self-censorship. Indeed, 50% of University of Washington students say they self-censored on campus at least once or twice a month.

There is also a disturbing lack of student support for free speech. 

• 71% of University of Washington students say shouting down a speaker to prevent them from speaking on campus is at least rarely acceptable;

• 30% of University of Washington students say using violence to stop someone from speaking on campus is at least rarely acceptable;

[UW specific information:  https://rankings.thefire.org/rank/school/university-of-washington-seattle-campus]

The UW’s poor FIRE ranking signals a need for change. As Benjamin Franklin aptly noted: "Without freedom of thought, there can be no such thing as wisdom — and no such thing as public liberty, without freedom of speech." The pursuit of truth, cultivation of wisdom and preservation of liberty lie at the heart of the University’s mission, and it is past time for the University must recommit itself to that mission.