University of Memphis Leads State of Tennessee in 2024 College Free Speech Rankings  

Sept. 8, 2023 — The University of Memphis is the top-ranked institution in Tennessee for free speech rights, according to the 2024 College Free Speech Rankings by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression.  

The rankings were developed based on survey information provided by 55,102 undergraduate students from 254 of the top universities across the United States. The UofM is 39th overall with a score of 56.14. Vanderbilt University (50.78) and the University of Tennessee (49.49) were the other Tennessee institutions to make the top 100. 

According to the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, the overall scores are based on 13 components. Six of those assess student perceptions of different aspects of the speech climate on their campus. The other seven assess behavior by administrators, faculty and students regarding free expression on campus. 

Among the specific areas measured, the UofM ranked 16th in Comfort Expressing Ideas and 36th in Administrative Support.