Top 10+ Best and Most Friendly Schools for LGBTQ Students in the US Today

LGBT is the abbreviation for the Community of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender. LGBT represents the diversity of human cultures based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Human sexual orientation is divided into three main categories: heterosexual, homosexual and bisexual, and according to gender identity: transgender and non-transgender. In which, LGBT is the community of people with sexual orientations and gender identity minorities in society.

Not every school in the US has a management board who understands human rights law, so equipping yourself with knowledge about LGBT rights is necessary so that you can protect yourself and have a good time studying abroad. Below are the top schools which are best for LGBT in the school environment.

Factors to Choose a School for LGBT

LGBT student clubs and organizations

Clubs play an important role in the personality development of students. They provide relationships, opportunities to build confidence, and the opportunity to participate in activities for various social issues.

These clubs can help students build safe and supportive spaces off campus. They can help gay students be acknowledged and respected. These clubs often have activities to encourage and promote positive social recognition of LGBT.

School facilities

Campus facilities ensure you have the space and conditions you need to thrive and build community. Examples include restrooms, gender housing, and LGBT centers and departments.

If you plan to live in a school dormitory, find someone to inquire about dormitory information. Did the dormitory management ask about gender and gender identity in the questionnaire? Does the organization ensure LGBT students get along?

Safe Zone and other Ally-Focused training programs

In recent years, there has been an increase in Ally-focused training programs. They focus on activities to recognize LGTB students on campus. You can ask if there are any programs for LGBT students.

The Best and Most Friendly Schools for LGBTQ Students in the US

1. Cornell University

Cornell University

Website: https://scl.cornell.edu/LGBTRC

Founded in 1865 and ranked 17th in the 2015/16 academic year rankings, Cornell University is located in Ithaca, New York state. The university has 21,500 students, representing 50 US states and more than 120 countries. Fees for in-state students amount to $30,910, and in-state student output is $47,050. In the 2015 Campus Pride Index, Cornell is rated 4.5/5 stars, achieving the top ranking for LGBT student life, with a safe environment for health.

LGBT groups abound at Cornell, including the LGBTQA First Year Group, Ga'avah: LGBT Jewish Group, Greeks United, Mosaic (for same gender-loving people of color), and the Graduate and Professional Student LGBT Collective. The university's libraries also house a "world-renowned" Human Sexuality Collection.

2. The University of California – Los Angeles

Website: https://www.ucla.edu/

LA is well-known for its artsy queer scene, as well as any other type of queer scene you might be interested in. If you enroll at the University of California, you will have no shortage of opportunities to explore what this city has to offer. However, you will not have to leave college to find LGBTQ spaces, groups, and activities because UCLA has a very active and welcoming LGBTQ community.

For over 20 years, the UCLA LGBT Campus Resource Center has fostered a safe, inclusive, healthy, and fun environment at UCLA by organizing regular events, providing counseling and therapy groups, legal advice, and specialized health services. Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) at the center include trained counselors who are available for drop-in consultation as well as crisis counseling by phone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

3. Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Website: https://rutgers.edu/

Rutgers University-New Brunswick, a member of the Association of American Universities and the Big Ten Academic Alliance, conducts life-changing research and provides premier education in a diverse community. Students choose Rutgers-New Brunswick for its educational excellence and abundance of opportunities to learn how to live a meaningful life and prepare for a meaningful and consequential career. Rutgers-New Brunswick is conveniently located in central New Jersey, close to the major metropolitan areas of New York City and Philadelphia, as well as the iconic Jersey Shore. Rutgers University's main campus is home to five campuses in New Brunswick and Piscataway, which range from a pulsing, bustling environment to a tree-lined, classically collegiate campus feel.

Rutgers University - New Brunswick was founded in 1766 and is ranked 258th in the World University Rankings. It has a student population of 48,000. Rutgers University has a Center for Social Justice Education and LGBT Communities (SJE), which aims to provide an inclusive, supportive environment for LGBTQ students by offering counseling, career advice, networking, service referrals to those in need, drop-in centers, training initiatives, and other services. Rutgers University also provides scholarships to LGBTQA students.

4. University of Maryland

Website: https://www.umd.edu/

The University of Maryland, College Park is a large public university in College Park, Maryland, with a suburban campus. It has 30,875 undergraduate students and admissions are competitive, with a 51% acceptance rate. The university offers 158 bachelor's degrees, has an 87% graduation rate, and a 17:1 student-faculty ratio.

The university's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Equity Center serves all LGBTQ+ students, faculty, and staff. The center offers opportunities for learning, leadership, and community involvement.

The Lavender Leadership Honor Society, the #TransTerps project, and the Rainbow Terrapin Network are all unique opportunities. Books, movies, and other resources are also cataloged in a resource library.

5. University of Pennsylvania

University of Pennsylvania

Website: https://www.upenn.edu/

Founded in 1740, Penn has a long history of diversity and inclusivity, committed to being one of America's most LGBTQ-friendly colleges, and rated on a 5/5 scale in Campus Pride Index. Penn Principal Amy Gutmann said, “Diversity is not just present, but has implications for the entire history of racism, sexism and class in this country: it breaks down barriers. barrier to opportunity, a really great education, openness in our society.”

The LGBTQ+ center at this Ivy League institution provides resources such as mentorship programs, support groups, and travel funds for attending LGBTQ+ conferences. They also have LGBTQ+ groups for students of all majors, such as Wavelength for chemistry students, LambdaVets for veterinary students, and the Wharton Alliance for business students.

