The community has on- and off-campus resources available for support. Annual scholarships for LGBTQ students in financial need or coming from an LGBTQ-lacking youth community. . Get the BestColleges ranking seal. It fosters a safe campus environment and affirms members of its community. This comprehensive list includes a wide range of online and in-person resources offered by the organization. MSU ranks 4 on the Campus Pride Index. The Dartmouth College Office of Pluralism and Leadership (OPAL) provides community-specific campus resources to various student populations, including the LGBTQ+ community. Virginia has moved to restrict the rights of trans students in its public schools. Among the LGBT friendly colleges, HMC is one of the most selective, as its acceptance rate is only 13%. UMass Amherst has The Stonewall Center, which is a lesbian, gay, trans, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) Resource Center. Ithaca College provides a vibrant and engaged community for LGBTQ+ students through its Center for LGBT Education, Outreach and Services. MAC shows its LGBT campus pride by offering gender inclusive housing for students identifying as LGBT. The resource library also catalogs books, movies, and other resources. The center of the campus is known as Red Square a location that includes landmarks like a statue of George Washington and the Broken Obelisk. The Galerstein Gender Center (GGC) has been part of the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion since 1996. Like the Gallup data for adults, MIYHS data show the number of LGBT-identifying students has increased since 2009, but especially since 2017. Despite allowing student-teachers and practicums from Arizona Christian University for the last 11 years without incident, the five-member governing board of the Washington Elementary School District in Arizona has unanimously voted to stop the practice because of the perceived threat the students' biblical value system poses to LGBT students. Harvey Mudd College was founded in 1955 and named in honor of one of its initial benefactors. Resources and activities include gender-inclusive housing, health resources, gender-inclusive restrooms, policy on sexual harassment and gender discrimination, and various social and support groups. Macalester has been ranked one of CCs best River and Lake Colleges. They gain a broader understanding of how health, family difficulties and LGBTQ issues play out across an individuals life span. They are not ranked based on how LGBT inclusive they are (which would be impossible), but ordered by their Consensus Score, with the recognition that they are all LGBT schools in their own way. Kenyon College hosts the Queer and Trans Studies Conference biennially, featuring tracks in healthcare and technology, visual and performing arts, humanities and popular culture, society and law, and community interest workshops. Its belief is that support for the LGBTQ+ community requires intentional support for all historically excluded communities. The center works to create a welcoming climate through advocacy, education, and community-building. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site. Harvey Milk High School, New York City, US. According to Shane Windmeyer, the founder and executive director of Campus Pride, the mission is to serve "LGBTQ+ and ally student leaders and campus organizations in the areas of leadership development, support programs, and services to create safer, more inclusive LGBTQ+-friendly colleges and universities.". Intentional gender neutral language, or explicit non-discrimination policies, create penalties for hate speech or discrimination, whether students are abusing other students, or faculty abuse their power in the classroom. Additional support includes access to specialized legal services, health initiatives, and professional and academic development with an LGBT+ focus. LGBTQ+ youth activists who have overcome different hardships and struggles. Known for one of the nations best campus dining halls, Tufts is also the alma mater of queer icon Tracy Chapman. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. It has since grown to provide support, learning and research opportunities, and employment and leadership development for LGBTQ+ students. Reuters/Stephane Mahe. University of Michigan, Ann ArborAnn Arbor, Mich.Campus Pride Index LGBTQ-Friendly Rating: 5 out of 5 StarsGender Identity/Expression Score: 5 out of 5 Stars. Princeton ranks 5 on the Campus Pride Index. You can also find this unique ranking methodology on our list of the best LGBTQ+-friendly colleges. 