What are HBCUs?

The Tittle III of the Higher Education Act of 1965, Congress officially defined a Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) as institutions of higher education in the United States that were established before 1964 with the intention of primary serving the African American community. HBCUs offer culture, a rich history, and rigorous academic community. They prepare students for leadership and life after graduation.

There are 101 HBCUs today in the United States, including private and public institutions, community and four-year institutions, medical and law schools. Most were created in the aftermath of the American Civil War and are in the former slave states. All HBCUs play a critical role in the American system of higher education.

Of the 101 HBCU institutions today; 27 offer doctoral programs and 52 provide graduate degree programs at the master’s level. At the undergraduate level, 83 of the HBCUs offer a bachelor’s degree program and 38 of the schools offer associate degrees. Roughly 10% of the HBCUs offered online degrees in 2013. HBCUs disproportionately enroll low-income, first-generation, and academically underprepared college students.

List of HBCUs and PBIs

Alabama

Alabama A&M University
Alabama State University
Bishop State Community College
Drake State Community and Technical College
Gadsden State Community College
Lawson State Community College
Miles College
Oakwood University
Selma University
Shelton State Community College

Arkansas

Arkansas Baptist College
Philander Smith College
Shorter College
University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff

California

Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science

Chicago

Chicago State University

Alabama

D.C.

Howard University
University of the District of Columbia

Delaware

Delaware State University

Florida

Bethune-Cookman University
Edward Waters University
Florida A&M University
Florida Memorial University

Georgia

Albany State University
Clark Atlanta University
Fort Valley State University
Interdenominational Theological Center
Morehouse College
Morehouse College School of Medicine
Morris Brown College
Paine College
Savannah State University
Spelman College

Indiana

Martin University

Kentucky

Kentucky State University
Simmons College of Kentucky

Lousisana

Dillard University
Grambling State University
Southern University and A&M College
Southern University at New Orleans
Southern University at Shreveport
Xavier University at Louisiana

Maryland

Bowie State University
Coppin State University
Morgan State University
University of Maryland Eastern Shore

Missouri

Harris-Stowe State University
Lincoln University – Missouri

Mississippi

Alcorn State University
Coahoma Community College
Hinds Community College – Utica
Jackson State University
Mississippi Valley State University
Rust College
Tougaloo College

North Carolina

Barber-Scotia College
Bennett College
Elizabeth City State University
Fayetteville State University
Johnson C. Smith University
Livingstone College
North Carolina A&T State University
North Carolina Central University
Shaw University
St. Augustine’s University

Ohio

Central State University
Payne Theological Seminary
Wilberforce University

Oklahoma

Langston University

Pennsylvania

Cheyney University
Lincoln University

South Carolina

Allen University
Benedict College
Claflin University
Clinton College
Denmark Technical College
Morris College
South Carolina State University
Voorhees University

Tennessee

American Baptist College
Fisk University
Knoxville College
Lane College
LeMoyne-Owen College
Meharry Medical College
Tennessee State University

Texas

Huston-Tillotson University
Jarvis Christian University
Paul Quinn College
Prairie View A&M University
Southwestern Christian College
St. Philip’s College
Texas College
Texas Southern University
Wiley College

Virginia

Hampton University
Norfolk State University
Virginia State University
Virginia Union University
Virginia University of Lynchburg

West Virginia

Bluefield State University
West Virginia State University

Virgin Islands

University of the Virgin Islands