photo by: University of Kansas

The University of Kansas Debate program has won the National Debate Tournament six times and was the runner-up three times, including in 2025, 2024 and 2016.

The University of Kansas Debate program clinched the nation’s top spot in this year’s ranking of the “Top 50 Competitive College Debate Programs in the U.S.”

The ranking, published annually by American Liberty Media, considered factors like competitive opportunity, competitive success, coaching staff, resources, historical success in competitive debate and program prestige, according to a KU press release.

KU climbed three spots from last year’s ranking, which compared schools that compete in all different types of debate.

“We are very proud of this recognition of KU Debate as among the best in the country,” said Scott Harris, the David B. Pittaway director of KU Debate. “This is a testament to the historic and recent success of the program, the commitment of our alumni, and the institutional support that the university and the Student Senate have provided for the debate team.”

The top 10 teams from the 2026 rankings are:

1. University of Kansas

2. Emory University

3. University of Chicago

4. University of California, Berkeley

5. Mississippi State University

6. Rice University

7. Yale University

8. University of Michigan

9. George Washington University

10. Louisiana State University, Shreveport

The ranking is not the result of a single competition. Rather, it includes teams that compete in the American Debate Association, American Parliamentary Debate Association, British Parliamentary, Public Forum, Lincoln-Douglas, Cross Examination Debate Association, International Public Debate Association and the National Parliamentary Debate Association.

Staffers at American Liberty Media spent thousands of hours researching, speaking with coaches and debaters, observing debate tournaments and gathering input from debate professionals around the country, according to the release.

Earlier this year, KU debaters also secured the top spot in the Cross Examination Debate Association National Championship Tournament. The association is the nation’s premier intercollegiate policy debate organization.