The Best College for LGBTQ+ Students In Each State

The Safe Zone Resource Center at the University of Alabama strives to create an inclusive and welcoming environment for all campus community members, including LGBTQIA+ individuals, by offering a range of resources and services to support them. This includes promoting safe and respectful environments, advocating for support of LGBTQIA+ identified persons, and providing services and resources to the LGBTQIA+ community on campus.

Bama also provides LGBTQ+ support groups and a trans-inclusive student health insurance policy. The University of Alabama ranks 4.5 on the Campus Pride Index.

The Office of Student Diversity and Inclusion created the Gender & Sexuality Resource Office to provide a safe space to voice concerns and share ideas about issues facing the LGBTQ+ community. It is also a resource center for survivors of sexual violence, assault, or domestic abuse.

The center staff provides referrals for campus resources such as counseling, the Kearney S.A.F.E. Center, or Title IX concerns. UNK ranks 4 on the Campus Pride Index.

The University of New Hampshire extensively supports LGBTQ+ students through various resources and initiatives, including a Safe Zones educational program. UNH also offers gender-inclusive housing and gender-inclusive bathroom options on campus and a support group for transgender, gender non-binary, and GNC students on campus.

UNH's Health and Wellness Center medical staff is committed to providing quality transgender and gender-affirming care and has received training in transgender health. The University of New Hampshire ranks 4.5 on the Campus Pride Index.

The University of Utah's LGBT Resource Center began serving the LGBTQ+ university community in 2002 as a student initiative. Since then, the university has built many resources for faculty, staff, and students in the community.

One new initiative is the David Bohnett CyberCenter, a computer lab that allows students to work in a nurturing atmosphere. Other initiatives include workshops, leadership programs, and student organizations. The University of Utah ranks 4.5 on the Campus Pride Index.

The University of Wisconsin Eau Claire has a significant number of resources for members of the LGBTQ+ community to get involved in social, educational and advocacy programs through the Gender & Sexuality Resource Center (GSRC). Whether through regular campus events, housing and safe spaces, or training opportunities, there is robust support available.

There are many ways for students to get involved at the GSRC, with volunteer or service-learning opportunities. The UWEC ranks 5 on the Campus Pride Index.

UMaine Farmington values individuals for who they are, with the LGBTQ+ community fully integrated into campus life. The university was among the first in Northern New England to pioneer an LGBTQ+ student organization, and its President was one of the first openly gay college presidents in the region. 

UMF has a history of participating in EqualityME and Portland and Bangor Pride Parades, showcasing its commitment to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of its community. University of Maine at Farmington ranks 4.5 on the Campus Pride Index.

UNF has a dedicated LGBTQ+ Center focusing on advocacy, equity, and support for the community. As one of only two public universities in Florida with a fully equipped LGBTQ Center, it is committed to providing valuable education and resources for the entire community. The Center operates within a social justice framework that recognizes the intersectionality of the identities that LGBTQ+ people hold, such as race, gender, disability, socioeconomic status, and religion.

In 2019, UNF opened the Stonewall Living-Learning Community. This diverse residential community celebrates all gender identities and expressions and is where residents can build bridges across cultural communities. UNF ranks 5 on the Campus Pride Index.

Vanderbilt University's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex Life Office offers several campus, local and national resources to serve its LGBTQ+ community. Resources are available to students, faculty, staff, and alums. Vanderbilt University ranks 4 on the Campus Pride Index.

The University Counseling Center offers individual and group therapy options and critical care. Student academic and social organizations provide connections on campus, as do the LGBTQI Life programs. The Program for LGBTQ Health connects community members to LGBTQ-competent health providers both on campus and in the local community.

Virginia Wesleyan University seeks to create a safe and bias-free campus environment for the LGBTQ+ community. The university connects community members to campus and local resources for support.

Safe Space workshops, resources for education on unconscious bias, and participation in local Pride events provide the LGBTQ+ community with opportunities to connect with members of the community for academic and social support. Virginia Wesleyan University ranks 5 on the Campus Pride Index.

The Gender + Sexuality Resource Center (GSRC), founded in 1989, was created to support and empower the LGBTQ+ community through events, education and other interventions.

The GSRC provides peer-facilitated first-year discussion groups, gender support discussion groups, a peer educator program, Out in STEM, and the Q'nnections mentorship program. They also provide training and initiatives related to allyship, social justice, and mental health and wellness. Princeton ranks 5 on the Campus Pride Index.

