The transition to a college education carries real concerns around safety, support, and belonging for many LGBTQ+ students. In the CDC’s 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 65.7% of LGBQ+ students reported persistent sadness or hopelessness. In addition, 41% seriously considered suicide, and 19.7% attempted.
The Trevor Project’s 2024 National survey backs this urgency by finding that 39% of LGBTQ+ youth seriously considered suicide during that year alone. What’s worse? Half of those who wanted mental health care couldn’t get it.
At the same time, campus support systems are shifting in ways families can’t always see online. Inside Higher Ed reports that Texas SB 17, the legislation leading public universities to close LGBTQ+ centers, is already negatively impacting students. A major nationwide mental health resource, the specialized LGBTQ+ option on the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, was officially defunded in July 2025.
Families of LGBTQ+ students are looking for a guide with trusted information. In addition to a host of invaluable college search tools, Appily equips them with specific insight and resources related to the LGBTQ+ experience.
How Appily provides families of LGBTQ+ students with college application help and financial aid tools
Thanks to today’s political climate, many campus websites are renaming or burying resources for LGBTQ+ students. Appily is the free online tool that brings this needed information and guidance together in one place.
To start, Appily’s LGBTQ+ scholarships hub gives students a clear path to funding. In response to today’s changing criteria, it provides current search strategies and advice for building strong applications.
Appily’s list of the best colleges known to have active LGBTQ+ student resource groups helps families spot campuses with visible, student-powered support. And finally, Appily’s resources for advocating for LGBTQ pride & equality on campus show what belonging can look like once students arrive, and how to build it if it’s not obvious on day one.
“These tools tell the story from three angles,” explains Emily Niedermaier, managing director of marketing at Appily. “We show you how students can pay for college, how to spot campuses with visible LGBTQ+ support, and what advocacy and community can mean in daily life. That’s because we believe support is a combination of access, community, and the lived student experience.”
Appily’s LGBTQ+ college tour checklist helps families discover which schools offer real support during the college search
Many universities know how to talk the talk, but LGBTQ+ students need to know what will happen when they actually set foot on campus, which is why Appily developed a college tour checklist. It helps families dig below the brochure claims to focus on the real lived experience.
“Students and families can use the checklist to compare colleges side by side,” suggests Niedermaier. “If something’s unclear, ask for specifics. A college that supports you will answer clearly.”
Appily first advises families to look at the university’s policies to find clear protections for sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. If that information is hard to find or written in vague language, it’s a red flag.
Families also want to know whether students can use their chosen names and pronouns across campus systems without jumping through hoops. That one detail impacts many aspects of a student’s everyday life.
During a tour, families will want to ask about the college’s policies around gender-inclusive housing. One critical thing to establish is a clear process for changing rooms if a situation becomes uncomfortable or unsafe.
Families need to find out whether campus health services and student insurance plans support LGBTQ+ needs in mental health care and referrals. Ideally, counseling staff should have experience and competency supporting LGBTQ+ students and offer after-hours crisis support. Green flags in this area may include published counseling wait times and multiple access points, while red flags may include strict session caps or a lack of off-campus referrals.
Appily’s checklist also covers a college’s designated spaces and programs for LGBTQ+ students. Visible support from campus offices and funded programming signals institutional commitment. Recently closed centers with no transparent replacement plan are a bad sign.
To evaluate campus life, families will need to go beyond the website and talk to current students during the tour. But before that, they can read campus news and scan student group feeds for firsthand accounts from current and former students to find support that feels consistent and visible day to day.
Families also need to find out what happens when something goes wrong. Does the college provide a bias incident reporting system, and do students feel their concerns are taken seriously?
Last but not least, Appily’s checklist encourages families to consider the broader environment around a college. State policies and local community culture can shape how supported a student feels, especially regarding safety, access to healthcare, and daily life off campus.
Tips for finding and applying for financial aid and scholarships as an LGBTQ+ student, regardless of major or state
Scholarships for LGBTQ+ students are getting hard to find. The Wall Street Journal reports that awards in the National Scholarship Providers Association database that center on race, ethnicity, or gender criteria dropped by 25% between March 2023 and June 2025.
“It may look like scholarships for LGBTQ+ students have evaporated, but many have simply rebranded,” observes Niedermaier. “Today’s legal shifts are pushing providers toward race- and gender-neutral language.”
Some identity-conscious awards now appear as need-based awards, while others rely on lived-experience prompts that ask students to explain the context and obstacles rather than simply check a box for eligibility. In place of identity-only eligibility, many use community-impact or pipeline criteria. As a result, families will now find these with phrases like “advancing diversity,” “equity,” or “inclusive leadership.” These awards are moving from identity gating to demonstrated commitments and actions.
“When searching for the best scholarship matches, read for mission fit,” Niedermaier suggests. “Look beyond labels. If a program serves students building inclusive communities, your LGBTQ+ advocacy and leadership are likely a great fit.”
Niedermaier firmly believes that every student deserves a campus where they can pursue their studies and live to the fullest. “To find your college home away from home, be ready to ask the tough questions and follow what feels true,” she concludes. “At Appily, we’re here to walk with you every step of the way.