The Most Diverse Colleges

Part of the City University of New York since 1967,Lehman College serves approximately 15,000 students. Located in the Bronx borough of New York, Lehman is among the most diverse colleges in the United States. With over 90% of its student population identifying as a person of color and 68% identifying as female, Lehman boasts strong academics along with a dedication to diversity.

Lehman's Office of Compliance and Diversity offers many resources to the college's diverse community of students, faculty, and staff. As a sanctuary campus, Lehman provides immigration and legal services for DACA and undocumented students. Myriad resources also support LGBTQ+ students, veterans, and disabled learners.

Lehman also houses theUrban Male Leadership Program, which focuses on increasing the number of Black and Latino males in higher education.

Founded as a women's college in 1870,Hunter College began admitting male students in 1946 and is now among America's most diverse colleges. Located in Manhattan, Hunter is part of the City University of New York and serves over 20,000 students.

Approximatelytwo-thirds of students at Hunter are female, and the school is recognized as both a Hispanic-serving Institution and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institution.

The college'sOffice of Diversity and Compliance strives to create a safe and open environment for all faculty, staff, and students. Additionally, Hunter'sLGBT Social Science & Public Policy Center uses faculty and student research to advocate for public policy that supports LGBTQ+ individuals and communities. Hunter is also home toQuERI — an independent think tank focused on improving the K-12 school experiences for LGBTQ+ students and families.

Founded in 1870,Wellesley College is a private women's liberal arts school located in Massachusetts. Wellesley serves an undergraduate population of about 2,500 students and boasts a network of over 35,000 alumni. With students of color making up more than half of the student body, Wellesley is an ethnically and racially diverse college compared to many other small liberal arts schools.

The college'sPresidential Commission on Ethnicity, Race, and Equity lays out many policy recommendations, including hiring faculty with experience in diversity and equity. The commission also helped launch a campus-wide unconscious bias training initiative. Wellesley maintains theOffice of Intercultural Education to promote cultural competence development and advocate for students of color and students who identify as LGBTQ+.

Florida International University is a public research university located in University Park that serves about 60,000 students annually. FIU is a Hispanic-serving institution, and the school maintains a reputation as one of the most diverse colleges in the U.S. — BIPOC students make up about 85% of its enrollment. FIU is also among the top U.S. institutions in awarding undergraduate degrees to Hispanic students.

FIU houses numerous student organizations that celebrate, promote, and advocate for diversity and social justice issues. The Office of Social Justice and Inclusion, Asian Student Union, and the Mexican Student Association all encourage learner engagement. FIU also promotes regular LGBTQ+ activities and meetings that foster an inclusive environment for students, faculty, and staff.

California State University, Los Angeles models equity and inclusion at the institutional level. Using the five-year, $1 million HHMI Inclusive Excellence Grant it won in 2018, Cal State LA has focused on equity-based faculty professional development and pushed for institutional change by removing barriers that negatively affect minority populations.

Cal State LA offers severalprograms and initiatives for Black students. For example, the RISE peer mentoring program, Men of Color Success Network and Beyond, and Men of Color Retention Committee all expand academic access, increase graduation rates, and nurture future leaders within Black communities.

Additionally,The Queer Connection (TQC) increases diversity while providing assistance and resources. TQC also builds community awareness related to sexuality and gender issues.

Located in Washington, D.C.,Howard University is a private, historically Black university. Established in 1867, Howard boasts a long history of inclusivity. Howard also maintains a reputation for its academic rigor, producing more African American Rhodes Scholars than any other HBCU.

Howard recognizes thatdiversity and inclusion are essential to a thriving campus culture. The university goes to great lengths to meet physical and academic accommodations while offering students gender-inclusive housing.

Learners also gain access to access to free mental health, physical health, and self-help resources. Student groups likeCASCADE,oSTEM, andOutlaw all advocate for and celebrate LGBTQ+ education, diversity, and equality.

Founded in 1965, California State University, San Bernardino serves nearly 20,000 students. The university is a Hispanic-serving institution, and 66% of its students identify as Hispanic. Additionally, 63% of the student population is female.

Additionally, 58% of learners come from low-income backgrounds, and 81% are first-generation college students. CSUSB'sDiversity, Equity, and Inclusion Board creates an open and inviting campus culture for all students, faculty, and staff.

The university'sQueer and Transgender Resource Center provides education and advocacy by offering resources to all people associated with the university. The center also combats homophobia in campus culture. Run by a knowledgeable and sensitive staff, the center offers resources like safe zone training, panel discussions, and a resource library.

Established in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in 1966,Albizu University's Miami campus originally opened in 1980 as the Miami Institute of Psychology. This small, private university enrolls just under 3,000 undergraduate and graduate students, and it is a certified Hispanic-serving institution. The university is also one of Florida's top schools for psychology.

Albizu University strives to create asafe and inclusive community on its campus. Students gain access to individual counseling, tutoring, and accommodations for physical and mental challenges. Tutoring services are widely available, with a particular emphasis on developing conversational English for students whose second language is English.

Established in 1919, theUniversity of California, Los Angeles serves a student population of over 46,000 individuals. UCLA maintains a relatively diverse student body, with incoming first-year students of color representing about60% of their class.

UCLA'sLGBTQ Campus Resource Center has served the community for over 20 years and provides a wealth of resources to foster an open, inclusive, and equitable community. Student, staff, and faculty resources include counseling and psychological services, career development, and scholarships. Additional services include sexual health information and resources for queer and trans undocumented students.

UCLA also admits a diverse class of students at the graduate level. Of the approximately13,000 admitted graduate students in 2019, about half were women and 2,500 came from underrepresented groups.

Established in 1919, theUniversity of California, Los Angeles serves a student population of over 46,000 individuals. UCLA maintains a relatively diverse student body, with incoming first-year students of color representing about60% of their class.

UCLA'sLGBTQ Campus Resource Center has served the community for over 20 years and provides a wealth of resources to foster an open, inclusive, and equitable community. Student, staff, and faculty resources include counseling and psychological services, career development, and scholarships. Additional services include sexual health information and resources for queer and trans undocumented students.

UCLA also admits a diverse class of students at the graduate level. Of the approximately13,000 admitted graduate students in 2019, about half were women and 2,500 came from underrepresented groups.