6. The Ohio State University

Website: https://www.osu.edu/

Founded in 1870 and currently ranked 99th in the world based on the latest QS world university rankings, Ohio State University is located in Columbus, Ohio, a city of approximately 836,000 residents. Boasts a community of over 63,000 students, with 500,000 living alumni and 12,000 courses available. In the latest Pride Index list, Ohio State University holds 4.5 out of 5 stars, corresponding to a score of 5/5 for LGBT student life including Counseling, Wellness, and Institutional Commitment Support.

The OSU campus environment is such that LGBTQ-related groups can be found in almost every academic and administrative sector. Pi Alpha Kappa, an LGBT fraternity, is both co-ed and all-inclusive. Here are some more LGBTQ student organizations:

• LGBT & Allies in Medicine
• Out in Business
• Pride OSU
• LGBT First Year Q*mmunity

7. Dartmouth College

Website: https://students.dartmouth.edu/opal/

LGBT and ally students at Dartmouth are well-served by the Office of Pluralism and Leadership, which is dedicated to assisting LGBT students' academic, personal, and social success, and the Center for Gender and Student Engagement (CGSE).

The CGSE provides a number of programs that encourage students' community involvement, gender identity exploration, and meaningful relationships with their peers. The Men's Project, for example, brings together resources to help male-identified students examine and identify masculinity and the various identities within the male community.

8. Tufts University

Website: https://www.tufts.edu/

Founded in 1852 and currently ranked 252nd in the world, Tufts University is one of America's top universities. The university has a total of four campuses (Medford/Somerville, Boston, Grafton and Talloires, France) and approximately 11,000 students. The school earns a score of 5 out of 5 stars in the latest Campus Pride Index and the LGBT community with its support services for LGBT students including advocacy, counseling, training and workshops.

You can choose to stay in Rainbow House, which has been carefully designed to provide a safe and welcoming environment for LGBTQ students. If healthcare is an issue for you, don't worry: Tufts University provides health and mental health services specifically for trans, non-binary, and/or gender nonconforming students.

9. University of Massachusetts Amherst

University of Massachusetts Amherst

Website: https://www.amherst.edu/campuslife/our-community/queer-resource-center/lgbtqiap-student-groups

Located in the 1,450 scenic Pioneer Valley model schools of Western Massachusetts, the University of Massachusetts, Amherst (UMass Amherst) currently has 28,500 students and boasts $200 million in research awards. With the LGBT community at the school, the first year an 18-year-old transgender student at the school said: “As a member of the LGBT community, right from the first day of admission, I felt this was the right environment. suitable for yourself. It feels great it's like being in a small community in the middle of a big world.” Needless to say, UMass Amherst's well-deserved score was 5 out of 5 stars in 2015 in the rating of UMass Amherst. Campus Pride Index.

The Stonewall Center, one of the first of its kind in the United States, serves the student community with cultural and educational programming, a speaker's bureau on LGBTQIA and ally issues, and information, support, and referrals to students in need.

10. San Diego State University

Website: http://go.sdsu.edu/student_affairs/pridecenter/

San Diego State University is a large public university in San Diego, California, with an urban campus. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 31,491 students, and admissions are highly selective, with a 37% acceptance rate. The university has 93 bachelor's degrees, a 76% graduation rate, and a student-faculty ratio of 27:1.

The Pride Center, which provides a safe and inclusive environment for individuals to meet and learn, houses San Diego State University's LGBTQ+ resources. Support is available both on and off campus in the community.

The center also helps people get involved in events like the Pride Parade, Black Gay Pride Week, Dragstavaganza, and Trans Day of Remembrance.

11. University of Washington

Website: http://www.washington.edu/

University of Washington. As one of the oldest American universities on the Pacific coast, the campus consists of three schools: Seattle, Bothell and Tacoma.

The Q Center at the University of Washington offers a lending library, discussion forums, ally training, academic mentoring, and brief crisis intervention. There is a social area with computer and WiFi access, as well as private meeting rooms. Every year, a Lavender Graduation event is held for LGBTQ+ graduates.

Ranked 65th in the rankings and founded in 1861 is the University of Washington. As one of the oldest American universities on the Pacific coast, the campus consists of three schools: Seattle, Bothell and Tacoma. With 5 out of 5 stars in the Campus Pride Index, this is clearly a culturally diverse and inclusive environment that treats all students fairly, regardless of gender or sexuality.

12. Princeton University

Website: https://www.princeton.edu/

Princeton University has a vibrant and engaged LGBTQ community for queer and trans students. This Ivy League university has taken proactive institutional steps to ensure that LGBTQ students receive academic, mental, and social support.

Princeton University's LGBTQ culture is rooted in education and networking, as is the school's overall student culture. The LGBT Center on campus is the driving force behind some incredible student-led projects.

Princeton University has a student group for everyone, whether you're a queer or trans athlete, a Jewish student, asexual, interested in kink, Latinx, a queer student of color, a religious student, or anything in between. The campus pride is strong, and so is the LGBTQ network.

13. Pomona College

Website: https://colleges.claremont.edu/qrc/

The Queer Resource Center has enough programming and resources to serve all seven Claremont Colleges, including Pomona. And their rainbow ski lodge (shown above) is without a doubt one of the best-decorated LGBT hangouts among the schools on this list.

The QRC program coordinator and director also hold "Drop in Hours" on a regular basis. During these hours, students can stop by for informal counseling on issues such as coming out, sexual orientation or gender identity, LGBTQ-related research, and navigating campus queer life.

Every year, Pomona hosts a Queer Faculty Symposium Series to highlight the work of Claremont Colleges queer and ally faculty. They also highlight work that "raises the profile of queer issues in the academy."

Conclusion

Choosing a university is more than just a reputation for quality education. You deserve a learning environment where LGBT students feel respected and be themselves. Consider the factors and schools above when you're looking for a college for LGBT students.

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