NIU also offers an LGBTQ+ living-learning community.

Average Undergrad Tuition

• In-state: $9,790
• Out-of-state: $9,790

Average Graduate Tuition

• In-state: $9,066
• Out-of-state: $9,066

ROI Score: Medium

Retention Rate: 65%

Acceptance Rate: 71%

Students Enrolled: 15,649

Institution Type: Public

Percent Online Enrollment: 70%

Accreditation: Yes

8. University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

• Eau Claire, WI | 2 years | Online + Campus

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 it’s 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.

Average Undergrad Tuition

• In-state: $9,276
• Out-of-state: $17,627

Average Graduate Tuition

• In-state: $8,188
• Out-of-state: $18,603

ROI Score: Medium

Retention Rate: 81%

Acceptance Rate: 85%

Students Enrolled: 9,605

Institution Type: Public

Percent Online Enrollment: 51%

Accreditation: Yes

9. Northern Kentucky University

• Highland Heights, KY | 4 years | Online + Campus

Northern Kentucky University’s LGBTQ+ Student Initiatives envisions an identity-affirming and inclusive environment in which all students on the gender and sexuality spectrum feel welcome, seen and supported.

NKU has a network of staff and faculty that serve as mentors and support systems for LGBTQ+ students. This year, NKU held its inaugural You Matter Institute to offer a positive and enthusiastic experience for students to build a strong foundation of support through peer mentoring and community-building activities.

Average Undergrad Tuition

• In-state: $10,200
• Out-of-state: $20,472

Average Graduate Tuition

• In-state: $9,900
• Out-of-state: $15,210

ROI Score: Medium

Retention Rate: 77%

Acceptance Rate: 86%

Students Enrolled: 15,801

Institution Type: Public

Percent Online Enrollment: 76%

Accreditation: Yes

10. Stockton University

• Galloway, NJ | 4 years | Online + Campus

Stockton University’s Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Center (WGSC) has a number of organizations for LGBTQ+ students to participate in, including the Queer & Trans People of Color Society and the Pride Alliance.

As WGSC states, “Being LGBTQIA+ at Stockton means you are part of a growing community here at Stockton, and we strive to create a safe and supportive environment for all students, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.”

Average Undergrad Tuition

• In-state: $12,740
• Out-of-state: $20,474

Average Graduate Tuition

• In-state: $14,346
• Out-of-state: $20,916

ROI Score: Medium

Retention Rate: 78%

Acceptance Rate: 86%

Students Enrolled: 9,080

Institution Type: Public

Percent Online Enrollment: 61%

Accreditation: Yes

11. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

• Cambridge, MA | 4 years | Online + Campus

Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s LGBTQ+ Services mission is to ensure a safe and supportive community for students of diverse gender, romantic and sexual identities, with a specific emphasis and commitment to racial justice.

In addition to Rainbow Compass, a peer mentorship program where students are matched with LGBTQ+ faculty and staff, LGBTQ+ Services offers a comprehensive library of LGBTQ+ books, videos and educational resources. MIT also holds a Lavender Celebration for graduating LGBTQ+ students every year in May.

Average Undergrad Tuition

• In-state: $55,510
• Out-of-state: $55,510

Average Graduate Tuition

• In-state: $55,510
• Out-of-state: $55,510

ROI Score: High

Retention Rate: 99%

Acceptance Rate: 4%

Students Enrolled: 11,858

Institution Type: Private

Percent Online Enrollment: 1%

Accreditation: Yes

12. Georgia Institute of Technology

• Atlanta, GA | 4 years | Online + Campus

Georgia Tech’s LGBTQIA+ Resource Center works to build an intentional community that focuses on the interconnectedness of gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation while creating a space for healing and liberation.

The resource center offers educational workshops for allies, an informal coffee happy hour for LGBTQ+ students every month and financial and economic resources specific to queer and trans students.

