Bernard Grant is a writer at BestColleges. They have written for EduMed, The NYC Daily Post, and Budget and Invest, among other outlets. Bernard earned an MFA in creative writing from Pacific Lutheran University and a Ph.D. in creative writing and li.
Updated on August 9, 2024 Lorraine Mumby Lorraine Mumby Read Full BioLorraine Mumby is an editor for BestColleges who focuses on diversity, equity, and inclusion. She is passionate about equipping students with the tools to succeed and have meaningful, equitable educational experiences. Lorraine has a bachelor's degre.
Reviewed by Pamela “Safisha Nzingha” Hill Pamela “Safisha Nzingha” Hill Read Full BioFor over 20 years, Pamela "Safisha Nzingha" Hill, Ph.D., has worked in higher education in both student development and academic affairs. Dr. Hill is a diversity, equity, and inclusion consultant; Afrocentric scholar; activist; journalist; educator; .
Learn more about our editorial process Bernard Grant, Ph.D. Bernard Grant, Ph.D. Read Full BioBernard Grant is a writer at BestColleges. They have written for EduMed, The NYC Daily Post, and Budget and Invest, among other outlets. Bernard earned an MFA in creative writing from Pacific Lutheran University and a Ph.D. in creative writing and li.
Lorraine Mumby Lorraine Mumby Read Full BioLorraine Mumby is an editor for BestColleges who focuses on diversity, equity, and inclusion. She is passionate about equipping students with the tools to succeed and have meaningful, equitable educational experiences. Lorraine has a bachelor's degre.
Reviewed by Pamela “Safisha Nzingha” Hill Pamela “Safisha Nzingha” Hill Read Full BioFor over 20 years, Pamela "Safisha Nzingha" Hill, Ph.D., has worked in higher education in both student development and academic affairs. Dr. Hill is a diversity, equity, and inclusion consultant; Afrocentric scholar; activist; journalist; educator; .
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Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) were established to make quality, accredited higher education available to Black Americans. However, these institutions never discriminated based on race. Although few white students sought admission historically, today it is not unusual to see more diverse student bodies at HBCUs. Additionally, many non-Black faculty and staff are employed at HBCUs.
There are more than 100 HBCUs across the U.S. These colleges offer a variety of educational programs and vibrant, inclusive community life.
There are many factors you should consider when deciding which college is the right fit. This guide lists some of the top HBCUs — including HBCUs offering top online programs. It can help you decide which HBCU might be the best for you.
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
We use trusted sources like Peterson's Data and the National Center for Education Statistics to inform the data for these schools. BestColleges.com is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site. from our partners appear among these rankings and are indicated as such.
BestColleges.com is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) is a public HBCU located in Tallahassee, Florida. Part of the State University System of Florida, FAMU enrolls nearly 10,000 students from across the United States and over 70 countries.
The school hosts 98 degree programs across 14 colleges and schools. This includes 54 bachelor programs, 29 master’s programs, three professional degree programs, and 12 doctoral programs.
Undergraduate tuition costs $2,277 for in-state students living on campus. Out-of-state tuition costs $8,250 per semester. FAMU offers some undergraduate and graduate courses online.
Average Undergrad Tuition Out-of-state Average Graduate Tuition Out-of-state Retention Rate Acceptance Rate Students Enrolled Institution Type Percent Online Enrollment 52% Percentage of all students who are enrolled online. Accreditation Yes Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges More Details #2 Best Historically Black Colleges and Universities of 2024North Carolina A&T State University is a public research university in Greensboro, North Carolina. This university offers 59 undergraduate degrees, 29 master’s degrees, 9 doctoral degrees, and 9 certificate programs across eight colleges.
Additionally, North Carolina A&T State University has a growing number of online programs.
Undergraduate tuition costs $3,504 for in-state students and $17,200 for out-of-state students. Graduate students pay $59 to $375 per credit hour, depending on the program.
Average Undergrad Tuition Out-of-state Average Graduate Tuition Out-of-state Retention Rate Acceptance Rate Students Enrolled Institution Type Percent Online Enrollment 58% Percentage of all students who are enrolled online. Accreditation Yes Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges More Details #3 Best Historically Black Colleges and Universities of 2024Hampton University, located in Hampton, Virginia, hosts over 80 academic programs that include engineering, journalism and communications, biology, nursing, counseling, and computer science.
