The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) score of Bowling Green State University (BGSU) has gone from 63.2 to 61.4.
The FIRE mission is to defend and sustain the individual rights of all Americans, including the right to free speech.
The overall grade ranking is determined from 12 components that FIRE uses, including disruptive conduct, institutional neutrality, etc. The scores are in the high 50s and in the low 60s. The FIRE uses the standard grade scale, with grades ranging from 93-100, which corresponds to an A and 60 and below corresponds to an F.
BGSU is ranked 66 out of 257 schools. Ahead of BGSU are Ohio University and Wright State University. Lower than BGSU are Miami University, the University of Toledo and The Ohio State University.
FIRE scores many ways students can express themselves with Administrative Support, Political Tolerance and Openness.
“Student perceptions place BGSU in the top 25 for ‘Administrative Support,’ indicating that more students feel the administration will back expressive rights and in the top 50 for ‘Political Tolerance,’” writes the FIRE College Free Speech Rankings website. “At the same time, the school ranks in the bottom 25 for ‘Openness’ and the bottom 50 for ‘Self-Censorship,’ showing many conversations remain constrained.”
FIRE also has a spotlight ranking for universities, which is categorized as either green, yellow or red. BGSU light is yellow. FIRE writes how BGSU can get its lights up.
“BGSU could bolster its standing by revising its speech policies to earn a ‘green light.’ Spotlight rating and by adopting an official commitment to institutional neutrality,” writes the FIRE College Free Speech Rankings website.
Michael Bratton, media relations manager, comments on the freedom of expression that the University has in place at BGSU.
“The publicly accessible Freedom of Expression page on the BGSU website explains and outlines the University’s commitment to freedom of speech and expression and the rights protected by the First Amendment,” Bratton said.
https://www.bgsu.edu/dean-of-students/free-speech.html
https://rankings.thefire.org/campus/201441-bowling-green-state-university?demo=all&year=2025
