2025 College Rankings

Case Western Reserve University is renowned for its contributions to scientific research; but in recent years, it has adopted ideological commitments that risk undermining its reputation for objective rigor.

Activist influence has crept into the administration. The university has signed on to several extraneous initiatives—such as environmental pledges—that distract from its core research and educational mission. It also supports a sizable Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) bureaucracy, employing more than five DEI staff per 1,000 students.

The administration’s handling of the radical anti-Semitic protests that erupted during the 2023–24 academic year was particularly weak. In the spring, student activists occupied campus buildings and grounds for over a week while the administration hesitated to act. That same year, the student government passed resolutions urging the university to join the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel—a demand that the university fortunately declined. The demonstrations ended only with the close of the semester. To its credit, Case Western later expelled the encampment leader, but it clearly protected many other students who had violated the rules.

Case Western does not offer strong protections for free speech. Only 15 percent of students told the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) that it is “extremely” or “very” clear that the university supports free expression. The school operates a bias-response system aimed at policing speech that some may find offensive. FIRE gives Case Western a “red” speech code rating, indicating that its policies explicitly restrict speech.

The faculty at Case Western tend toward ideological moderation. When asked to place their professors on a 7-point ideological scale—where 1 is “very liberal” and 7 “very conservative”—students rate them at 3, on average. Still, nearly all faculty campaign donations in the 2023–24 election cycle went to liberal or Democratic candidates. Notably, more than 1 percent of faculty are members of Heterodox Academy, an organization that promotes free inquiry on campus—a relatively high figure by our metrics.

Students, however, are less ideologically balanced. For every conservative student, there are nearly five liberals. Political tolerance is also lacking, particularly when it comes to campus speakers: nearly 40 percent of students tell FIRE that it is “sometimes” or “always” acceptable to shout down a controversial speaker. Unsurprisingly, self-censorship is widespread: over 50 percent of students report withholding their views at least once a month.

Case Western’s curriculum performs poorly on our metrics. The American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA) gives the university an F in its What Will They Learn? ratings, which assign letter grades based on how many of seven core subjects are required in the core curriculum or general education program. While the school mandates DEI-focused coursework, it fails to require foundational subjects like U.S. history or government.

Case Western’s graduation rates fall well below expectations based on SAT scores and Pell Grant data—the six-year graduation rate is 86 percent, nearly six points lower than predicted. The school also underdelivers in other key areas. On average, it takes 3.1 years for graduates to repay the cost of their education, longer than our overall average of 2.3 years. However, median earnings ten years after enrollment surpass expectations.