4. The university also collaborates with many community programs in the city of Baltimore, including the Pride Center and Baltimore Pride. It serves the entire UMass community and provides cultural and educational programming, LGBTQIA ally training, a library, information and support. Peer support from LGBTQ+ organizations or mentorship programs can offer a safe space to explore identity or socialize with like-minded individuals. Northern Arizona University ranks 4.5 on the Campus Pride Index. Support individual transgender and gender . They teach students in the face of adversity to persevere, educate, take action, but also remember to care for themselves. Some consider Indiana University Bloomington to be a Public Ivy school. So, this leaves both students, schools, and parents with the underlying realization that LGBTQ+ education has little to no involvement in most classrooms. Image Credit: Gabriel Trujillo / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images, 2023 BestColleges.com, a Red Ventures Company, #1 The Best Colleges for LGBTQ+ Students, #2 The Best Colleges for LGBTQ+ Students, #3 The Best Colleges for LGBTQ+ Students, #4 The Best Colleges for LGBTQ+ Students, #5 The Best Colleges for LGBTQ+ Students, #6 The Best Colleges for LGBTQ+ Students, #7 The Best Colleges for LGBTQ+ Students, #8 The Best Colleges for LGBTQ+ Students, #9 The Best Colleges for LGBTQ+ Students, #10 The Best Colleges for LGBTQ+ Students, #11 The Best Colleges for LGBTQ+ Students, #12 The Best Colleges for LGBTQ+ Students, #13 The Best Colleges for LGBTQ+ Students, #14 The Best Colleges for LGBTQ+ Students, #15 The Best Colleges for LGBTQ+ Students, #16 The Best Colleges for LGBTQ+ Students, #17 The Best Colleges for LGBTQ+ Students, #18 The Best Colleges for LGBTQ+ Students, #19 The Best Colleges for LGBTQ+ Students, #20 The Best Colleges for LGBTQ+ Students, #21 The Best Colleges for LGBTQ+ Students, #22 The Best Colleges for LGBTQ+ Students, #23 The Best Colleges for LGBTQ+ Students, #24 The Best Colleges for LGBTQ+ Students, #25 The Best Colleges for LGBTQ+ Students, The Public Ivies, Little Ivies, and Other Ivy League Equivalents, University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, Helping LGBTQ+ Students Choose the Right College, Campus Pride National Scholarship Database, Effective LGBTQ+ Strategies for a Safer, More Welcoming Campus, Transgender Membership in Fraternities and Sororities and Title IX, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The Campus Pride Index has recognized Macalester College as one of the best colleges for LGBT students in the nation. The Q Center was created in 2005 as a result of a letter to the university president requesting a safe space for queer students. The center has collaborative initiatives with other diversity programs on campus to facilitate support to the community. Vanderbilt University ranks 4 on the Campus Pride Index. 2023 College Consensus | All Rights Reserved. University of Louisville, located in Louisville, KY, has a Health Services Center that focuses on the promotion of quality healthcare for the LGBT community and create an inclusive environment for students in health sciences. Rutgers offers gender inclusive housing, including gender neutral dorms and freshman being paired with student interested in LGBTQ issues. UW ranks 5 on the Campus Pride Index. In 2015, Thomas-Reuters ranked UC (28th) among the most innovative educational institutes of higher learning in the world. Many education experts have ranked UPenn as a world leading university, known for their academic and research excellence, as well as their social responsibility (they are also one of the top green colleges in the nation). Tell us about life at your school. Their mission is to foster personal and academic growth for those students who identify, and those who are exploring their gender identity. THe WVU LGBTQ+ Commission works with the center to monitor institutional procedures to ensure protection. WVU ranks 4.5 on the Campus Pride Index. Partnerships with campus offices allow the center to leverage existing expertise into workshops, presentations, and conferences on topics affecting the community. Whether through regular campus events, housing and safe spaces, or training opportunities, there is robust support available. In 2017, the number graduates who had earned a degree from Ohio State neared 750,000. College diversity initiatives have expanded their definition to include LGBTQ+ students. Support includes LGBTQIA+ advising, housing, and academic residency programs through Triangle House, a library with specialized resources, and a Partnerships in Pride mentoring program. State laws and school district policies in many places also protect transgender students from discrimination. Ithaca College began as a music conservatory in a building that was recognized, in 1971, as a part of the National Register of Historic Places. Northern Arizona University LGBTQIA Commission is an organization that provides support to all students, faculty, and staff at the university. All students should ensure their institution of choice is a good fit for them, but LGBTQ+ students have additional details to consider. Stanford University ranks 5 on the Campus Pride Index. U-Dubs 700+-acre campus is home to a student body that exceeds 46,000 and, a worldwide top-ranked (largest) library in the world. American