Best Colleges for LGBTQ+ Students in 2024
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- As of 2020, nearly 17% of U.S. college students identified as LGBTQ+.
- Housing, healthcare, student groups, and campus safety are important to LGBTQ+ students.
- View our list of the top-ranked LGBTQ+-friendly colleges in the United States.
College diversity initiatives have expanded their definition to include LGBTQ+ students. This is due to changes and improvements made to campus climates to create a robust support network for students.
This network includes student organizations, inclusive healthcare and counseling services, and support centers.
This ranking looks at the top LGBTQ+-friendly colleges. These institutions rank among the best in their efforts to support and provide academic, financial, and social resources for LGBTQ+ students.
Top LGBTQ+ Friendly Colleges in 2024
- In-State$46,610
- Out-of-state$46,610
- In-State$22,056
- Out-of-state$22,056
- Retention Rate83%
- Acceptance Rate75%
- Students Enrolled5,054
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment28%
- AccreditationYes
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$9,796
- Out-of-state$33,960
- In-State$13,426
- Out-of-state$35,377
- Retention Rate85%
- Acceptance Rate90%
- Students Enrolled39,049
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment78%
- AccreditationYes
Bridgewater State University
- Bridgewater, MA
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$910
- Out-of-state$7,050
- In-State$1,675
- Out-of-state$840
- Retention Rate75%
- Acceptance Rate88%
- Students Enrolled9,604
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment44%
- AccreditationYes
University of Colorado Boulder
- Boulder, CO
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$10,806
- Out-of-state$36,554
- In-State$12,168
- Out-of-state$32,220
- Retention Rate87%
- Acceptance Rate80%
- Students Enrolled39,000
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment73%
- AccreditationYes
- In-State$7,070
- Out-of-state$16,980
- In-State$11,310
- Out-of-state$23,100
- Retention Rate73%
- Acceptance Rate73%
- Students Enrolled5,430
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment77%
- AccreditationYes
Emory University
- Atlanta, GA
- 4 year
- Campus
- In-State$54,660
- Out-of-state$54,660
- In-State$44,800
- Out-of-state$45,800
- Retention Rate95%
- Acceptance Rate11%
- Students Enrolled14,852
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment49%
- AccreditationYes
Northern Illinois University
- Dekalb, IL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$9,790
- Out-of-state$9,790
- In-State$9,066
- Out-of-state$9,066
- Retention Rate65%
- Acceptance Rate71%
- Students Enrolled15,649
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment70%
- AccreditationYes
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
- Eau Claire, WI
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$9,276
- Out-of-state$17,627
- In-State$8,188
- Out-of-state$18,603
- Retention Rate81%
- Acceptance Rate85%
- Students Enrolled9,605
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment51%
- AccreditationYes
Northern Kentucky University
- Highland Heights, KY
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$10,200
- Out-of-state$20,472
- In-State$9,900
- Out-of-state$15,210
- Retention Rate77%
- Acceptance Rate86%
- Students Enrolled15,801
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment76%
- AccreditationYes
Stockton University
- Galloway, NJ
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$12,740
- Out-of-state$20,474
- In-State$14,346
- Out-of-state$20,916
- Retention Rate78%
- Acceptance Rate86%
- Students Enrolled9,080
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment61%
- AccreditationYes
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Cambridge, MA
- 4 year
- Campus
- In-State$55,510
- Out-of-state$55,510
- In-State$55,510
- Out-of-state$55,510
- Retention Rate99%
- Acceptance Rate4%
- Students Enrolled11,858
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment1%
- AccreditationYes
Georgia Institute of Technology
- Atlanta, GA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$10,258
- Out-of-state$31,370
- In-State$14,064
- Out-of-state$29,140
- Retention Rate98%
- Acceptance Rate17%
- Students Enrolled45,296
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment62%
- AccreditationYes
Carnegie Mellon University
- Pittsburgh, PA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$57,560
- Out-of-state$57,560
- In-State$46,441
- Out-of-state$47,629
- Retention Rate97%
- Acceptance Rate11%
- Students Enrolled16,663
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment31%
- AccreditationYes
University of Massachusetts-Amherst
- Amherst, MA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$16,591
- Out-of-state$38,527
- In-State$14,364
- Out-of-state$31,489
- Retention Rate90%
- Acceptance Rate64%
- Students Enrolled32,229
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment20%
- AccreditationYes
How Do We Rank LGBTQ+-Friendly Colleges?