Average Undergrad Tuition

• In-state: $10,258
• Out-of-state: $31,370

Average Graduate Tuition

• In-state: $14,064
• Out-of-state: $29,140

ROI Score: High

Retention Rate: 98%

Acceptance Rate: 17%

Students Enrolled: 45,296

Institution Type: Public

Percent Online Enrollment: 62%

Accreditation: Yes

13. Carnegie Mellon University

• Pittsburgh, PA | 4 years | Online + Campus

Carnegie Mellon University’s Division of Student Affairs has done considerable work to support LGBTQ+ students, providing internal CMU resources that are both school-specific and campus-wide.

CMU notably offers specialized healthcare for LGBTQ+ students, a trans and gender-diverse graduation guide and student organizations for trans students and LGBTQ+ graduate students.

Average Undergrad Tuition

• In-state: $57,560
• Out-of-state: $57,560

Average Graduate Tuition

• In-state: $46,441
• Out-of-state: $47,629

ROI Score: High

Retention Rate: 97%

Acceptance Rate: 11%

Students Enrolled: 16,663

Institution Type: Private

Percent Online Enrollment: 31%

Accreditation: Yes

14. University of Massachusetts-Amherst

• Amherst, MA | 4 years | Online + Campus

The Stonewall Center at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst is a resource center for LGBTQIA+ students. It offers on-campus and local resources for transgender students, including a map to gender-inclusive restrooms and a guide to changing your name at Amherst.

It also offers an LGBTQIA+ Peer Mentorship Program and Out @ UMass, a list of the school’s openly out faculty and staff.

Average Undergrad Tuition

• In-state: $16,591
• Out-of-state: $38,527

Average Graduate Tuition

• In-state: $14,364
• Out-of-state: $31,489

ROI Score: High

Retention Rate: 90%

Acceptance Rate: 64%

Students Enrolled: 32,229

Institution Type: Public

Percent Online Enrollment: 20%

Accreditation: Yes

How Do We Rank LGBTQ+-Friendly Colleges?

Each year, BestColleges reaches out to over 1,000 colleges so they can self-report the services and resources offered to LGBTQ+ students. In consultation with Genny Beemyn, a veteran expert in the field of LGBTQ+ higher education issues and student experiences, BestColleges specifically identifies three key areas in its 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 this survey, BestColleges also incorporates its own ranking methodology that emphasizes the following factors to produce this list:

• Academic quality: To assess academic quality, BestColleges compared admission rate to enrollment rate to gauge the rigor and competitiveness of a school. The full-time retention rate (or the rate at which students return after their freshman year) is used 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 and inclusion: BestColleges’ 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, whether a school has explicit anti-LGBTQ+ policies that target LGBTQ+ students is also considered.
• College affordability: BestColleges’ 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). The 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, BestColleges 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.

A 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

What college has the largest LGBTQ+ population?

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.

How do you know if a college is LGBTQ+-friendly?

There are a number of characteristics to look for on a college campus that supports LGBTQ+ students. LGBTQ+-specific resources include support to improve campus climate and safety, opportunities for identity development and expertise on institutional and state policies, and their impact on the community.

All students should ensure their institution of choice is a good fit for them, but LGBTQ+ students have additional details to consider. Trans or nonbinary students of any background and LGBTQ+ students of color must consider how well their full identities are likely to be supported on campus.

Gender-inclusive housing, scholarship opportunities, health care, faculty representation and the availability of student organizations and mentorship opportunities are all important factors to LGBTQ+ student success.

What is the most LGBT-friendly place in the U.S.?

According to the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, the Household Pulse Survey administered by the Census Bureau suggests that 20 million adults in the U.S. identify as LGBTQ+. States with the highest LGBTQ+ populations include Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia and Illinois.

UCLA School of Law’s Williams Institute published data regarding U.S. metropolitan areas with the largest LGBTQ+ populations. The top cities were New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco and Miami. The city with the highest percentage of LGBTQ+ individuals per population was San Francisco.

Cities considered LGBTQ+-friendly have well-established, safe communities with activities, nightlife, housing and events that appeal to the LGBTQ+ community.

This story was produced by BestColleges and reviewed and distributed by Stacker Media.