After nearly two years of work, PFund Foundation is pleased to share the results of its first ever SLAY (Survey of LGBTQ+ Academic Yield) Survey. The survey, conducted virtually in early 2023, polled 500+ queer people from across the Upper Midwest regarding their level of educational attainment and the barriers to postsecondary education that prevent LGBTQ+ folks from being able to enroll in college.

The study found that the top barriers preventing would-be queer students from enrolling are cost, the required time commitment, and being unsure of what to study.

“We are thrilled to begin building a body of research that helps PFund understand and address the barriers to higher education that queer people in our region face,” stated SLAY Survey project lead and PFund staffer Kate Mohn. “We hope our findings encourage colleges and universities, nonprofit organizations, and units of government to work together to address the major barriers queer students face in pursuing higher education.” SLAY data indicates that more scholarships for queer people, queer-specific guidance on the college-admissions process, creating more welcoming campus environments, and investing in higher education as a public good are all needed actions to help create make college more accessible for LGBTQ+ students across the Upper Midwest.

Major findings from the SLAY Survey can be found in PFund’s online SLAY report. A two-page infographic summary of key SLAY data can be downloaded by clicking here.