These Are the Nation’s Most LGBTQ-Friendly Colleges, Universities
Author: Trudy Ring
Campus Pride’s 2021 Best of the Best LGBTQ-Friendly Colleges and Universities list includes schools from Massachusetts to Oregon, from Wisconsin to Texas. And this year the organization is also highlighting community colleges and religious schools leading the way in inclusion.
“More than ever, colleges today want to be viewed as LGBTQ-friendly and a welcoming place for all students. LGBTQ students and their safety impacts the recruitment efforts of the entire campus,” Campus Pride Executive Director Shane Windmeyer said in a press release. “Upper-level administrators are now understanding how LGBTQ-friendliness is key to academic success of students and the future institutional success of the campus.”
“Seeing the representation of schools from every corner of the country and highlighting the efforts of community colleges and even religious institutions really underlines the successes Campus Pride has had over our 20 years,” added Tom Elliott, Campus Pride board chair. “The work we’ve done with student leaders, and the resources Campus Pride continues to provide them, is making the higher education experience safer and more welcoming to LGBTQ students nationwide.”
The main Best of the Best list comprises 30 four-year institutions that have achieved five out of five stars on the Campus Pride Index, a benchmarking tool that tracks LGBTQ-friendly policies, programs, and practices. Listed by region, they are:
Mid-Atlantic
University of Maryland
Montclair State University, New Jersey
Hofstra University, New York
Ithaca College, New York
Lehigh University, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania State University
University of Pennsylvania
Midwest
Kansas State University
Southern Illinois University
Indiana University
Kent State University, Ohio
Kenyon College, Ohio
University of Wisconsin Eau Claire
University of Wisconsin Green Bay
University of Wisconsin Milwaukee
New England
Tufts University, Massachusetts
University of Massachusetts
University of Vermont
Southeast
Northern Kentucky University
University of Kentucky
Elon University, North Carolina
University of Virginia
Southwest
Texas Tech University
University of Texas at Dallas
West
San Diego State University
University of Colorado at Boulder
University of Northern Colorado
Southern Oregon University
University of Oregon
Washington State University
The listings for community colleges and religious schools consist of those that have inclusive policies, programs, and practices and that scored 3.5 or higher stars in their respective categories. Listed alphabetically by state, they are:
Community Colleges
Red Rocks Community College, Colorado
Dutchess Community College, New York
SUNY Westchester Community College, New York
Pellissippi State Community College, Tennessee
San Antonio College, Texas
Salt Lake Community College, Utah
Everett Community College, Washington
North Seattle College, Washington
Religious Colleges
Loyola Marymount University, California
Emory University, Georgia
Augsburg University, Minnesota
Guilford College, North Carolina
Willamette University, Oregon
Lebanon Valley College, Pennsylvania
Southern Methodist University, Texas
Virginia Wesleyan University
Gonzaga University, Washington
Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
Find more information at CampusPride.org.
Original Article on The Advocate
Author: Trudy Ring