(WXIN/WTTV) — Indiana University is the country's worst public university for free speech while Purdue University is the best, according to a recent study by a First Amendment advocacy group.

The 2026 College Free Speech Rankings were released on Tuesday by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE). IU Bloomington was ranked the third-worst college in the US for free speech protections at 255th. Purdue was ranked second overall.

The only two higher education institutions ranked lower than IU were Columbia University and Barnard College - both of which are private. The only university ranked higher than Purdue was Claremont McKenna College, also a private institution.

The study, conducted by FIRE and College Pulse, surveyed over 68,000 undergraduate students from 257 col

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