For centuries, academies of higher learning around the world have at times been subject to intense pressure to change such things as what is taught, how it is taught, who teaches it, and how the academies are run. While no academics in the United States have been burnt at the stake, American colleges and universities have, over the years, felt enormous pressure from politicians, religious leaders, social organizations, and even some offices and factions inside the academies themselves to change curricula, prohibit or pursue certain fields of study, fire or hire faculty, or make changes in governance structures. This report analyzes the extent to which the written standards of college accrediting agencies include elements related to academic freedom. The standards of fifty-six accrediting agencies were examined with regard to four components critical to ensuring that colleges maintain academic freedom: (1) Faculty academic freedom; (2) Faculty job security; (3) Faculty academic leadership; and (4) Institutional autonomy. Most of the accreditors examined for this report are federally recognized, which means they have been determined to have certain structures and procedures. The requirements for federal recognition do not include academic freedom or related topics, though the federal requirements include an expectation that accreditors enforce any standards they adopt.