2025 State of Higher Education Survey - Free Speech Results
Survey
Apr. 2025
Sample Size:
2,000
Demographics:
undergraduate students
Topics:
Free Speech
Top Findings:
- Three-quarters of students, including 73% of Republicans and 75% of Democrats and independents, say their college does an “excellent” (31%) or “good” job (43%) of promoting free speech on campus. Five percent say their institution does a “poor” job.
- At least six in 10 agree that students at their school can freely discuss issues related to race (66%).
- Students are more likely to agree that their school is a place where students can freely share liberal views (67%) than to believe the same of conservative views (53%); however, large majorities of Democratic (78%), independent (73%) and Republican students (69%) personally agree they can freely express themselves on campus.
- More than two-thirds of students of all genders, races and major political parties feel like they belong on campus, and at least three-quarters also agree that they are respected by faculty members.
- Fewer than one in five students say they occasionally or frequently feel disrespected on campus, and about one in 10 have been harassed or discriminated against at least occasionally; however, these percentages are notably higher among Black students.