This private university offers a wide range of degree and certificate programs that include journalism, marketing, liberal studies, music, medical science, and human resources management.
Tuition costs $26,198 plus room and board. There are also additional comprehensive fees for undergraduates.
There are 3,649 students enrolled in Hampton University, which offers 133 programs. Hampton also offers a 15-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio.
Average Undergrad Tuition Out-of-state Average Graduate Tuition Out-of-stateWe’ve reviewed hundreds of schools to find the ones that give you the best bang for your buck.
We compared how much you could earn in 10 years with a degree from this school versus only having a high school diploma. Then we compared that amount against school costs and financial aid opportunities. A higher return for your investment results in a higher score for this school.
Retention Rate Acceptance Rate Students Enrolled Institution Type Percent Online Enrollment 12% Percentage of all students who are enrolled online. Accreditation Yes Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges More Details #4 Best Historically Black Colleges and Universities of 2024Founded in 1891 as the State College for Colored Students, Delaware State University is a private university located in Dover, Delaware. With over 60 academic paths, Delaware State University teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in accounting, bioengineering, English, music therapy, physics, psychology, and nursing, among many other courses.
Full-time, in-state students pay $4,269 per semester, while part-time, in-state students pay $346 per credit hour for the first three credits. Out-of-state, full-time students pay $5,476.50 per semester, and part-time, out-of-state students pay $764 per credit hour.
Average Undergrad Tuition Out-of-state Average Graduate Tuition Out-of-stateWe’ve reviewed hundreds of schools to find the ones that give you the best bang for your buck.
We compared how much you could earn in 10 years with a degree from this school versus only having a high school diploma. Then we compared that amount against school costs and financial aid opportunities. A higher return for your investment results in a higher score for this school.
Retention Rate Acceptance Rate Students Enrolled Institution Type Percent Online Enrollment 69% Percentage of all students who are enrolled online. Accreditation Yes Middle States Commission on Higher Education More Details #5 Best Historically Black Colleges and Universities of 2024North Carolina Central University is a public HBCU located in Durham, North Carolina. This university offers over 100 courses between four colleges: Education, Business, Health and Science, and Arts, Social Science, and Humanities.
In the fall of 2023, North Carolina Central University accepted 1,465 new students with an average high school GPA of 3.23 and an average SAT score of 888.
In-state tuition costs $185.50 per credit hour, while out-of-state undergraduates pay $727.67. In-state graduate students pay $298.73 per credit hour, while out-of-state students pay $1,038.07 per credit hour.
Average Undergrad Tuition Out-of-state Average Graduate Tuition Out-of-stateWe’ve reviewed hundreds of schools to find the ones that give you the best bang for your buck.
We compared how much you could earn in 10 years with a degree from this school versus only having a high school diploma. Then we compared that amount against school costs and financial aid opportunities. A higher return for your investment results in a higher score for this school.
Retention Rate Acceptance Rate Students Enrolled Institution Type Percent Online Enrollment 61% Percentage of all students who are enrolled online. Accreditation Yes Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges More Details #6 Best Historically Black Colleges and Universities of 2024Winston-Salem State University is a public university located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. This university offers 40 undergraduate majors and 10 graduate programs in business leadership & entrepreneurship, social justice and advocacy, education, health science and nursing, STEM, and communications, languages, and media.
Tuition rates for in-state undergraduates are $141.71 per credit hour. Out-of-state students pay $585.72. In-state graduate students pay $215.12 per credit hour, and out-of-state students pay $800.37. Students can also choose to study online.
Average Undergrad Tuition Out-of-state Average Graduate Tuition Out-of-stateWe’ve reviewed hundreds of schools to find the ones that give you the best bang for your buck.
We compared how much you could earn in 10 years with a degree from this school versus only having a high school diploma. Then we compared that amount against school costs and financial aid opportunities. A higher return for your investment results in a higher score for this school.