University ranks 4.5 on the Campus Pride Index. PSU ranks 5 on the Campus Pride Index. Jaclyn Diaz. Rights of Transgender, Genderqueer, & Gender-Nonconforming Students. The top cities were New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago, followed by San Francisco and Miami. University of Oregon offers a minor in queer studies (QST) under Womens, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. PSU has all gender restrooms throughout the campus. The directory also provides access to community outreach, advocacy, and activism opportunities available for further participation. SDSU has gender neutral restrooms. The LGBTQ Center at Montclair State University provides educational and engagement opportunities for members of the LGBTQ+ community and allies on campus. In 2006, the Princeton LGBT Center opened as a symbol of their campus pride.This center provided the necessary resources for those on an exploration path to discover their own sexuality. They create a network and opportunity for the LGBTQIA+ campus community. In this minor, students are informed about the intersectional experience of gender and sexuality and they way they move within all humans. Graduates can opt to join Elons LGBTQIA Alumni association. The LGBT Center at Tufts University offers a safe space for students to gather, as well as campuswide programing on sexuality, gender, and discrimination. When she started going through . Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs) are student clubs, just like Drama Club or Key Club, that allow students with a common interest to get together and have discussions or activities about that interest. Southern Oregon University, located in Ashland OR, was ranked one of the top 25 LGBT friendly universities. They are advocates for change in policies and procedures campus wide to be more equitable to LGBTQIA individuals. The Terrapins value a strong understanding of diversity. K-State has a Gender Collective, which is an organization that provides a safe place for trans, cross gender, intersex, androgynous, gender variant individuals. The best estimate of how many GSAs exist in Catholic schools comes from GLSEN's 2013 National School Climate Survey, in which only 18 percent of LGBTQ students at private religious schools reported that their school had a GSA. Teacher Asks Court to Restore Suit on Trans Student Pronouns. According to MIYHS data, 5.5 percent of high schoolers identified as LG or B in 2009, 5.8 percent in 2011, 5.9 percent in 2013, and 7.9 percent in 2015. Vanderbilt University's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex Life Office offers several campus, local and national resources to serve its LGBTQ+ community. Kenyon College ranks 5 on the Campus Pride Index. In 2006, Newsweek recognized Tufts as a member of the new Ivy League schools. They offer training on the proper pronoun usage and how to engage in a conversation about which pronoun to use. According to BestColleges.com,Princeton University ranked first among the best colleges for LGBT for students. Together with the administration, they are creating an accessible environment for individuals of varying gender identities. Tufts University is a research university that was established in 1852. The center provides holistic and transformative opportunities for student, faculty, and staff members. The Queer Student Resources (QSR) office creates spaces for students of all genders and sexualities to feel safe. UofL ranks 5 on the Campus Pride Index. New Title IX rules set to assert rights of transgender students. University of Pennsylvania ranks 5 on the Campus Pride Index. According to studies of LGBTQ youth by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a median of 7.9% of students in the U.S. identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual and an . In 1971, the University of Michigan became the first college in the country to establish an LGBT office, and the university continues to be a pioneer on trans support. Debbi Johnson-Rais, Ed.D., is the director of Florida Atlantic University's Scholars Program, an initiative that provides support and programming for high-achieving students, particularly those in medicine. The Prism Center has been serving the LGBTQ+ population at the University of Vermont since 1999 and is a place for students to build their leadership skills, connect to the community and advocate for equity and inclusion. The school works hard to provide resources for their trans and gender non-conforming community. UMD offers all types of programming and panels to support their LGBTQA community. They are the director of the Stonewall Center at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and the Trans Policy Clearinghouse coordinator for Campus Pride. We compared how much you could earn in 10 years with a degree from this school versus only having a high school diploma. It is the 4th oldest higher learning institution in the country. UMass Amherst, located in Amherst, MA, is the original