University autonomy in the U.S. lags far behind that of its peer group
Academic Freedom Index published
Institutional autonomy is essential for safeguarding academic freedom. Globally, it remains relatively stable, with notable exceptions in democracies that are becoming increasingly authoritarian.
This year’s report on the Academic Freedom Index (AFI), based on a project by researchers at Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU) and the Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) Institute at the University of Gothenburg, presents data suggesting a link between the institutional autonomy of universities and the individual freedom of researchers. It also analyzes the dramatic decline in university autonomy in the United States from a comparative perspective.
The Academic Freedom Index (AFI) 2026 Update provides an overview of the global state of academic freedom. Academic freedom continues to decline worldwide. Over the past ten years, it has deteriorated in 50 countries, while only 9 countries have seen improvements.
Institutional Autonomy Worldwide and in the West
Between 2015 and 2025, institutional autonomy declined in 43 countries, 21 of which are primarily located in Europe, North America, and Latin America. This points to a concerning erosion of academic autonomy in liberal democracies.
Institutional autonomy plays a vital role in safeguarding academic freedom. Although some researchers and policymakers have recently argued that strong institutional autonomy could benefit universities that suppress diversity of views and research approaches, AFI data suggest a positive correlation between institutional autonomy and individual freedom to conduct research and teach.
Figure 6: Institutional Autonomy, Development for the US and the Average Peer Country in Western Europe and North America from 2015 to 2025.
This year’s AFI Update examines the evolution of institutional autonomy in the United States (U.S.) and compares this trend with regional averages for Western Europe and North America between 2015 and 2025. The analysis clearly shows that university autonomy in the U.S. has fallen far behind that of the comparison group.
Further information
On the website https://academic-freedom-index.net/, you can find interactive visualizations, country profiles, and information about the Index Project.
University autonomy in the U.S. lags far behind that of its peer group
Academic Freedom Index published
Institutional autonomy is essential for safeguarding academic freedom. Globally, it remains relatively stable, with notable exceptions in democracies that are becoming increasingly authoritarian.
This year’s report on the Academic Freedom Index (AFI), based on a project by researchers at Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU) and the Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) Institute at the University of Gothenburg, presents data suggesting a link between the institutional autonomy of universities and the individual freedom of researchers. It also analyzes the dramatic decline in university autonomy in the United States from a comparative perspective.
The Academic Freedom Index (AFI) 2026 Update provides an overview of the global state of academic freedom. Academic freedom continues to decline worldwide. Over the past ten years, it has deteriorated in 50 countries, while only 9 countries have seen improvements.
Institutional Autonomy Worldwide and in the West
Between 2015 and 2025, institutional autonomy declined in 43 countries, 21 of which are primarily located in Europe, North America, and Latin America. This points to a concerning erosion of academic autonomy in liberal democracies.
Institutional autonomy plays a vital role in safeguarding academic freedom. Although some researchers and policymakers have recently argued that strong institutional autonomy could benefit universities that suppress diversity of views and research approaches, AFI data suggest a positive correlation between institutional autonomy and individual freedom to conduct research and teach.
This year’s AFI Update examines the evolution of institutional autonomy in the United States (U.S.) and compares this trend with regional averages for Western Europe and North America between 2015 and 2025. The analysis clearly shows that university autonomy in the U.S. has fallen far behind that of the comparison group.
Further information