Indiana University Bloomington has landed near the bottom of the 2025 College Free Speech Rankings, coming in at No. 255 out of 257 schools.

The annual list, released by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), gave IU a score of 43.9 out of 100, making it the lowest-ranked public university in the country.

The rankings, which surveyed more than 68,000 students nationwide, evaluate campus climate across categories such as openness to controversial ideas, administrative support, and self-censorship. FIRE pointed to several recent controversies at IU, including the cancellation of an LGBTQ+ health conference and the university’s handling of antiwar demonstrations, as reasons behind the low score.

One incident drawing particular criticism was IU’s response to a pro-Palestinian encampment, where state police were stationed on rooftops overlooking campus protests. Students reported feeling unsafe voicing political opinions and worried about administrative retaliation. The university is also facing a lawsuit from the ACLU of Indiana over its policy restricting overnight protests, which FIRE says has contributed to a chilling effect on speech.

The contrast, cross-state rival, Purdue University, ranked No. 2 in the country. FIRE’s chief research advisor, Sean Stevens, said IU’s low marks reflect weak administrative support for free expression and growing distrust among students.

The list comes out amid Indiana Governor Mike Braun’s crackdown on wokeness IU Bloomington.