CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Five Upper Midwest universities scored perfect 5.0s in the latest annual index of gay-friendly campuses nationwide. The research benchmarking company Campus Pride Q Research Institute for Higher Education based its ratings on self-reporting by universities. Criteria included LGBTQ inclusion policy, recruitment, student life, campus safety, counseling and recruitment. Top-rated in the region:

> Augsburg, in Minneapolis.

> MSU-Mankato.

> UW-Eau Claire.

> UW-Green Bay.

> UW-Milwaukee.

Neither Saint Mary’s nor Winona State participated in the survey.