Written by DCist Contributor Fredo Alvarez

Campus Pride, the nation’s largest non-profit student LGBT organization, this week launched its Campus Climate Index, an online report card that allows LGBT students from colleges across the country to rate their schools on their inclusiveness and support of LGBT students, employees and their allies. Schools are rated on a scale from one to five stars based on a voluntary survey.

Of 80 public and private institutions that have already participated, three are in the immediate D.C. metro area. American University in the District (A glitch in the Index’s system lists it in non-existent Washington, Hawaii.) earned a 3.5 star rating. Virginia’s George Mason University walked off with a 4 star rating, while the University of Maryland got the highest local score of 4.5 stars. Baltimore’s Goucher College earned a 3 star rating.

American, Maryland, and George Mason all scored fairly high in survey questions about campus life, activities and curriculum. Policies toward LGBT employees were a mixed bag; Maryland and George Mason received less than 3 stars on that section of the survey, while American got 4.5. Campus safety is also mixed; American scored only 1 star as Maryland and George Mason each received a perfect 5. Housing scores were low to moderate across the board.

The survey consists of over 50 questions divided into 8 categories. Goucher and the three D.C. metro area schools are included in the Index’s Honor Roll, a list of schools that scored 3 stars or higher. Anyone may search the Index and compare different schools. Site visitors can also read the survey questions from each of the categories.

Of the approximately 200 more schools nationwide that are signed up to complete the survey, none of the rest of them are in the D.C. area. LGBT groups at GWU, Howard and Georgetown could not be reached for comment.