The University of Arizona is one of the nation's top universities when it comes to protecting free speech, according to the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, or FIRE.

The U of A ranked No. 25 overall out of 251 U.S. colleges and universities in the organization's 2025 College Free Speech Rankings, released Thursday.

FIRE, a nonprofit organization that is "committed to defending and sustaining the individual rights of all Americans to free speech and free thought," releases these rankings each year as part of the organization's efforts to gather "information about college student attitudes about free speech and the state of free speech on campuses across America."

The U of A was given an "above average" speech climate rating and is one of only 40 colleges and universities to earn a "green" spotlight rating, which is FIRE's examination of the written policies governing student speech at nearly 500 institutions of higher education in the U.S.

FIRE and College Pulse, a survey research and analytics company "dedicated to understanding the attitudes, preferences, and behaviors of college students," annually survey college undergraduates about their perceptions and experiences regarding free speech on their campuses. This year's survey includes 58,807 student respondents from 257 colleges and universities. Students were surveyed via the College Pulse mobile app and web portal from Jan. 25 through June 17.

More information about the U of A's First Amendment policies can be found on the Dean of Students website.