FIRE's 2027 Free Speech Rankings: Claremont McKenna Takes Second, Pomona Scrapes in at 226th

Claremont McKenna's North Mall. (Photo Credit: CMC Media Team)

The University of Chicago surpassed Claremont McKenna College in the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression’s 2027 Free Speech Rankings released Wednesday. Claremont McKenna slid to second place after topping the 2026 report, while Pomona ranked 226 out of 261 schools.

The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) is a nonprofit civil liberties organization with a focus on First Amendment litigation. Their yearly rankings grade and rank campus climate and free speech at American colleges through a review of college policies, student surveys and adverse speech incidents. FIRE obtains data in collaboration with community-based survey CollegePulse to assess levels of student comfort and self-censorship on campuses. Nearly 63,000 students were surveyed from January 2 through June 3, 2026. 

Here is how the Claremont Colleges stacked up:

#2: Claremont McKenna College

Speech Code Rating: Green Light

Overall Score: 80.1 (B-)

152 students surveyed

#160. Pitzer College

Speech Code Rating: Yellow Light

Overall Score: 58.8 (F)

114 students surveyed

#167. Scripps College

Speech Code Rating: Yellow Light

Overall Score: 58.4 (F)

154 students surveyed

#184. Harvey Mudd College

Speech Code Rating: Yellow Light

Overall Score: 57.8 (F)

100 students surveyed

#226: Pomona College

Speech Code Rating: Yellow Light

Overall Score: 54.6 (F)

153 students surveyed

Though Claremont McKenna fell to second place, it did improve its rating from last year, going from a 79.9 to an 80.1. It ranks in the top 25 of all colleges surveyed for “Administrative Support” and “Comfort Expressing Ideas.”

Claremont McKenna made its return to the top of the rankings two years ago after falling to 73rd in the 2024 report. This drop came after a scandal involving a professor’s classroom speech and subsequent administrative retribution came to light. 

121 schools received an “F” rating in the 2027 report, with 24 receiving above a “C” rating or above. This is an increase in schools with a C or higher rating from the 2026 report.

Every Claremont College but Claremont McKenna improved their rankings this year, with Pitzer College as the consortium’s highest climber, jumping 58 places.

Pomona has now reached its highest ranking in recent history, climbing to 226th. Prior to the 2027 report, Pomona’s highest position was 242nd in the 2025 report. FIRE cites the disruption of Yoni Viloga’s October 7 vigil by protestors as a speech controversy of the last academic year, but incorrectly states that “campus security intervened, and organizers were able to resume the event after the disruption.” In fact, the Campus Safety guard charged with securing the event failed to intervene, and the disruptors were ultimately forced out of the room by professors and community members in attendance.

Editor's note: This article was updated to reflect that every Consortium college but Claremont McKenna improved in the rankings.