A comprehensive survey conducted by Gallup and Lumina Foundation reveals that approximately 75% of currently enrolled bachelor's degree students believe their institutions do an "excellent" or "good" job of promoting free speech, with only 5% rating their college's efforts as "poor."
The report, titled "Beyond the Headlines: The Reality of Free Speech on College Campuses," surveyed over 2,000 currently enrolled bachelor's degree students and counters the narrative that America's college campuses have become hostile environments for open discourse.
"While notable segments of students express some reservations about whether certain topics can be discussed openly on campus, just 5% of students rate their school poorly in promoting an environment of free expression," the report states.
The findings come amid heightened scrutiny of campus free speech issues, particularly following the congressional testimony of college presidents regarding protests related to the Israel-Hamas war and subsequent high-profile resignations at Harvard, Columbia, and the University of Pennsylvania.
Between 2021 and 2024, 34 state legislatures introduced bills aimed at limiting or banning the teaching of "divisive concepts" on college campuses, with 11 states passing such laws. The House of Representatives also passed legislation affecting colleges' ability to restrict campus demonstrations.
The study reveals that more than two-thirds of students across demographic categories personally feel free to express their opinions on campus. This sentiment spans political affiliations, with 78% of Democratic students, 73% of independents, and 69% of Republicans agreeing they can freely express themselves.
