Factors To Consider Before Choosing A Hbcu
Picking a university can be a tricky decision, but if youve decided on attending an HBCU, youve already cut down your decision to 100 universities.
One way to narrow down your options is to make a list of the aspects of a university that are most important to you, whether thats the location, cost of tuition, whether theres scholarships available, or the course content. You can then rate the universities based on these factors and try to find the one that best fits your requirements.
Here are just a few factors you might want to consider when looking at HBCUs:
Study: 75 American Colleges Offer Black
A study by the National Association of Scholars revealed that at least 75 American colleges have black-only graduation ceremonies and 43 percent of surveyed colleges offer segregated residential halls. The organization refers to this as neo-segregation.
According to a study by the National Association of Scholars, graduation ceremonies at American universities are becoming increasingly segregated.
The study revealed that as many as 75 total colleges segregated graduation ceremonies. And thats not all. 43 percent of the colleges included in the study offer segregated residential halls.
What we found was that neo-segregation is widespread if not pervasive. About 46 percent segregate student orientation programs 43 percent offer segregated residential arrangements and 72 percent segregate graduation ceremonies. Though these arrangements are ostensibly voluntary, students cant easily opt out. We tracked numerous indicators of neo-segregation, from Diversity Fly-Ins, where colleges offer minority students an expense-paid segregated preview of the experience that awaits them should they enroll, to segregated alumni groups.
In 2017, Breitbart News reported that Harvard would host a separate graduation ceremony for its black students for the first time.
Stay tuned to Breitbart News for more updates on this trend.
Where Are Hbcus Located
A majority of HBCUs are found in the southeastern U.S. and Eastern Seaboard, but there is an HBCU in California. The sole HBCU in California is Charles Drew University of Medicine & Science Los Angeles. There are a total of nine HBCU colleges in Texas and all are spread around the state. There are a total of five HCBUs in Virginia with Hampton University landing at the top of most lists of HBCU in Virginia. South Carolina has the only public HBCU in the states, and the most popular HBCU in South Carolina is Claflin University. There is no HCBU in New York, but there are a number of predominantly black institutions in New York City and state.
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Historically Black Student Clubs And Organizations
Generally speaking, historically black colleges and universities have exceptionally close-knit and active student organizations. Many of the students in this ranking, for instance, have more than 100 student clubs and organizations on campus for students to choose from. Some of these organizations seek to honor African American culture. Some examples of such clubs and organizations are listed below.
- The Black Graduate Student Association
- Black Men Making a Difference
- Black Student Union
- Black Womens Caucus
- National Pan-Hellenic Council
- National Society of Black Engineers
Of course, students enrolled at historically black colleges and universities are encouraged to join other types of student associations as well, including those focused on a particular academic area of study as well as clubs and organizations centered around extracurricular interests such as sports, music, politics, community service, social activism, hobbies, and more.
You Talk About Equality
If there are all black or gay or women or male or Latino colleges then there should be all white schools. Its racist to not let all white schools. This is crazy that we can allow all-black schools but if there is an all white school then that is racist. It doesn’t make sense that we can do this. I’m not saying make white people go to white schools or black to black. I’m just saying give people the option.
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Top 20 Best Historically Black Hbcu Colleges With Online Programs
Historically Black Colleges or Universities are institutions of higher education that have strong historical roots within the Black community, as they were primarily created to serve driven, intelligent, and motivated Black students.
These postsecondary universities were, at one time in their histories, some of the few places that members of the black community could obtain a higher education. There are 107 HBCU colleges in the United States, and almost all of them are located in former slave states although a few exceptions exist.
All Historically Black Colleges and HBCU graduate programs have always allowed admission to students of all races, so it is a myth that these HBCU colleges were ever all-black colleges. However, because these HBCU colleges were all established before 1964, at the time these colleges were the only places that members of the black community could obtain a higher education. Therefore, most of these schools prioritize admitting Black students and making sure they achieve their dreams.
Featured Programs
We have ranked the following Historically Black Colleges based on the following criteria:
Explore The Best Historically Black Colleges And Universities In The United States Based On Data Collected By Times Higher Education And The Wall Street Journal
Historically black colleges and universities are a unique feature of the higher education landscape in the US. They are found mostly in the Southern States.
HBCUs were established before the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to provide higher education for the African American community. This was because, before 1964, African Americans were not permitted to study in the majority of schools.
Today, while the students attending HBCUs are predominantly African American, diversity in student bodies has increased over time, with white, Hispanic, Asian, Pacific Islander and Native American students making up a fifth of the population at HBCUs.
