🏳️‍🌈 LGBTQ+ Scholarships and Tools to Help You Build a More Inclusive College List

Because every student deserves to feel safe, seen, and supported.

¿Prefieres leerlo en español? [Haz clic aquí]

June is Pride Month, and while the rainbows and hashtags are great, the college search process can feel uncertain for LGBTQIA+ students and their families.

If you’re a student (or supporting one), you might be wondering:

• Where will I feel welcome?

• How do I know if a college is truly inclusive, or just checking a box?

  
  

This blog is a starting place. Below, you’ll find real scholarships for LGBTQ+ students, plus trusted tools to help you build a college list that fits your identity, goals, and values.

🎓 5 LGBTQ+ Scholarships to Bookmark

(And yes, you can reuse one strong essay for most of them.)

These scholarships are designed for LGBTQIA+ students and are usually open each fall. Most require essays focused on identity, leadership, or goals. 

1. Point Foundation Scholarship 

💰 Award varies (some cover full tuition); includes mentorship 

🌐 pointfoundation.org 

📝 Essay required | 📊 Highly competitive

2. Live Out Loud Scholarship (NY, NJ, CT only) 

💰 $10,000 

🌐 liveoutloud.info 

📝 ~500-word essay | ✅ Less competitive due to regional focus

3. League Foundation Scholarships 

💰 $1,500–$3,000 

🌐 leaguefoundation.org 

📝 1–2 short essays | 📊 Moderate competition

4. Gamma Mu Foundation 

💰 $1,000–$2,500 

🌐 gammamufoundation.org 

🎯 For gay men under 35, especially in rural areas 

📝 Essay required | 📊 Lower competition

5. Pride Foundation Scholarships (AK, ID, MT, OR, WA only) 

💰 Award varies 

🌐 pridefoundation.org 

📝One app unlocks dozens of opportunities | 📊 Strong odds in region

📝 Pro Tip:

Most of these openings occur between October and January, so summer is an ideal time to prepare. Write one strong 500–750 word essay about your identity, challenges, and goals, and reuse it with minor edits.

🎯 Sample prompt to reuse: 

“How has your identity as an LGBTQIA+ student shaped your goals, challenges, or leadership and how will college help you grow?”

💡 Bonus Resource:Want even more scholarships?

🌐Check out BestColleges’ LGBTQ+ Scholarship Directory for additional scholarships by major, region, or identity.

📚 Tools to Support Your College Search

Looking for LGBTQ+ friendly schools? These tools help you ask better questions, avoid red flags, and build a list where you’ll thrive.

• Campus Pride Index – Rates colleges on LGBTQ+ inclusion, policies, and support 

  🌐 campusprideindex.org

  
  

• Best of the Best List – Top 30 LGBTQ+ inclusive campuses (updated annually) 

  🌐 campuspride.org/bestofthebest

  
  

• HRC’s HBCU Program – Supports LGBTQ+ visibility and safety at Historically Black Colleges 

  🌐 hrc.org/our-work/the-hbcu-program

  
  

• College Guides

  • Princeton Review:

    🌐LGBTQ-Friendly Colleges

  • BestColleges: 

    🌐LGBTQ+ Student Guide

    
    

• Know Your Rights

  • ACLU: 

    🌐aclu.org/issues/lgbtq-rights

  • GLSEN:

    🌐 glsen.org

🎁 Free Download: LGBTQ+ College Resource Guide

Get a printable version of these scholarships and tools—perfect for planning your college search. 

👉 [Insert link or “coming soon!”]

💬 Need Support?

Whether you're building a list, applying for scholarships, or are not sure where to start, I’m here.  I offer free consultations for students and families. 

Let’s find the right fit together.