How to Find a LGBTQ-Friendly College

A college's LGBTQIA+ resource center serves as the hub of LGBTQIA+ student life, promoting community, visibility, and advocacy. These centers provide a safe space for LGBTQIA+ college students to meet and discuss their experiences and interests. A resource center also offers information on other LGBTQIA+ college resources and events on campus.

Prospective students should look for a LGBTQIA+ resource center on the websites of any school to which they consider applying. Students should also reach out to a mentor, advisor, or administrator to learn more about the school's LGBTQIA+ resource center.

LGBTQ-friendly colleges offer various student organizations dedicated to LGBTQIA+ students and allies. In addition to more general alliance groups, like a nonbinary alliance or asexual alliance, such organizations might include groups for LGBTQIA+ students who share other common interests or identities. Groups may include LGBTQIA+ athletes, LGBTQIA+ business majors, or LGBTQIA+ students of color. They might also include groups that focus on activism or community service.

Student organizations help promote a vibrant LGBTQIA+ community on campus. The groups' meetings might take place at the school's LGBTQIA+ resource center. But even if they do not, the LGBTQIA+ resource center can show students where to find them.

The federal law Title IX prohibits schools from discriminating against students on the basis of sex. Discrimination on the basis of sex, under this law, includes gender-based violence like rape, sexual harrassment, and sexual assault, as well as discrimination based on gender or sexuality.

For LGBTQIA+ college students, a school's compliance with Title IX means that if they ever face harassment or discrimination based on their sexuality or gender, the school will support and protect them. All schools that receive federal funds must comply with Title IX. They must also designate a Title IX Coordinator, whom students may contact about any concerns related to Title IX.

Some colleges offer financial aid opportunities for LGBTQIA+ students. Some schools even offer aid for allies who have proven their commitment to promoting LGBTQIA+ rights. A college that extends its own LGBTQIA+ scholarships demonstrates the school's desire to welcome LGBTQIA+ students to campus.

Scholarships might go to LGBTQIA+ students who plan to pursue certain degrees or majors and might include leadership training or mentoring opportunities in addition to financial aid. Prospective students should look for LGBTQIA+ scholarship opportunities online and inquire about them at a college's admissions or financial aid office.

Inclusive housing means that college students may have a roommate of any gender. Students may want to share a room with someone of a different gender for various reasons. Inclusive housing benefits LGBTQIA+ students in particular, as those who identify as transgender or genderqueer might not feel safe or comfortable in housing situations based on their assigned sex at birth.

Prospective students can find lists of schools online that offer inclusive housing options. Schools that feature inclusive housing usually give students the opportunity to opt-in to gender neutral (inclusive) housing when they first apply for housing.

Colleges often include an official statement on their website affirming their support of the LGBTQIA+ community and denouncing discrimination against LGBTQIA+ students. This kind of statement sets the tone for acceptable behavior on campus. It also assures LGBTQIA+ college students that the school will protect their rights and do its best to act in their best interests.

Prospective students should look for this kind of statement on the website of every college to which they consider applying. If they do not see a statement like this, they should ask an administrator for more information.

Like inclusive housing, gender-neutral bathrooms go a long way toward making transgender and gender-nonconforming college students feel safe, comfortable, and respected on campus. In a survey of over 500 transgender and gender-nonconforming students, respondents ranked gender-neutral bathrooms as the number one most important resource they wanted to see at their school.

While most colleges offer at least a few single-occupancy bathrooms on campus, needing to seek out these locations can be inconvenient, at best, for students with limited time to get from class to class. Truly LGBTQ-friendly colleges should provide gender-neutral bathrooms in every building. Prospective students should look for gender-neutral bathrooms while touring colleges.

LGBTQ+ students may face distinct challenges during their college years, such as coming out, transitioning, or experiencing discrimination or harassment. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, LGB adults experience mental health conditions at twice the rate as heterosexual adults, and transgender individuals experience mental health conditions at four times the rate as cisgender individuals. However, LGBTQ+ college students may hesitate to seek mental health services because they don't know if the provider will understand or accept them.

Mental health services at LGTBQ-friendly colleges should have someone on staff with expertise in the needs of the LGBTQ+ community. The campus LGBTQIA+ resource center can point students toward these services.

In order to support their transgender and nonbinary students, LGBTQ-friendly colleges must provide student health plans with transgender-inclusive coverage. Without such coverage, transgender and nonbinary students face an increased risk of school-related mental health issues. They might even choose to delay attending college.

Prospective college students can look online for lists of colleges that offer transgender-inclusive healthcare, including at least some transition-related surgeries.

Colleges that offer or require inclusivity training for students, faculty, and administrators create a safer and more welcoming environment for LGBTQ+ learners. For example, LGBTQ-friendly colleges want to ensure that faculty use correct names and pronouns when referring to or addressing students. They will also promote an inclusive curriculum that considers LGBTQ+ people, history, culture, and experiences.

A school's LGBTQIA+ resource center should provide information on inclusivity training. Students can also ask an advisor, faculty member, or administrator.