Motivations to Attend College Among Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, And Queer Students

The literature on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) college students focuses primarily on their experiences after they get acquainted at their college or university. The purpose of this study was to assess motivations to attend college among LGBTQ college students, and to find any connections between their identity development and those motivations. Qualitative data from 9 participants was collected and coded. Results show that LGBTQ students who come from unaccepting environments or families are more likely to express motivations such as leaving their home, self-exploration, or branching out. This provides information for higher education professionals who seek to create more inclusive, welcoming environments in college.