Should You Attend a Historically Black College?

Explore the benefits of attending a college that emphasizes the growth of African American students.

There are colleges and universities spread all over the United States whose emphasis is on the cultural growth and educational achievements of African-American students. These colleges are known as historically black colleges and universities, or simply HBCUs.

A historically black college or university, according to the Higher Education Act of 1965, is any institution that was founded before 1964 with the purpose of educating mostly African-American students.

Originally, the HBCUs allowed African-American students to get an education when they were not allowed to attend other public or private higher education institutions. Most HBCUs were founded right after the American Civil War, but some date back as far as 1854. There are now 105 HBCUs in the United States.

Benefits of Historically Black Colleges and Universities

Why would you choose to attend a historically black college or university? Students cite a number of reasons:

• Due to their history, HBCUs provide a strong sense of community. You may opt to join an HBCU in order to be closer to other African-American students and get more involved in African-American culture.

• Going to an HBCU makes a statement. Some students feel empowered by attending a university that has a history of fighting for African-American students' rights to higher education.

• Because the majority of colleges and universities in the United States are predominantly white, African American students may experience a sense of social isolation at those schools, which can distract them from their studies and dampen their desire to pursue extracurricular and social activities. When you attend an HBCU, you do not have to worry about the potential distraction of being a minority student.

• Some students feel they will benefit from being around fellow students and professors who share their cultural experience to varying extents. Many find that they can only find a good distribution of such individuals at a historically black college or university.

• Some classes or extracurricular activities that speak directly to the African-American experience may only be available at HBCUs or may provide the most benefits at a historically black college or university.

Some Facts About Historically Black Colleges and Universities

As you’re evaluating the benefits of attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities, consider these statistics on HBCU graduates:

• 14% of African-American students go to historically black colleges and universities. When you consider what a small percentage of US colleges are HBCUs, this is an impressive number.

• 40% of African-American students who complete college degrees get them from HBCUs. Again, since nearly half of African-American students are getting their college degrees from schools that represent less than one percent of the total number of available schools, it would seem that the supportive atmosphere of an HBCU helps encourage students to earn their degree.

• 9 out of 10 colleges that have African-American graduates who go on to pursue a PhD are HBCUs. The supportive atmosphere of an HBCU also seems to improve a student’s ability to reach the highest levels of academic achievement.

• More than 70% of African-American dentists and physicians got their degrees at an HBCU. If you’re considering the medical profession, it may be a good idea to give HBCUs a long, hard look.

College Tips & Tactics

• Visit HBCUs as well as racially mixed schools to see which environment you prefer. Arrange for an overnight visit at each type of school and talk to students of various races to get a better sense of how race might impact student life. At racially mixed schools, be sure to visit black fraternities or sororities, and go to black student organizations and dorms.
• Interested in an HBCU but not looking for a 4-year college? You can find community colleges and other 2-year schools that are historically black, as well as well as doctorate programs and graduate programs at the masters degree level.
• There are scholarship opportunities exclusively for students who are enrolled at a historically black college or university. Two examples are the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund and the IES Historically Black College and University Scholarships.
• If you think you may be interested in a historically black college or university, Campus Explorer can help. See All Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

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