Each year, we reach out to over 1,000 colleges so they can self-report the services and resources offered to LGBTQ+ students. In consultation with Dr. Genny Beemyn, a veteran expert in the field of LGBTQ+ higher education issues and student experiences, we specifically identify three key areas in our survey:
- Nondiscrimination Protection: LGBTQ+ students too often experience discrimination on college campuses and need institutional recourse and support. Colleges not only need to include “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” as protected classes in their nondiscrimination and Title IX policies, but must also back it up by discussing the mistreatment of LGBTQ+ people in mandatory sexual harassment trainings and vigorously addressing acts of anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination.
- Equal Access: Many trans and nonbinary students do not have equal access to higher education because they are denied the ability to attend college as themselves. They are misgendered and misnamed in administrative systems and do not have access to campus housing and restrooms in keeping with their gender identity.
- LGBTQ+ Center: The colleges that have been found to be the most inclusive of trans and nonbinary students are institutions that have an LGBTQ+ center that can provide programming, a community space, and a full-time center director who can push for LGBTQ+-supportive policies.
In addition to our survey, BestColleges also incorporates its own ranking methodology that emphasizes the following factors to produce this list:
- Academic Quality: To assess academic quality, we focus on what we believe are the most important distinguishing factors. We compare a school’s admission rate to its enrollment rate to gauge the rigor and competitiveness of a school. We use the full-time retention rate (or the rate at which students return after their freshman year) to rank a school’s effectiveness at keeping students enrolled. Similarly, graduation rate is crucial in weighing how many enrolled students successfully complete their degree program (note that graduation rate measures full-time, first-time students).
- Diversity & Inclusion: Our assessment of campus diversity and inclusion focuses on a student’s ability to navigate college regardless of socioeconomic status and accounts for the diversity of the student population across race and ethnicity. Additionally, we also consider whether a school has explicit anti-LGBTQ+ policies that target LGBTQ+ students.
- College Affordability: Our affordability score considers the cost of college (average net price) with the amount borrowed (percentage of students taking loans) and the ability to repay a loan after graduation (average loan default rate). Our goal is to reward schools not only offering competitive tuition but also those that provide students with the skills needed to graduate and successfully enter the workforce.
Using the campus survey and ranking methodology, we can produce a comprehensive list of schools that both support LGBTQ+ students and also offer a great value, high-quality education for college students.
Helping LGBTQ+ Students Choose the Right College
Although the number of LGBTQ+ students attending U.S. colleges is increasing, these students still face challenges. These challenges can be related to their identities, mental health, safety concerns, and a lack of institutional policies to protect them.
There are factors to consider when choosing an LGBTQ+-friendly college. Peer support from LGBTQ+ organizations or mentorship programs can offer a safe space to explore identity or socialize with like-minded individuals.
The school’s Infrastructure is also critical to creating a climate of inclusion, particularly through gender-inclusive housing, inclusive restrooms, and faculty and staff representation.
Adequate health services that provide counseling and gender-affirming treatment are also important factors.
A recent report by the Proud and Thriving Project found that LGBTQ+ students experience greater incidences of mental health conditions than their non-LGBTQ+ counterparts, making adequate mental health resources critical.
Frequently Asked Questions About LGBTQ+-Friendly Colleges
A 2020 American College Health Association study reported that out of a cohort of 8,000 students surveyed, 21% identified as LGBTQ+.
Of the top LGBTQ+-serving institutions, the University of Washington has the largest overall student population — and a strong support system for the LGBTQ+ community. The University of Texas at Arlington, Rutgers University, and University of Maryland, College Park have the next largest total populations, with comprehensive support available for LGBTQ+ students.
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