Retention Rate Acceptance Rate Students Enrolled Institution Type Percent Online Enrollment 96% Percentage of all students who are enrolled online. Accreditation Yes Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges More Details #7 Best Historically Black Colleges and Universities of 2024Located in Huntsville, Alabama, Oakwood University is a private Seventh-day Adventist HBCU that provides a biblically-based education across eight schools and colleges.
Oakwood University has five schools with over 60 majors between them. These include chemistry, social work, nursing, political science, psychology, history, and accounting. Graduate students can select one of five degree programs that include public health and social work.
Annual tuition for resident and non-resident students costs $10,361. Oakwood offers several scholarships as well as summer school options.
Average Undergrad Tuition Out-of-state Average Graduate Tuition Out-of-stateWe’ve reviewed hundreds of schools to find the ones that give you the best bang for your buck.
We compared how much you could earn in 10 years with a degree from this school versus only having a high school diploma. Then we compared that amount against school costs and financial aid opportunities. A higher return for your investment results in a higher score for this school.
Retention Rate Acceptance Rate Students Enrolled Institution Type Percent Online Enrollment 24% Percentage of all students who are enrolled online. Accreditation Yes Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges More DetailsTo create this ranking, BestColleges sourced the most recent data available from the National Center for Education Statistics and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. We then ranked each school according to the top variables college students selected in our College Choice and Admissions Survey. To learn more, check out our full rankings methodology or read the summary below.
To qualify for our rankings lists, each school must be an accredited public or private, nonprofit institution. Each eligible school was then ranked based on a formula measuring:
In addition, we only included colleges with graduation rates in the top 60% of all HBCUs.
HBCUs were established in the 19th century to provide Black Americans with educational opportunities. Due to slavery, segregation, and systemic racism, traditionally white institutions denied Black Americans admission. The Higher Education Act of 1965 defines HBCUs as accredited higher education institutions established before 1964 whose principal mission was, and is, the education of Black Americans.
Dr. Kimberley Brown Pellum, a specialist in the history of women's images, Southern culture, and the Black Freedom Struggle, describes HBCUs as living artifacts of Africana/Black cultural continuity and productivity. She continues, saying, Those who attend usually have a preexisting appreciation for Black life and the ways these institutions have protected and sustained them over the last century and beyond.
There are currently 107 HBCUs serving more than 228,000 students throughout the country. HBCUs can be either public or private colleges. While HBCUs historically only served Black students, nearly a quarter of students enrolled in HBCUs as of 2019 were non-Black.
There are 107 HBCUs across the United States, enrolling more than 228,000 students. Of these institutions, two-thirds are public, and most are four-year colleges and universities. Although learners can find HBCUs across the country, many are on the eastern side of the nation.
Spelman College, a private liberal arts school in Atlanta, was listed as the most expensive HBCU in 2021-22. Students looking to save money and reduce their student loan debt can opt for public, in-state HBCUs.
Yes, scholarships are available for HBCU students. For instance, UNCF, the nation's largest private scholarship provider to minority students, awards scholarships to students at 37 HBCUs across the country.
One of the best resources for finding scholarships is your high school guidance counselor. These counselors and college advisors can help you search for programs and scholarships and find the right fit.
Each HBCU varies in its admissions requirements. According to the College Board and U.S. Department of Education, HBCUs typically accept students with GPAs in the 2.5-3.0 range. HBCUs also may consider other factors, such as ACT/SAT scores and college entrance essays. Additionally, some HBCUs offer open admissions, meaning a student can still enroll conditionally — even if their GPA is less than 2.5.
With a terminal degree in U.S. history from Howard University, Dr. Kimberly Brown Pellum specializes in the history of women's images, Southern culture, and the Black freedom struggle. Her contributions to publicly accessible history include work at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History, The National Park Service, The Rosa Parks Museum and Google's Arts & Culture series. Kimberly is currently a member of the faculty in the Department of History at Florida A&M University and sparkle is her favorite color. Check out how sequins and serious scholarship come together in her role as director for the digital Museum of Black Beauty.
Note: The insights on this page were reviewed by an independent third party compensated for their time by BestColleges. Page last reviewed August 5, 2024.