and largest university of the five-campus university system and has been ranked as one of the best campuses in the country for LGBT students by Campus Pride. Policies and locations are drafted and organized into one Ithaca College Statement. According to U.S. News & World Report, Elon University ranks as the #1 school in the southern region of the country. Washington State University, located in Pullman, WA, is one of the top 31 LGBT friendly universities. Genny Beemyn is a leading expert on the experiences of trans people in the United States, particularly the lives of trans students, and on the development of trans-inclusive college policies and practices. The QSR provides programming for members of various communities such as Black queer and trans students and queer and trans people of color, academic-focused programs, and queer faith-based initiatives. The university has a number of active student organizations, housing and diverse choice academic programs. Other initiatives include workshops, leadership programs, and student organizations. expression. These 25 institutions are the highest-ranking colleges and universities known for their queer-friendliness. The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire has a significant number of resources for members of the LGBTQ+ community to get involved in social, educational, and advocacy programs through the Gender & Sexuality Resource Center (GSRC). They have gender inclusive restrooms and gender inclusive housing. Elon is on a mission to create a campus platform where all students are welcomed and included. Tufts University offers gender inclusive housing (known as the Rainbow House) through its campus pride initiative. Sex education has always been an undercovered topic in schools, but little to no coverage ever reaches the LGBT community. Debbi Johnson-Rais, Ed.D., is the director of Florida Atlantic University's Scholars Program, an initiative that provides support and programming for high-achieving students, particularly those in medicine. Transgender is an umbrella term It exists to develop, support, and give "voice and action" in building future LGBTQ+ and ally student leaders. Annually, Campus Pride produces the Campus Pride Index, which awards star ratings (scaled 1-5) to colleges based on their LGBTQ+ supportive policies, LGBTQ+ student resources, and other criteria. There are factors to consider when choosing an LGBTQ+-friendly college. How Important is the LSAT to Law School Admissions? SDSU is one of the top LGBT friendly campuses and the second college in the US to offer LGBT Studies as a major. 22 school districts were given "top tier" ratings, 80 . PD program to facilitate safe spaces for LGBTQ+ youth. The counseling center provides confidential assistance. In a Wall Street Journal survey, corporate recruiters ranked graduates of Penn State #1 in terms of their ability to reach for success when hired. The Commission supports the Office of Inclusion: Multicultural & LGBTQIA Student Services and provides Safe Zone training, counseling services, and policy for safety and health promotion on campus. The GSRC Qmmunity Connections creates a space for community members to make connections. One new initiative is the David Bohnett CyberCenter, a computer lab that allows students to work in a nurturing atmosphere. The power to build inclusivity for LGBTQ+ students is not in the hands of teachers alone. It also hosts speakers, film series, receptions, and other social gatherings. The University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) proudly demonstrates its campus pride by offering The Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Center (LGBT Center) to its entire student body. They allow students to select the name and pronoun that best suits the student to be used on university records and databases. Mid Vermont Christian . Center staff are available for consultations to provide support and guidance to the LGBTQ+ community. Kenyon College has a strong institutional commitment to providing a safe, vibrant community for its LGBTQ+ students, faculty, and staff, and a policy to support them. Ithaca College ranks 5 on the Campus Pride Index. The LGBTQ Resource Center at the University of New Mexico began as a student-led initiative in 2010 and has significantly expanded since. The LGBTQ Student Center hosts a number of student organizations for its diverse populations. Students have the opportunity to create and design their preferred interdisciplinary coursework/degree. Guilford College ranks 5 on the Campus Pride Index. The LGBTQ Center offers various resources for LGBTQ students, including student organizations and the Safe Space program. Public middle and high schools were required to follow the sex ed laws in the California Healthy Youth Act beginning in 2016, . A bias-based bullying prevention program providing LGBTQ+ and gender inclusive professional development training, lesson plans, booklists and resources specifically designed for educators