Many HBCUs are private liberal arts universities.
Here is a rundown of all the best HBCUs based on data collected for the THE/WSJ US College Rankings 2022.
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What Is An Hbcu
HBCUs were first established in the 19th century to provide educational opportunities for Black Americans. Due to slavery and later segregation, Black Americans were denied admission to traditionally white institutions. The Higher Education Act of 1965 defines HBCUs as an accredited higher education institution established prior to 1964 whose “principal mission was, and is, the education of black Americans.”
Currently, 107 HBCUs serve more than 228,000 students throughout the country. These schools operate as both public and private entities. While HBCUs historically served Black students exclusively, nearly a quarter of students enrolled in HBCUs were non-Black as of 2019.
They are living artifacts of Africana/Black cultural continuity and productivity. 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. They’ve demonstrated a real commitment to diversity and closing gaps in wealth and education long before it was in vogue.
Hbcus And The Legacy Of Racism
HBCUs have been dying since they were first born. Founded by various combinations of the formerly enslaved, abolitionists, and white philanthropists, HBCUs were tasked with “uplifting the Negro” through education. From the start, the task was monumental, the rhetoric lofty, and the funding paltry. Their noble mission has been hobbled by institutional racism since the beginning.
Ira Katznelson’s When Affirmative Action Was White documents that, by 1950, the GI Bill generated more spending on education than the Marshall Plan that rebuilt Europe. While this infusion of finance exponentially increased the growth of historically white colleges and universities, the context of a racially unequal distribution of GI benefits along with insufficient Jim Crowsegregated housing capacity limited the ability of HBCUs to accommodate black veterans.
The GI Bill is but one example of several postwar policies in which the federal government invested heavily in the greatest growth of the American middle class. However, African Americans and HBCUs were largely frozen out of many of those benefits, just as they had been excluded earlier from many of the benefits of the New Deal.
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Why Transfer To An Hbcu
For many students, the diversity of the student body at Community College of Philadelphia feels like home. Some of these students seek to transfer to an equally diverse institution to pursue their bachelors degree. While not limited to these institutions, HBCUs are known to offer unique student support on diverse campuses.
Read about some of the reasons to attend an HBCU:
Black Colleges In California
COLLEGE
Every university or college in the United States has a unique history that has made the institution into the place it is today. For some students, that history matters when it comes to choosing a school. In the U.S. as a whole, there are HBCU colleges that have a legacy that’s very significant to African Americans. An HBCU stands for “Historically Black Colleges and Universities” and while there are many HBCUs in Alabama and other parts of the southern United States, there’s only one HBCU in California.
Explore this article
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Historically Black Colleges And Universities: Background
Prior to the Civil War, there were no institutes of higher education for African Americans. To make matters worse, some parts of the country prohibited the education of black students. In 1837, Richard Humphreys founded the Institute for Colored Youth in Pennsylvania in order to provide education to students of color. The institute began as an agricultural and mechanical school and did not offer formal degrees until 1913 when it began training teachers. By then, it had changed its name to Cheyney University. It remains the oldest institute of postsecondary education for African Americans today. In 1854, Lincoln University was founded as the first degree-granting institute of higher education for African Americans. Today, it remains a vibrant historically black university and is ranked #20 among all HCBUs by US News & World Report. Two years later in 1856, Wilberforce University was founded as the first institute of higher education owned and operated by African Americans. The university continues to provide undergraduate and graduate degrees today.
The Development Of Hbcus
Since the establishment of the first HBCU, there has been a recurrent debate over the role of these institutions within the larger framework of higher education. During the years of strict and legal racial segregation in the United States, HBCUs served as “islands of hope” where blacks could learn to read and write without the fear of being retaliated against. The primary purpose of HBCUs was to educate black Americans, which they did almost exclusively from 1865 to the 1950s. The overwhelming majority of HBCUs opened after 1865 in response to the need to have institutions to educate newly freed slaves and to avoid admitting those newly freed slaves into the existing white institutions.
Interestingly enough, the effects of a decision made in the mid-twentieth century still linger in higher education in the early twenty-first century, for nowhere are the repercussions from the Brown decision more visible than in HBCUs. The dismantling of dual systems in higher education has resulted in mergers and closures of HBCUs because opponents of these institutions view them as segregated colleges and universities. This has led to a series of discussions, debates, and court rulings that underscore the fact that there not enough research has been done on this segment of higher education.
