UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State has once again earned a spot on Campus Pride’s “Best of the Best” LGBTQ-friendly College and Universities list, achieving an overall 5 out of 5 stars in the Campus Pride Index for 2023. Institutions are evaluated on eight LGBTQ-friendly factors, including housing, campus safety, academics, student life, and recruitment and retention efforts.
As part of the "Best of the Best" list, Penn State has been recognized as one of the top 30 four-year public and private colleges and universities across the nation, and one of seven in the mid-Atlantic region. To qualify for the list, an institution must score in the highest percentages in each LGBTQ-friendly benchmark category.
“We are thrilled to be recognized as a premier campus in Campus Pride’s 'Best of the Best’ list for being an LGBTQ+ friendly university. It highlights the work and investment that so many students, faculty and staff have done in advocating for our sexual- and gender-diverse communities,” said Sonya Wilmoth, director of the Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity, a unit in the division of Student Affairs. “Our work would not be complete without the support of so many campus partners who provide needed resources and services for our students. This sense of community has been so important and speaks volumes to the commitment of the University.”
Penn State earned 5 out of 5 stars in various areas, including but not limited to: LGBTQ support and institutional commitment, LGBTQ student life, LGBTQ campus safety, and LGBTQ counseling and health. Penn State’s current Campus Pride Index card can be viewed here.
“The work of creating a welcoming campus environment is ongoing and very much student led. We are welcoming students to Penn State who have a more defined sense of who they are, the identities that they hold and what they want from their collegiate experience,” Wilmoth stated. “Providing co-curricular experiences, opportunities and spaces for them to engage, find community, and develop a sense of belonging is at the heart of our work.”
The Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity offers a comprehensive range of education, information and advocacy services to students, faculty, staff and alumni. Programs such as the Queer Peers first-year cohort program, and a robust mentorship initiative contribute significantly to Penn State’s ranking by Campus Pride.
University efforts, including the AD84 Chosen Identity Policy, the Ally House living and learning community, the Gender Diverse Care Team, and the "Safer People Safer Places" workshop series for faculty, staff and graduate students, foster a supportive environment for sexual and gender diverse communities on campus.
Campus Pride, a leading national nonprofit organization for student leaders and campus groups striving to create LGBTQ-friendly learning environments, administers the Campus Pride Index, a free online benchmarking tool for prospective students and families, and those interested in higher education.