Gay Pride on Campus

Columbia College Chicago was included in the recent Campus Pride list of the top LGBT-friendly colleges and universities in the country, with four of a possible five stars overall. Campus Pride is a national nonprofit organization working to create safer, more LGBT-friendly learning environments at colleges and universities. In addition to its overall ranking, Columbia received high ranks (five of five stars) in four categories: LGBT Campus Safety, LGBT Counseling & Health, LGBT Student Life and LGBT Recruitment and Retention Efforts.

The LGBT-Friendly Campus Climate Index rates both colleges and universities on LGBT policy inclusion, student life, academic life as well as other relevant practices. The list includes 330 campuses from across the nation. Questions asked of the different colleges include whether the institution offers employee benefits to same-sex partners and if it has an LGBT studies program. The Index serves as a resource for students hoping to identify schools where LGBT students are welcomed and supported.

Columbia College also was ranked among the top 20 college campuses for gay-friendly environment and community by Newsweek's The Daily Beast in September 2011.

Columbia College has endeavored to create an accepting environment for its students through many avenues, including supporting the LGBT community through scholarships and student groups like the gay-straight alliance Common Ground.