When selecting a college or university to attend, prospective students in the United States have more than 4,000 choices. Just 3 percent of those institutions are Historically Black Colleges and Universities, yet HBCU have a disproportionately strong appeal to young people.
HBCUs are historical institutions that were established during times of legal segregation for the purpose of educating Black Americans. Their rich history and culture combined with inclusive campus environments focused around equality and social justice make them a quality choice for students of any racial or ethnic background.
Vice-presidential nominee Kamala Harris, Oprah Winfrey, and other notable public figures are HBCU alumni and have spoken highly of their experiences attending HBCU.
Studies show that HBCUs outperform peer institutions in graduating successful Black professionals in a number of fields. In fact, HBCUs produce 25 percent of the country’s Black graduates with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics degrees, according to the United Negro College Fund.
There are many other reasons high school students look to HBCU when determining where to enroll after graduation, including
- Affordability. HBCU tuition rates are nearly 30% less than rates at comparable institutions, and HBCUs that are members of the United Negro College Fund charge around $6,000 less in tuition.
- Culture. Founded on principles such as racial equality and reducing disparities, HBCU provide unique, inclusive campus cultures.
- Diversity. About 76 percent of HBCU students are Black, while about 13 percent are White, 3 percent are Latino and Latina and 1 percent are Asian-American.
- Quality education. Studies show that Black HBCU graduates are better prepared for life after college and are more engaged at work than their non-HBCU counterparts.
- Financial support and aid. More than 70% of HBCU students qualify for federal Pell Grants and 80 percent of HBCU students receive federal loans.
