Resource Guide for Trans and Nonbinary Students

College often feels overwhelming for new students. For many LGBTQ+ students — especially trans and nonbinary (TNB) individuals — these struggles may be heightened. It can be difficult to know what to expect from your new surroundings, and many TNB learners must overcome additional barriers to achieve academic success.

In a 2022 Association of American Universities survey, 5.1% of respondents identified themselves as trans, nonbinary, or questioning. However, that figure may increase in the coming years given the rising number of transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals in younger generations.

Read on to learn about common barriers TNB students face, as well as factors that TNB students should consider during their college search. This guide also provides a list of helpful resources that can make acclimating to school feel less overwhelming.

“Transgender” or “trans” can refer to anyone whose gender, whether identity or expression, differs from what is socially or culturally expected based on the sex or gender they were assumed to be at birth (those who assign gender and sex often conflate the two). The term “nonbinary” can encompass many genders outside of the man/woman gender binary. Some people use the term “nonbinary” as a gender label itself, while others may use terms like genderqueer, genderfluid, agender, pangender, neutrois, and many more.

While the word nonbinary is relatively new when applied to gender, nonbinary people have existed across histories and cultures around the globe. Some — but not all — nonbinary people are also trans. The nuance between the two terms varies across individuals and communities. The important thing to know is that there is no one way to be or “look” trans, and there is no prescribed way to be or “look” nonbinary.

TNB students face various barriers and challenges that can impact their college experiences, including those listed below. Like the term “nonbinary,” the umbrella term “trans” also encompasses multiple genders, and it’s important to remember that barriers and challenges vary across gender identities and expressions.

It is also important to examine challenges and barriers with an eye toward intersectionality and variance. Obstacles are often intensified for TNB students of color, TNB students with disabilities, low-income TNB students, trans women, TNB students of any gender perceived as feminine, undocumented, and international TNB students.

Historically, TNB students have faced discrimination on college campuses, with almost 1 in 5 students reporting being denied access to their housing and bathrooms of choice in a 2014 study.

Without their preferred living arrangements, TNB students may face increased harassment, a decreased sense of belonging, and potential negative impacts on their education as a whole. TNB people have gone as far as to request dorm room changes, leave jobs, and even change schools in the hopes of access to safe housing and toileting spaces, but they shouldn’t have to.

Some schools may require TNB students to put their birth name and/or gender on school identification. This practice could threaten to “out” TNB students who have been going by different names and/or genders. All students have a right to exist at school using the name and gender they want, and universities should facilitate that on school IDs, transcripts, and other official documents.

TNB students struggle to find appointments for mental health care compared to their cis counterparts. If they are able to access care, they may encounter providers who are outwardly hostile or not well-educated on basic transgender health care competency, not just the struggles commonly associated with TNB healthcare, such as body and gender dysphoria and dysmorphia, and transition-related concerns.

TNB athletes face many challenges that can limit their opportunities to participate in NCAA sports. Some of these obstacles include inconsistent policies across schools, discrimination and harassment, and requirements for medical documentation and hormone therapy. President Biden has proposed a Title IX rule change to promote inclusion for transgender athletes in college sports. This change could create more opportunities for TNB athletes to participate in sports teams that align with their gender identity.

Despite (and because of) these and other challenges, TNB students who do access care tend to be resourceful and creative in navigating campuses and the surrounding communities. These students often rely on each other, on- and off-campus communities and resources, and TNB alumni for support and assistance.

The responsibility to improve and make campus environments, policies, initiatives, and curricula more TNB-inclusive is on colleges and universities. However, TNB students can take the following measures to find institutions that are already more gender-inclusive.

TNB students continue to face challenges in their higher education journeys, including housing discrimination and a shortage of inclusive mental and physical healthcare. Fortunately, colleges and universities are taking steps to make the college experience more inclusive for TNB students. Below are just a few resources available for TNB college students.