Supporting LGBTQ Students’ College Search (from NACAC & Project THRIVE)

All students seeking higher education look at multiple factors in finding the “right fit.” These can include cost and financial aid opportunities, distance from family and home, education opportunities and majors, athletics and extracurricular activities, and much more. For lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) students, and particularly Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) who are LGBTQ+, their identities are a major factor in finding the “right fit.” The college search process can look a little different as these students and their families navigate varying levels of LGBTQ+ inclusiveness as well as acceptance and celebration of BIPOC identities, in addition to pro-LGBTQ+ and anti-LGBTQ+ state laws across the country.