At Knox College we are committed to promoting our values of diversity, equity, and inclusion in everything that we do -- meaning the safety, wellbeing, belonging, and ability to thrive of our LGBTQ+ community is of the utmost importance. Our outreach and programs are designed to build and maintain a welcoming, inclusive, and safe environment. Here we believe that a diverse campus community offers us the ability to learn from a variety of perspectives and experiences in order to help prepare our students for work on a global scale. We value and appreciate the lived experiences of each of our students, and by providing resources to directly benefit our Queer community members, we recognize that their lived experiences often come with barriers and hurdles that require a concerted effort to dismantle. We are committed to that concerted effort, to dismantling barriers here so that our students will know how to break barriers in the world outside of Knox. We are committed to uplifting the next generation of LGBTQ+ and Allied leaders through equity, opportunity, leadership training, and a commitment to student success across difference.
Region: Midwest | |
City/State: Galesburg, IL | |
Locale: Small City (25,000 to 100,000) | |
Student Population (FTE): 1,300 | |
In-State Tuition: $52,461.00 | |
Out-of-State Tuition: $52,461.00 | |
Institution Website: http://www.knox.edu |
Institution Type: |
|
Private Institution Liberal Arts College Residential Campus |
LGBTQ Student Opportunities
![]() |
Colleges and universities want LGBTQ students, faculty and staff to be out and proud as part of the diversity of the campus community. The Campus Pride Index provides campuses the opportunity to come out as LGBTQ-friendly and take responsibility for continually improving their LGBTQ campus climate.
The Campus Pride Index features LGBTQ student opportunities by highlighting the positive work within higher education across the country. Prospective students and families may choose the best LGBTQ campuses searching the tool based on area of study, cost, location, type of campus and LGBTQ-inclusive policy, programs and practice for their college search.
Reminder: Learn more by signing-up for FREE to participate in Campus Pride's LGBTQ-friendly National College Fair Program in eight different cities and the Campus Pride National Online College Fair.
|
Commitment to LGBTQ Issues

Our Synopsis

We think about our incredibly diverse student population in everything that we do, constantly working so that our entire institution and its' practices reflect our values. In housing preferences we are intentional about building space for our LGBTQ students to be comfortable and we offer an LGBTQ Cultural Center where our LGBTQ students can live during their 4 years on campus. We have gender neutral restrooms in our residence halls, academic, and administrative buildings. Housing is not segregated by gender, and students can opt into same-gender or multi-gender halls, with emphasis on LGBTQ affirming or sexually/gender diverse living space if requested. We offer and perform gender and sexuality trainings for student groups, faculty, staff, and community partners regularly. We have 2 LGBTQ student organizations: QTPoCC and Common Ground. They meet in the Gender & Sexuality Center, an open space for LGBTQ students to gather. The GSC hosts our gender affirming clothing closet, sponsored by Common Ground. We have an incredibly easy name change process with no legal name change requirement, help students pursue transition whether legally or though medical means, and much more with the help of our campus LGBTQ Advisor. Additionally we host annual events and ones that address current issues for our LGBTQ community, a full month of LGBTQ history programming, Pride Month programming, and intersectional programming to address the multiple identities held by so many of our students.
Featured Quotes

Why you'll love Knox College
Students and many faculty introduce themselves with their pronouns. It’s a small thing, but it is important.
— - Second Year Student
Common Ground does a lot of events and other things to help make LGBT students feel accepted! They help buy things for trans students which is nice.
— - Non-binary Knox Student
Giving a club like Common Ground the space to host events like Queer Prom is a very good thing. It's also just cool to see LGBTQ+ professors at Knox, that's always very comforting and they can often serve as role models.
— - Current Knox Student
Highlights & Organizations

Upcoming events
10/14/2022
STI Testing Drive
4/22/2021
Common Ground's Queer Prom
10/1/2022
LGBTQ History Month Programming
2/19/2022
QTPOCC Winter Kiki Ball
Admissions

Admissions Office
Knox College Admissions Office
Knox College Admissions
Knox College
305 S. Cherry Street
Galesburg, IL 61401
Phone: 309-341-7100
Website: https://www.knox.edu/admission
Admission Application Deadline:
Overall Campus Pride Index Score

