Lesbian, gay, and bisexual college student experiences: An exploratory study

The current status of higher education research on lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) students offers an incomplete picture of their overall college experiences. This study is a secondary analysis of data collected for the 2004 National Study of Living-Learning Programs. Data were collected from 34 universities in 24 states and the District of Columbia. The total sample selected included 71,728 students, of which 23,910 responded to the survey, resulting in a response rate of approximately 33.3%. The demographic characteristics of the sample of lesbian, gay, bisexual and heterosexual students were remarkably similar. The results of this exploratory study reveal a rich and multifaceted portrait of the LGB college experience. The results from this study indicate that lesbian and gay students perceive higher growth in critical thinking and liberal learning. of the presence of out LGB students. This study offers a rare glimpse into the overall college experience of lesbian, gay, and bisexual students, and it was made possible by including one question item about respondents' sexual orientation on a survey instrument for a national study