and youth-serving professionals. They believe differences should be celebrated and they stand as a model for diversity through their student body and their programming. Through peer support, leadership development, and training, GSA Network supports young people in starting, strengthening, and sustaining GSAs and builds the capacity of GSAs to: (1) create safe environments in schools for students to support each other and learn about homophobia and other oppressions; (2) educate school communities about You have the right to express your gender, and it is unlawful for your peers or teachers to harass or treat you differently because of your gender. It also provides opportunities for allyship through online resources, events, and training. The center not only provides a supportive environment for students, faculty, and staff on campus, but also serves as a resource for training and involvement. These groups provide one way to let these students know that they are valued and that their voices are important. The center also facilitates participation in events such as the Pride Parade, Black Gay Pride Week, Dragstavaganza, and Trans Day of Remembrance. Ohio State University (Ohio State), through the Office of Student Lifes Multi-cultural Center, administers a variety of LGBT campus pride initiatives. The University of Colorado at Boulder was established in 1876 five months before Colorado became a state. Princeton University was established in 1746, 30 years before the American Revolution. LGBT students can study International Affairs, Finance, Engineering, Architecture, Theology, the Social and Natural Sciences, among other majors. The Pride Center offers access to resources for students, parents, faculty, guardians and Lehigh Universitys alumni. These challenges are related to: their identity, concerns with safety, and a lack of institutional policies to protect them. Enrollment Advisor. UMDs Clark School of Engineering is known for its hands on engineering program, allowing students to research and build as soon as they begin school. Courses focus on all the emerging LGBT subcultures and identities from a big picture, and science and philosophy behind LGBT identities, literature, laws, and healthcare. Open since 1982, the LGBTQ+ Center at the University of Pennsylvania was created as a response to homophobic incidents occurring on campus. Myth #5: Sex education is inclusive of all students. They also provide training and initiatives related to allyship, social justice and mental health, and wellness. Ithaca Colleges LGBT center was established in 2001 and continues to provide a supportive and welcoming environment for LGBT students and their allies. Their programming involves social, academic, and advocacy opportunities, as well as health promotion and financial support. The Gender & LGBTQIA Center provides LGBT students (and those questioning their sexual identity) a chance to feel valued, validated and victorious while attending Elon, and in their lives. Genny Beemyn is a leading expert on the experiences of trans people in the United States, particularly the lives of trans students, and on the development of trans-inclusive college policies and practices. Open since 1982, the LGBT Center at the University of Pennsylvania was created as a response to homophobic incidents occurring on campus. Penn State provides a higher learning platform on its 24 campuses and through its 18 colleges. Rutgers University, located in New Brunswick, NJ, is a top rated LGBT University. Find out how the University of Texas at Dallas creates a supportive environment for LGBTQ+ students. Other resources encourage connection, advocacy, and networking throughout the community. The GGC Equity Excellence program provides a certificate of commitment to participants from the university community upon completion of various academic and social events, book clubs, and lectures. Typically, 70% of undergraduate students live on campus. Ithaca College is a private college founded in 1892. Programming includes LUally training, mentorship, and a wide range of resources written for LGBTQ+ individuals in the Pride Center library. The Gender and Sexuality Living Learning Community provides first-year housing to LGBTQ+ students and all-gender housing opportunities. A Vermont girls high school basketball team forfeited out of the Vermont Division IV state tournament after refusing to play against a team that includes a transgender player. Various campus and legal services are also available for support and engagement. The program connects community members to campus and local resources for support. Discrimination is still endemic: 40% of homeless youth identify as LGBT; in adult life, unemployment is 13% for LGBTQ workers, and 16% for trans workers. There are almost a dozen student groups catering to LGBTQIA+ and the challenges they face. The Queer Resource Center (QRC) at Harvey Mudd College began in the 1970s, created by students. Virginia Wesleyan University ranks 5 on the