The Campus Pride Index has a strong theoretical research foundation in LGBTQ current programs, practices and policies for safer, more inclusive campus learning environments. The index tool has been tested extensively since 2001 and recently updated with new, higher LGBTQ national benchmarks in 2015.
The Campus Pride Index is a vital tool for assisting campuses in learning ways to improve their LGBTQ campus life and ultimately shape the educational experience to be more inclusive, welcoming and respectful of LGBTQ and ally people. The index is owned and operated by Campus Pride, the leading national nonprofit organization for student leaders and campus groups working to create safer, more LGBTQ-Friendly learning environments at colleges and universities. Campus Pride commends the campuses participating in the index and their willingness to come out, be visible and actively advocate for improving higher education for LGBTQ people.
Knox College
LGBTQ-friendly break-down by inclusion factors
Sexual Orientation Score | 4 of 5 |
Gender Identity/Expression Score | 3.5 of 5 |
LGBTQ Policy Inclusion | 4 of 5 |
LGBTQ Support & Institutional Commitment | 4.5 of 5 |
LGBTQ Academic Life | 3 of 5 |
LGBTQ Student Life | 4.5 of 5 |
LGBTQ Housing & Residence Life | 5 of 5 |
LGBTQ Campus Safety | 4 of 5 |
LGBTQ Counseling & Health | 2.5 of 5 |
LGBTQ Recruitment & Retention Efforts | 1.5 of 5 |
Sections greyed out mean the campus does not offer those services |
LGBTQ-Friendly Report Card

LGBTQ Policy Inclusion
Non-discrimination statement inclusive of sexual orientation | |
Non-discrimination statement inclusive of gender identity/expression | |
Health insurance coverage to employees’ same sex partner | |
Accessible, simple process for students to change their name on university records and documents | |
Accessible, simple process for students to change their gender identity on university records and documents | |
Students have option to self-identify sexual orientation on admission application or post enrollment forms | |
Students have option to self-identify gender identity/expression on admission application or post enrollment forms |
LGBTQ Support & Institutional Commitment
Resource center/office with responsibilities for LGBTQ students | |
Paid staff with responsibilities for LGBTQ support services | |
Ally program or Safe Space/Safe Zone | |
Actively seek to employ diversity of faculty & staff including visible, out LGBTQ people | |
Standing advisory committee that deals with LGBTQ issues | |
LGBTQ alumni group |
LGBTQ Academic Life
LGBTQ studies program | |
LGBTQ specific course offerings | |
Actively recruit faculty for LGBTQ-related academic scholarship | |
New faculty/staff training opportunities on sexual orientation issues | |
New faculty/staff training opportunities on gender identity issues | |
LGBTQ faculty/staff organization |
LGBTQ Student Life
LGBTQ & Ally student organization | |
LGBTQ & Ally graduate student organization | |
LGBTQ social fraternity/sorority | |
Regularly plans LGBTQ social activities | |
Regularly plans educational events on transgender issues | |
Regularly offers educational events surrounding intersectionality of identities for LGBTQ people | |
LGBTQ-inclusive career services |
LGBTQ Housing & Residence Life
LGBTQ living space, theme floors and/or living-learning community | |
Roommate matching for LGBTQ students to find LGBTQ-friendly roommate | |
Gender-inclusive housing for new students | |
Gender-inclusive housing for returning students | |
Gender-inclusive/single occupancy restroom facilities in campus housing | |
Gender-inclusive/single occupancy shower facilities in campus housing | |
Trains residence life and housing staff at all levels on LGBTQ issues and concerns |
LGBTQ Campus Safety
Procedure for reporting LGBTQ related bias incidents and hate crimes | |
Active ongoing training for hate crime prevention | |
Active outreach to LGBTQ students and student organization | |
Trains campus police on sexual orientation issues | |
Trains campus police on gender identity/expression issues | |
Supports victims of LGBTQ sexual violence and partner violence |
LGBTQ Counseling & Health
LGBTQ counseling/support groups | |
Trans-inclusive trained counseling staff | |
Free, anonymous and accessible HIV/STI testing | |
LGBTQ-inclusive health information and safer sex materials available | |
Trans-inclusive student health insurance policy which covers ongoing counseling services | |
Trans-inclusive student health insurance policy which covers hormone replacement therapy |
LGBTQ Recruitment & Retention
Annually participates in LGBTQ admission fairs | |
LGBTQ student scholarships | |
LGBTQ mentoring program to welcome and assist LGBTQ students in transitioning to academic and college life | |
Special Lavender or Rainbow Graduation ceremony for LGBTQ students and allies | |
Admission counselors receive LGBTQ-inclusive training and resources |