All colleges and universities claim to have campus pride.  But when it comes to LGBTQ-pride, some schools are clearly more “loud and proud” than others.  Find an actively supportive college home with one of the 50 best LGBTQ schools in the nation. 

For LGBTQ-identifying students, the task of finding a college or university can be daunting.  The typical college-aged questions of “Who will I hang out with?”  and “Will I fit in?”  are magnified 100x for queer and transgender students. 

Even more, LGBTQ students are faced with additional worries. “ What kind of healthcare access will be available to me?” “ Will I be safe living in the dorms?” “ Will my gender expression be protected by the administration?” 

Believe it or not, most colleges and universities across the country are just now catching up to the academic, social, and mental health needs of the LGBTQ community.  Thankfully, an increasing number of schools are ahead of the curve in creating a campus culture that not only protects its LGBTQ students, but allows them to thrive. 

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We’ve narrowed in on the top 50 best LGBTQ-friendly colleges and universities below, but first, the top 10. 

Top 10 Best LGBTQ Schools

What do you mean by LGBTQ? 

A quick word about our language in this ranking.  We use the acronym LGBTQ most frequently throughout this list.  This stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer. 

However, we recognize that the gender spectrum encompasses way more identities than this simple 5-term acronym.  We are in no way intending to leave out the individuals who identify as asexual, intersex, questioning, or anything else.  Rather, we use LGBTQ (and at times LGBTQ+) simply as a way to stay consistent.  Everyone is welcome here. 

What should you look for in an LGBTQ-friendly school? 

These days, lots of colleges and universities brand themselves as LGBTQ-friendly – though some more accurately than others.  It’s important to look beyond the brochure and actually dig into the specific efforts schools are making to welcome in LGBTQ students. 

You’re in good hands if you stick to our list of the top 50 LGBTQ-friendly schools.  But if you’re broadening your search, here are six tangible indicators that a school is indeed an LGBTQ-friendly institution:

Clear non-discrimination policies in place

A vibrant LGBTQ student life

Academic options for LGBTQ classes and majors

Gender-inclusive housing and restrooms

LGBTQ-specific health care options

Active campus safety trainings and procedures

If you end up going on campus visits, take the time to find the LGBTQ Resource Center (or its equivalent).  Talk to queer and transgender students.  Ask them about their experience on campus.  Make a list of your specific academic and social needs.  If one particular school doesn’t check off all the boxes, move on!  There will be one that does.  Don’t settle for anything less than you deserve! 

What are the best LGBTQ schools? 

Here at College Choice, we are so excited to help you out on this huge step toward higher education.  Below, you’ll find the top 50 best LGBTQ schools in the nation. 

If you haven’t already discovered this resource, Campus Pride is an amazing guide to all things college and queer.  Campus Pride doesn’t rank LGBTQ-friendly schools in order of best to worst, but it does provide a hugely helpful framework for LGBTQ students and parents to consider in their search. 

This ranking is unique in its consideration of both LGBTQ inclusiveness and quality academic factors.  In our research of the Best 50 LGBTQ Schools, we relied on data from Campus Pride as well as key educational statistics from outside sources such as retention rates, early graduate salaries, and tuition costs.  After all, you’re looking for the whole package. 

For each school, you’ll find the average net price you’ll pay to get a degree, a link to the school’s LGBTQ resource page, and a quick “Yes/No” reference to three important questions for queer and transgender students:

Does the school have LGBTQ-specific counseling services? 

Does the school have gender-neutral restrooms and showers? 

Does the school have LGBTQ-specific scholarships? 

Are you ready to find a college that will unequivocally celebrate who you are?  Get ready for the best four years of your life.