FIRE surveyed 318 students through permission-based email campaigns, web advertisements and university partnerships. The survey was fielded from Jan. 2 through June 3 of this year. The data found MSU ranked among the worst in the self-censorship category.

FIRE does not offer its own definition of self-censorship on its website, but said that students were provided with a definition before answering the survey. 

The initial question posed by the survey is broad: "How often do you self-censor during conversations with other students on campus?" Only 34% of MSU students answered "never" or "rarely." The following questions veered away from student interaction and focused on self-censorship around professors, student administration and classroom discussions.

All combined data from FIRE conclude that MSU’s overall grade for college free speech is a D, the lowest score for self-censorship and political tolerance. 

Classroom discussions saw the highest percentage of self-censorship among MSU students, with 72% of respondents answering that they self-censor once or twice a month or more. 

All surveys in the self-censorship category showed more students self-censoring than not across all campus settings.

The survey took place during the height of anti-ICE protests and the aftermath of right-wing political commentator Charlie Kirk's assassination. Over a thousand MSU students peacefully protested Operation Metro Surge at the Hannah Administration Building in January.

Over half of MSU respondents said they did not feel comfortable having "open and honest" conversations on the Israel-Palestine conflict, Donald Trump or Charlie Kirk.

Some students have taken action against the school for its low free speech scores. MSU's chapter of Young Americans for Freedom is conducting an investigation into the university's “racially and politically discriminatory” policies after a TE 101 syllabus, the Social Foundations of Justice and Equity in Education class, was flagged for pushing anti-white ideology.

The growing trend in self-censorship is not confined to MSU, with 40% of students surveyed across the U.S. feeling “very” or “extremely clear” their administration would protect their free speech on campus.