LGBT students are finding it easier and easier to find colleges offering a safe, comfortable and supportive environment on campus. Ranking lists are published annually ranking the LGBT-friendliness of colleges. Although there are many more LGBT-friendly colleges in the US here are some of the best:
Among the many ranking lists published annually by the Princeton Review is the "Most LGBT-Friendly College" ranking. Although the top schools on the list are all private, the public University of Wisconsin-Madison comes in at #7. The results are calculated using survey from 130,000 students at 379 colleges who answered 80 questions about their campus experience. Princeton Review also publishes a list of the most unfriendly LGBT colleges which includes the Presbyterian affiliated College of the Ozarks; the Christian Grove City College; the Christian Wheaton College; the Mormon Brigham Young University and the all male-student Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia.
Stanford University, California
Oberlin College, Ohio
Emerson College, Massachusetts
Smith College, Massachusetts
Warren Wilson College, North Carolina
Campus Pride Rankings
Campus Pride adds new schools to its list of LGBT-friendly colleges each year as the number of colleges making a positive effort to improve LGBT academic life increases. Instead of their usual list of "Top 25" in 2014 they published a "Best of the Best" list. Their list of LGBT-friendly colleges includes 425 institutions with 56 scoring top marks with 5 stars. The list is based on research into campus LGBT policy, programs and practice and is conducted by LGBT expert higher education professionals. Their list is in alphabetical order and includes the Ivy League schools, many state universities as well as a few lesser known institutions.
Best College.com Rankings
Best College.com published their annual list of "30 Best Colleges for LGBT Students". Arizona State University takes the top spot. They offer an LGBT undergraduate certificate, two Greek life LGBT chapters and LGBT studies. The University of Arizona at #2 has Safe Zone Education workshops, the Rainbow Family Reception, support groups for LGBTQ students, an abuse survivor support group and an Institute for LGBT Studies. The University of California Los Angeles has an LGBT Resource Center and offers LGBT studies as an interdisciplinary minor. San Diego State at #3 offers a Lavender Graduation Ceremony for all students who identify as LGBTQA. They are one of only two colleges in the US offering LGBT studies as a major, a minor and as a graduate certificate. At UC San Diego staff and graduates publish their names and contact info on the Out List to show that they are LGBT-friendly and willing to offer support or guidance.
Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
University of California, Los Angeles
San Diego State University, San Diego, California
University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
Take your pick of some of the finest higher education institutes in the country which will also make you feel at home and LGBT-proud.