The Center for Belonging and Social Change at OSU actively supports LGBTQ+ students by offering various resources and initiatives, fostering participation in LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations, and promoting mentorship and leadership development opportunities. Student organizations such as Ace Space and Pride Veterinary Medical Community create safe spaces for individuals exploring different identities and interests. They also have an alum society for OSU LGBTQ+ alums wanting to stay involved. 

Events such as LGBTQ Pride and Womxn's HerStory Month create platforms that amplify the voices and stories of queer, trans, and women of color on campus. Ohio State University ranks 5 on the Campus Pride Index.

The Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Life's main objective is to create a campus climate of acceptance and affirmation for the LGBTQ+ community. The center offers social activities such as Wednesday Wine Downs, LBGTeas, open houses, panel discussions, interactive workshops, and Safe Space training.

Additional support includes access to specialized legal services, health initiatives, and professional and academic development with an LGBT+ focus. Emory University ranks 4.5 on the Campus Pride Index.

The Pride Center at the University of North Dakota, originally known as the "UND Gay Community," was North Dakota's first LGBTQ+ organization. They provide resources for identity support and help students navigate gender-inclusive housing and name change processes.

The center offers support to UND's three LGBTQIA student organizations, along with ally training and a mentorship program. Additionally, they facilitate a discussion group specifically for students who identify as trans, non-binary, gender-diverse or are questioning their gender identity. The University of North Dakota ranks 4 on the Campus Pride Index.

The LGBTQ Resource Center at the University of New Mexico began as a student-led initiative in 2010 and has significantly expanded. Services provided by the center range from educational programming to counseling and health promotion resources.

UNM has several active student and community organizations that serve the LGBT+ community, and the Queer Student Alliance provides students with educational and social activities throughout the year. The University of New Mexico ranks 4 on the Campus Pride Index.

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, & Transgender Equity Center serves all LGBTQ+ students, faculty, and staff at the University of Maryland, College Park. The center provides opportunities for learning, leadership, and connection to the community.

Unique opportunities include the Lavender Leadership Honor Society, the #TransTerps project, and the Rainbow Terrapin Network. The resource library also catalogs books, movies, and other resources. UMD College Park ranks 5 on the Campus Pride Index.

The LBGTQ+ Center at West Virginia University connects members of the LGBTQ+ community with on-campus resources and training and to state and national resources. The university has several active student organizations, housing and diverse choice academic programs.

The WVU LGBTQ+ Commission works with the center to monitor institutional procedures to ensure protection. Other resources encourage connection, advocacy, and networking throughout the community. WVU ranks 4.5 on the Campus Pride Index.

The LGBT Center at the University of Louisville provides students a safe space to come together for discussions, advocacy and to embrace each other's differences. The purpose of the center is to create an inclusive community on campus.

The center provides Safe Zone training, specialized orientation activities, PRIDE activities, and a unique opportunity for a social justice-themed living community. UofL ranks 5 on the Campus Pride Index.

SDSU's Pride Center promotes resources and support services for students looking to explore and understand their sexual orientation or gender identity while supporting student empowerment and personal and professional growth. 

The university has policies to protect LGBTQIA+ individuals from discrimination and provides gender-inclusive housing options, all-gender restrooms, locker rooms, and healthcare and educational materials. These efforts have earned San Diego State University a 5 on the Campus Pride Index.

The Q Center was created in 2005 as a result of a letter to the University President requesting a safe space for queer students. It has since grown to provide support, learning and research opportunities, employment, and leadership development for LGBTQ+ students.

The Queer Mentoring and Peer Program provides peer support as students navigate the college experience alongside sexual orientation and identity. UW ranks 5 on the Campus Pride Index.

The LGBT Center at Tufts University offers a space for students to gather and campus-wide programming on sexuality, gender, and discrimination. Center staff are available for consultations to support and guide the LGBTQ+ community.

The university provides special interest housing, and the campus health center is available for a broad range of sexual health support and gender-confirming therapy. Tufts University ranks 5 on the Campus Pride Index.

The LGBT Resource Center at Kansas State University opened in 2010 and works to create an inclusive environment for LGBTQ+ individuals and resources to support the community at large.

Organizations involved in this effort include the K-State Sexuality and Gender Alliance, the LGBTQ+ Faculty Staff Alliance, the Gender Collective, and oSTEM. These organizations support various initiatives such as appropriate housing communities, restroom facilities, and gender and sexuality resources. K-State ranks 5 on the Campus Pride Index.

