Penn State is once again recognized for being nationally ranked in the top 25 of the 2017 Campus Pride Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning-Friendly Campus Climate Index by Campus Pride. Campus Pride, which is a non-profit, is a student organization that works to improve LGBTQA environments and understanding at colleges and universities across the country.

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Brian Patchcoski, who is the director of Penn State's LGBTQA Student Resource Center, told Penn State News that receiving this recognition shows the collective efforts of all of those who take the time to make the school the most inclusive and accepting community possible. He explained that this recognition is not easily acquired: "As the number of institutions growing this work on their campuses has grown, so has the need for us to think broader and more strategically to move our own work forward. Our students share so much of themselves as they work with us and challenge us to make Penn State stronger. This honor is in recognition of them and their desire for Penn State to innovate and grow its understanding of diversity and inclusion."  

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The criteria for which universities are to meet are assessed by the Campus Pride Index. LGBTQA programs, policies and practices are examined by experts in the LGBTQA field. The index looks at 235 colleges and universities annually so as to determine their rank on the list. Some of the factors that are looked at include housing, campus safety, counseling, and support and institutional commitment. Given that Penn State has ranked well on the Campus Pride Index before, the support for the LGBTQA community is in place and here to stay.