The autonomy of universities in the U.S. falls far behind peer group, analysis finds
Mar 17, 2026
Academic freedom continues to decline worldwide. Over the last decade, it has declined in 50 countries, while only nine countries have registered improvements. The countries that have experienced a decline include several democracies, such as the United States of America (U.S.), Greece, Finland, and
Argentina. Globally, the most widespread declines are in individual academic freedom and in campus integrity. By contrast, fewer countries are experiencing declines in institutional autonomy. However, there are strong reasons to be concerned about attacks on universities' institutional autonomy. ...read more read less