LGBTQ+ College Guide

Senior Edition

Questions to ask:
BEFORE YOU MAKE A DECISION
Are the re LGB TQ+ -inc lus iv e
po licie s ? Do non-discrimination policies
include LGBTQ+ students? Do housing
policies allow for gender-neutral living
situations? Has the school ever requested a
Title IX exemption for discrimination based
on sexual orientation?
Are the re resources on cam pu s?
Does the school host or support any pride
events? Is there a staff member on campus
who provides resources and services
specifically for LGBTQ+ students? Are there
LGBTQ+ student groups, and if so, how
many different kinds?
W ha t is the c am pu s c lim ate for
LG BT Q + stu den ts ? If you were able to
visit the school, did you feel safe? Can you
speak with any current LGBTQ+ students
and gauge their comfort levels?
BEFORE YOU GET TO CAMPUS
W he re ca n LGB T Q+ s tude nts go fo r
s upp ort? Is there a specific LGBTQ+ center on
campus, or is LGBTQ+ support housed in a
larger diversity or human rights center on
campus? Where are the LGBTQ+ safe spaces
on campus?
Are the re any cla sses yo u ca n take on
the LG BTQ+ com m u nity? Does the school
offer a major or minor in Queer or LGBTQ+
studies? Is there a major or minor in Women,
Gender and Sexuality? Are there professors
who incorporate LGBTQ+ experiences into their
curriculum?
W h o c an y ou tu rn to if y ou ne ed s upp ort?
What kind of counseling is available to students?
If you experience discrimination, is there an
administrator you can turn to? In the case of
institutional discrimination, who is the Title IX
coordinator you should report it to?

Scholarship Resources for LG BTQ+ Students

Human Rights Campaign has a database of scholarships available to LGBTQ+ students. You can choose to
filter based on national, state or school scholarships.
o Website: http://www.hrc.org/scholarship-database
FinAid lists scholarships specifically for LGBTQ+ students in several different categories, such as general,
academic or athletic.
o Website: http://www.finaid.org/otheraid/lgbt.phtml
 General Resources for LGBTQ + Students
Human Rights Campaigns website has several pages geared toward navigating college as an LGBTQ+
student. This is a good place to start: http://www.hrc.org/resources/applying-to-college-as-an-lgbt-student
College Explorer has written a few pieces on attending college as an LGBTQ+ student. This page offers some
statistics: http://www.campusexplorer.com/college-advice-tips/DC54CA9B/LGBT-College-Statistics/
One of the best single resources for LGBTQ+ students is Campus Pride, a non-profit founded to serve
LGBTQ+ college students and prospective students. Their entire website is full of useful resources, but to
begin with, be sure to check out these two areas:
o https://www.campuspride.org/prospective-student-resources/ this page offers lists of the best and
worst colleges for LGBTQ+ students, factors students should consider when looking at schools, tips on
financial aid and many other resources for LGBTQ+ students heading to college for the first time.
o https://www.campusprideindex.org/ the Campus Pride Index, or CPI, rates how well individual
colleges meet the needs of LGBTQ+ students. CPI is based on self-reported data, which means
schools get to choose whether or not they want to be on it. If a school isnt on the CPI, it is because the
administration did not assign anyone to the task of filling out CPIs survey. This does not necessarily
mean the school is unfriendly to LGBT students, but you should be a little more wary of schools who
are not on the Campus Pride Index it may be a sign that the school is not as concerned with
explicitly including and considering the needs of LGBT students as school who are on the CPI.

Compare three local schools

H ar va rd Co lle g e U Mas s Am he rs t Bo sto n Un ive rsity

Campus Pride Rating: Campus Pride Rating: Campus Pride Rating:

None did not report 5/5 Stars None did not report

Support for LGBTQ+ students:
Full-time staff person for LGBTQ+ support
and resources
Annual Pride Month
Deficits in support:
Gender neutral housing only available to
upperclassmen
LGBTQ+ Support Center:
Office of BGLTQ Student Life
Course Offerings:
LGBT Literature, Queer Practice
Support for LGBTQ+ students:
Support groups, safe spaces, and staff
dedicated to supporting LGBT students
Policies in place to protect students from
LGBT-based violence
Deficits in support:
No gender-neutral showers
No LGBTQ+ fraternities or sororities
LGBTQ+ Support Center:
Stonewall Center
Course Offerings:
Intro to LGBT Studies, Queer Theories of
Power and Temporality
Support for LGBTQ+ students:
Delta Phi chapter (fraternity geared
toward gay and bisexual men)
Q Collective, support for queer students
by queer students
Deficits in support:
Gender neutral housing only available to
upperclassmen
No specific LGBT administrators
LGBTQ+ Support Center:
Center for Gender, Sexuality and Activism
Course Offerings:
Arts of Gender, Gender and Sexuality