Open in 1982, the LGBTQ+ Center at the University of Pennsylvania was created as a response to homophobic incidents occurring on campus. It fosters a safe campus environment and affirms members of its community.

Other resources include an African-American Resource Center, religious organizations and various cultural clubs. The University of Pennsylvania ranks 5 on the Campus Pride Index.

The Gender & Sexuality Commons (GSC) at Macalester College provides programming for LGBTQ+ students, faculty, and staff. The school offers intentional housing for transgender and nonbinary first-year students. The Qmmunity Connections creates a space for LGBTQ+ community members to make connections.

Various Identity Collectives, including the Queer and Trans BIPOC Collective, allow students to connect with faculty, staff, and alums and create opportunities for cross-campus dialogue. Macalester College ranks 5 on the Campus Pride Index.

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Center, part of the Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging, serves the LGBTQ+ community through social events, lecture series, advocacy for a discrimination-free environment, and various training opportunities.

The LGBTQ Center maintains a library of resources and historical artifacts related to key moments in the history of the community. The center connects with the local community groups to provide enrichment opportunities for its members. Purdue University ranks 5 on the Campus Pride Index.

LGBTQ & Gender program coordinator serves UNLV’s LGBTQ student communities. Through them, UNLV hosts various programs, including QTPOC MeetUps, to build community for queer and trans people of color. There is also LGBTQ Financial Aid Night to support students in understanding the financial aid process, Lavender Graduation to celebrate student achievements, and Ace Week, an international campaign raising awareness about asexuality. 

The university also offers resource collections such as Trans @ UNLV guiding name changes, pronouns, and more, and the QTPOC Cultural Resource Guide amplifies and affirms student identities through an intersectional framework to promote student success. The University of Nevada Las Vegas ranks 4 on the Campus Pride Index.

American University in Washington, D.C., provides LGBTQ+ students, faculty, and staff with significant supportive resources through its Center for Diversity and Inclusion. Resources include the Trans Resource guide, LGBTQ housing options, and a weekly newsletter with updates on community events. See the LGBTQ community page for more resources.

The Health Center provides counseling as well as wellness promotion and gender-affirming support. The office connects individuals to external non-profit advocacy in the greater D.C. area. American University ranks 4.5 on the Campus Pride Index.

A significant number of initiatives at the University of Oklahoma were created to meet the needs of the LGBTQ+ community. The Gender + Equality Center houses advocates that cultivate and affirm the rights of LGBTQ+ people and women on campus.

Ally training is available on campus, and the university collaborates closely with advocacy groups in the community, such as Freedom Oklahoma and the Norman Queer Alliance. The University of Oklahoma ranks 4 on the Campus Pride Index.

Connecticut College's LGBTQIA Center was founded in 2007 by a group of students collaborating with a faculty member. The Center provides a location for study and programming and a resource library for the community.

Activities include participation in national events — such as National Coming Out Day and World AIDS Day — and internal events such as pride rallies, Transgender Day of Remembrance, and mentorship programs. Connecticut College ranks 4.5 on the Campus Pride Index.

Elon University's Gender & LGBTQIA Center offers inclusive support for students, faculty, staff, and alums, promoting acceptance regardless of gender identity, expression, or orientation. Campus community members can participate in comprehensive LGBTQIA training, covering identity, history, allyship, and current issues. 

The Center also offers confidential resources, including 24/7 Safeline coverage, available for survivors of gender-based violence. Elon University has ranked 5 on the Campus Pride Index for the past decade.

Ithaca College provides a vibrant and engaged community for LGBTQ+ students through its Center for LGBT Education, Outreach & Services. Founded in 1999, the center supports both the academic and social needs of the LGBTQ+ community and its allies.

Campus-wide events include an Ithaca Pride walking tour of historically meaningful sites in Ithaca, an important site for LGBTQ+ rights. It also hosts speakers, film series, receptions, and other social gatherings. Ithaca College ranks 5 on the Campus Pride Index.

Washington University offers plenty of resources for LGBTQIA+ students and allies, from special interest organizations, retreats, leadership opportunities and various online resources.

Several events are organized each year through the Pride Alliance, but special interest groups, such as WashU Athlete Ally, oSTEM, Transcending Gender, and WashU Ace & Aro offer various options. Graduate students can also participate in OUTgrads, LGBTQ+Med Alliance, OUTLaw, and other academic communities for support and guidance. Washington University ranks 4.5 on the Campus Pride Index.