Campus Pride Index. Nov. 4, 2022, at 5:18 p.m. According to U.S. News & World Report, Lehigh University ranked 53rd (Tied) among 2019s best colleges. University of Utah ranks 4.5 on the Campus Pride Index. Enlarge this image. University of Delaware ranks 4.5 on the Campus Pride Index. They allow students to select the name by which they are known and that is one the schools records. Here are the top-ranked colleges for LGBTQ+ support. UT Dallas ranks 5 on the Campus Pride Index. CU offers its LGBT students the opportunity to join the Lavender Graduation, a yearly event that honors LGBT graduates. Their mission is to create a campust where everyone has a chance to explore who they and who they wish to be. The almost 2% prevalence rate is more than double the previously available estimate of 0.7%. Glenn . According to U.S. News & World Report, during the years from 2001-2018 Princeton University was ranked as the first or second best University in the country (and one of the Ivy Leagues offering free tuition). The Best 388 Colleges Our School Ratings Financial Aid Honor Roll Fire Safety Honor Roll . In partnership with Campus Pride, we are happy to bring you our top 25 most LGBTQ+-friendly colleges in the United States. A battle over rainbow stickers at a high school near Dallas has hobbled the Gay-Straight Alliance and left LGBTQ students feeling unsafe. Edited by Cobretti D. Williams, Ph.D. The LGBTQ+ community at the University of Pittsburgh also plays an active role in fraternities and sororities and has gender-inclusive housing options available through the Office of Residence Life. The center, founded in 1999, supports both the academic and social needs of the community and its allies. Through Macalester Colleges (MAC) Career Development Center, the college offers students a chance to participate, and run, its Gender and Sexuality Resource Center (GSRC). Ohio State University has an active LGBTQ+ community and provides comprehensive support for them with gender-inclusive housing, comprehensive health services, and faith-based support. The LGBTQ+ Culture Center at Indiana University-Bloomington provides support to members of its LGBTQ+ community that includes scholarships, educational resources, and other support services. The University of Louisville School of Medicine is piloting newly released LGBT health competencies for medical schools. 1-800-2REVIEW . The University Counseling Center offers individual and group therapy options and critical care. "To do otherwise would not only be discriminatory but would deprive high school students of the meaningful opportunity to participate in educational activities, including inter-scholastic sports, based on sex-stereotyping and prejudice sought to be prevented by Title IX and Connecticut state law." There are many ways for students to get involved at the GSRC, with volunteer or service learning opportunities. In his kindergarten classroom, one teacher in western Massachusetts using "Rights, Respect, Responsibility" introduces the idea . Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) as a comprehensive resource providing information, education and reinforced advocacy for those exploring or identifying with a variety of gender and non-gender identities. The LGBTQ+ Peer Mentor Program matches new students to returning students to facilitate the transition into university. IU Bloomington offers gender neutral housing that allows LGBT students to live their authentic selves on campus. Mid Vermont Christian School (MVCS) was set . Indiana University Bloomington is a public university established in 1820. Connecticut College ranks 4.5 on the Campus Pride Index. But the best colleges for LGBT students can truly be a matter of life or death. It is considered a top research university. Penn State is considered one of the most LGBT friendly colleges as it includes all-gender restrooms and gender inclusive housing. The GSRC provides peer-facilitated first-year discussion groups, gender support discussion groups, a peer educator program, Out in STEM, and the Q'nnections mentorship program. Montclair State offers a LGBTQ minor under the Gender, Sexuality, and Womens Studies program to allow students to think critically about identity, current issues, and activism. GLSEN serves K-12 students, and you will know best which activities and lessons will meet your students' needs. Lola Rossi, a student at Haddon Heights High School in N.J., with the. In support of LGBTQIA students, Augsburg University allows students to select their personal pronoun in their records and registration for use in university records. There is a focus on the intersectionality of gender, race, religion, and sexuality. Theres no one, simple way of defining what makes for LGBT friendly colleges, but there are some guidelines that can give an indication of their level of welcoming. The Gay Liberation Front chapter at the University of Michigan created the Spectrum Center in 1971, to support its LGBTQ+ community. Start the Survey .