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Why Choose An Hbcu In The 21st Century
Integration and diversity is a good thing for the population at large as it helps people understand one another. But not all students can perform in an environment where they feel they dont fit in with the crowd. Faculty at the best historically black colleges tend to be more understanding about the challenges young black students face and can offer better support. Attending a school where the student body is more likely to share a similar culture helps a black student relax and focus on succeeding at their chosen discipline. The best historically black colleges are on par with their integrated counterparts and offer the same quality education.
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Whats The Difference Between Historically Black Colleges And Universities And Predominantly Black Colleges
Historically black colleges and universities, while similar in student demographics, have entirely different charters. Predominantly black colleges, also known as predominantly black institutions are defined by the Higher Education Act of 2008as:
- Enroll at least 1,000 undergraduates
- At least 50% of applicants must be at least of low-income or first-generation undergraduate degree seekers
- Enroll at least 40% black students
- Have a low per full-time undergraduate student expenditure when compared with similar insitutions offering similar coursework
Predominantly black colleges have an integrated student population while historically black colleges and universities focus on recruiting African-American students . Predominantly black institutions also focus on providing education to underprivileged black students, while HBCUs may have more elite admission requirements that suit their desired student body.
When taking a look at the HBCU list of schools and admission requirements, it becomes quickly apparent that admission requirements tend to be as stringent as an integrated school. The list of predominantly black colleges with more relaxed admission requirements is much longer than the HCBU list. However, the list of predominantly black colleges is bigger than the HBCU list due to changes in attitudes towards race.
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Things To Know: Hbcu Edition
- 5 Things To Know: HBCU Edition
Historically black colleges and universitiescommonly called HBCUsare defined by the Higher Education Act of 1965 as, any historically black college or university that was established prior to 1964, whose principal mission was, and is, the education of black Americans, and that is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association determined by the Secretary
Prairie View A& m University
This public university was established in 1876 and is the second oldest university in Texas. According to the school’s website, Prairie View A& M University’s mission is one of “achieving excellence in teaching, research and service.” PVAM has traditionally produced nurses, engineers and teachers. However, as of 2018, the school offers 36 bachelor’s, 30 master’s, 48 minors and five doctorate degree programs. The school consists of nine colleges, and is a member of the Texas A& M University System.
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How Did We Make Our Ranking Of The Best Historically Black Colleges & Universities
As an aggregate ranking, College Consensus pulls together data from numerous college ranking sites, including U.S. News & World Report, WalletHub, the Wall Street Journal, and others. We combine those results with the most reputable student reviews, from sites including Niche, My Plan, and Unigo, creating a Publisher Rating and a Student Review Rating. The combination of these two creates the Consensus Rating, making College Consensus a comprehensive meta-ranking.
While only majority-black institutions founded before 1964 qualify as HBCUs, Historically Black Colleges and Universities are anything but history. They are vibrant, diverse, and innovative communities that fall into many categories. Some HBCUs are public research universities, making advancements in areas ranging from medicine to agriculture others are elite liberal arts colleges, preparing students for graduate study and professional careers. Some are religious, others are secular. But whatever their background, HBCUs all share a common mission creating a space for minority students to feel supported, empowered, and motivated to reach their full potential. The College Consensus Best HBCU ranking highlights the historically black institutions that define black excellence.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hbcus
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 2017-18. Students looking to save money and reduce their student loan debt often 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 learners 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 and find the right fit.
Each HBCU varies in its admissions requirements. According to the College Board, 54% of HBCUs show an average GPA between 2.0-3.0 for incoming students. HBCUs also may consider other factors, such as ACT/SAT scores and college entrance essays.
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North Carolina A& t State University
Current in-state tuition: $6,657
Current out-of-state tuition: $20,167
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University is our top pick for the best HBCU colleges. Currently, their acceptance rate is around 58-percent while their graduation rate is 43-percent, but this doesnt even scratch the surface of the potential for success at North Carolina A& T.
North Carolina A& T is a public, land-grant Historically Black University and was originally established in the year of 1891 by an act of the North Carolina General Assembly.
This HBCU is currently the largest one located within the nation based on student enrollment, which is just over 10,000 students as of 2021. Initially, the college offered students an education in Agriculture, English, Horticulture, and Mathematics. However, today the school offers 177 undergraduate degrees, 30 master degrees, and nine doctoral degrees across its two professional colleges and seven schools. Many of these programs are provided in an online and fully asynchronous format.
If you wish to learn more or would like to connect, please use the following links:
N.C. A& Ts Website
Top 20 Best Historically Black Colleges and Universities with Online Programs edited by Gerri Elder.
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