Full Breakdown
Out on Campus Index Identifies 15 U.S. Colleges with Zero LGBTQ+ Support Scores
9/5/2026, 12:38:41 AM
Core Findings
The adult-entertainment portal Erobella released the *Out on Campus: The LGBTQ+ College Index 2026*, ranking 1,718 U.S. universities on the presence of LGBTQ-affirming policies, services, and city-level equality measures. Fifteen institutions received a perfect 0.0 out of 100, indicating no documented protections or resources for LGBTQ+ students. All fifteen schools are religiously affiliated, hold Title IX-exempt status, and are located in the South or the Mountain West.
Methodology and Context
Erobella’s index evaluates five campus criteria—staffed LGBTQ+ centers, gender-inclusive housing, anti-discrimination policies for trans students, health-insurance coverage for gender-affirming care, and the ability to use chosen names and pronouns on official records. The city component incorporates the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index, the number of nearby LGBTQ+ venues, and the presence of a local PFLAG chapter. Scores begin at zero and increase as institutions meet each metric. The study follows the discontinuation of the Campus Pride Index after 18 years as the primary national benchmark for LGBTQ-friendly colleges.
Schools Scoring Zero
The bottom-ranked institutions are:
1. Toccoa Falls College (Georgia)
2. East Texas Baptist University (Texas)
3. Hardin-Simmons University (Texas)
4. Wayland Baptist University (Texas)
5. Mississippi College (Mississippi)
6. Brigham Young University Idaho (Idaho)
7. William Carey University (Mississippi)
8. University of Mobile (Alabama)
9. Oklahoma Wesleyan University (Oklahoma)
10. University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (Texas)
11. Bethel University (Tennessee)
12. Carson-Newman University (Tennessee)
13. Freed-Hardeman University (Tennessee)
14. Union University (Tennessee)
15. (unnamed in the excerpt but included in the full list of fifteen)
Each school earned zero points because they lack LGBTQ+ centers, gender-inclusive housing, protective policies, inclusive health coverage, and official name/pronoun recognition. Moreover, all fifteen received the lowest possible municipal scores, with several cities scoring below 40 on the HRC index.
Why It Matters
Erobella’s data highlight a stark geographic and institutional divide: no Southern university appears in the top ten, while the most inclusive schools are concentrated elsewhere. The zero-score designation underscores how Title IX religious exemptions enable institutions to forgo legally required nondiscrimination protections, directly affecting the safety and well-being of LGBTQ+ students.
Official Response from Erobella
Brenda Jensen, a member of Erobella’s data and research team, emphasized that the index aims to provide “greater transparency” for prospective students seeking environments that support LGBTQ+ identities.
