Most gay friendly colleges

Happy Pride! Our editorial team assembled a curated selection of LGBTQ+-affirming colleges and universities across the United States. This list is drawn from the Campus Pride Index, a valuable resource developed by Campus Pride that meticulously rates institutions based on their dedication to LGBTQ+ inclusivity. Explore this resource and feel free to share any omissions in the comments below.

Furthermore, engage with the polls below to unveil the critical factors that shaped your decisions regarding LGBTQ+-affirming colleges. Your responses will remain confidential.

Remember, the main focus of the Campus Pride Index is campus administration's stance on LGBTQ+ issues. However, student attitudes, local community views, and pertinent local/state laws (particularly those related to LGBTQ+ rights) are also important considerations. Similar insights apply when assessing institutions in respect to other minority groups.

Further acknowledging that varied experiences within the LGBTQ+ community can influence the nature of challenges and potential prejudice.

Consider that certain Campus Pride Index factors may not directly apply to all campuses, as some institutions may not possess all relevant facilities (e.g., fraternities/sororities, graduate programs, on-campus housing).

@ucbalumnus5, can you furnish us with examples of other institutions that might deserve inclusion on this list?

I believe Brandeis University was overlooked. My relative, currently a postgraduate student there, recently received an email about pride events held on and off-campus, which suggests a robust support system.

Furthermore, I'd like to add additional details regarding this matter.

Essential elements are missing, such as those that evaluate a campus's "vibrant queer social life" and "dating prospects," among others. The Campus Pride Index, while useful for scrutinizing administrative policies, fails to capture the lived social experience.

For instance, Mankato State College, while earning a positive ranking in the Campus Pride Index, might not be the ideal choice for a young lesbian, given the lack of a robust LGBTQ+ social scene. Instead, exploring established women's colleges that boast large, thriving LGBTQ+ communities is a more suitable course of action. While acknowledging the extensive geographic and selectivity range of institutions initially included.

ETA: I commend the inclusive and thorough nature of the selection.

Essential elements are missing, such as those that evaluate a campus's "vibrant queer social life" and "dating prospects," among others.

The Campus Pride Index probably prioritized aspects more easily quantifiable (administrative policies) over subjective assessments of intangible qualities that diverse individuals may assess and perceive differently.

17% of respondents opted for "Other." Unveiling what this selection represents would be insightful. It's likely that users provided additional comments to clarify their choices.

Yes. We appreciate students sharing additional criteria they use for evaluating colleges.

Based on recent discussions, a new survey question should incorporate LGBTQ+-relevant laws and regulations within the college's jurisdiction.

Essential elements are missing, such as those that evaluate a campus's "vibrant queer social life" and "dating prospects," among others.

Sometimes, even after considering all these factors, a thoughtful college search requires further thought and careful consideration.

17% of students chose Other.

Some individuals may have cited factors not exclusively related to LGBTQ+ matters—such as cost, academic programs, or institutional prestige.

If the intended objective of the poll was specifically to understand LGBTQ+ factors, a more tailored question should be used, to refine the question to be more specific. Such as 'What is the most pivotal LGBTQ+-related element in selecting a college?'

My daughter, in her college search, prioritised inclusivity. This list, in my view, is restricted. However, my daughter had an excellent experience at Beloit College in her final two years; Beloit fostered a welcoming and accepting environment. Beloit College is a great institution. For parents, especially parents whose children are in the LGBTQ+ community, it's essential to find schools that accept everyone without discrimination. Great school, students, and families, BTW.

A notable proportion of colleges on my application list were women's institutions. I was selective, only considering those that extended acceptance to transgender and non-binary students.

Resident of NC, I find Elon College not representative of institutions that actively foster a welcoming and LGBTQ+-affirming atmosphere. While policies might seem sound, institutions like UNC-Asheville and Warren Wilson are more demonstrative of the desired characteristics. UNC-Chapel Hill and Duke University would also rank higher than Elon in my assessment of LGBTQ+ friendliness. I advocate for a broader representation of women's colleges on this list.

Furthermore, I answered "other" because cost, academics, and a general sense of atmosphere, including an LGBTQ+ presence (though not exclusive to that), were considered more significant factors than LGBTQ+ policies. If the objective was to focus solely on LGBTQ+ criteria, this should be stated clearly.

If the intent was to survey on specifically-LGBTQ-related reasons...

Precisely, we aimed to gauge LGBTQ+-centric factors. However, any updates to the poll would result in the loss of existing responses.

The current discussion lacks depth. An update is warranted, considering the limited response count (only 23 votes).

I have updated the poll to accommodate the suggested modifications. If you previously selected "Other", please resubmit your response selecting a relevant category. Thank you for your valued feedback!

Irrespective of personal interest, it's noteworthy that Barnard College is seemingly omitted from the Campus Pride Index. Possibly because inclusivity had long been a fundamental aspect of the institution, pre-dating the widespread adoption of such designations; it's plausible Barnard fostered inclusivity decades prior to the contemporary use of the term or creation of such indices. https://barnard.edu/news/college-pride