HBCU Scholarship Rankings: Top 25 Public Black Colleges (2024)

By Jessica Fraser / September 8, 2018

Last Updated on May 27, 2023

Since 1837, historically black colleges and universities have made higher education accessible to African-American students. Today, thousands of high school students apply to HBCUs to take part in the history, culture, and traditions that have shaped the African-American legacy.

Unfortunately, the high cost of a college education has put this dream out of the reach of many high school students. The average cost of tuition at a public college was $9,650 for state residents and $24,930 for out-of-state residents during the 2016-2017 school year (College Board). Many high school students who apply to HBCUs rely on financial aid to make higher education affordable.

This list of the best public HBCUs for college scholarships can help you find the right school for your personal needs. The schools that are listed below were featured in the Best Colleges and Universities for Scholarships report on GoodCall.com. GoodCall is committed to providing consumers with data that will help them make critical decisions; the organization compiled data from the National Center for Education Statistics to rank each public university by the average amount of scholarship/fellowship dollars that their enrolled students received.

Top 25 Best Public HBCUs for College Scholarships

25. Norfolk State University

• Location: Norfolk, VA
• National Rank: 190
• Scholarship/Fellowship Dollars per Enrolled Student: $3,593

24. North Carolina Central University

• Location: Durham, NC
• National Rank: 164
• Scholarship/Fellowship Dollars per Enrolled Student: $3,731

23. Grambling State University

• Location: Grambling, LA
• National Rank: 164
• Scholarship/Fellowship Dollars per Enrolled Student: $3,735

22. Bluefield State College

• Location: Bluefield, WV
• National Rank: 146
• Scholarship/Fellowship Dollars per Enrolled Student: $3,844

21. Jackson State University

• Location: Jackson, MS
• National Rank: 140
• Scholarship/Fellowship Dollars per Enrolled Student: $3,893

20. Harris-Stowe State University

• Location: Saint Louis, MO
• National Rank: 139
• Scholarship/Fellowship Dollars per Enrolled Student: $3,911

19. Morgan State University

• Location: Baltimore, MD
• National Rank: 130
• Scholarship/Fellowship Dollars per Enrolled Student: $3,960

18. Savannah State University

• Location: Savannah, GA
• National Rank: 125
• Scholarship/Fellowship Dollars per Enrolled Student: $4,023

17. Langston University

• Location: Langston, OK
• National Rank: 118
• Scholarship/Fellowship Dollars per Enrolled Student: $4,133

16. Texas Southern University

• Location: Houston, TX
• National Rank: 97
• Scholarship/Fellowship Dollars per Enrolled Student: $4,361

15. Kentucky State University

• Location: Frankfort, KY
• National Rank: 95
• Scholarship/Fellowship Dollars per Enrolled Student: $4,374

14. North Carolina A & T State University

• Location: Greensboro, NC
• National Rank: 89
• Scholarship/Fellowship Dollars per Enrolled Student: $4,479

13. Coahoma Community College

• Location: Clarksdale, MS
• National Rank: 78
• Scholarship/Fellowship Dollars per Enrolled Student: $4,687

12. Virginia State University

• Location: Petersburg, VA
• National Rank: 71
• Scholarship/Fellowship Dollars per Enrolled Student: $4,784

11. Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University

• Location: Tallahassee, FL
• National Rank: 69
• Scholarship/Fellowship Dollars per Enrolled Student: $4,795

10. Mississippi Valley State University

• Location: Itta Bena, MS
• National Rank: 67
• Scholarship/Fellowship Dollars per Enrolled Student: $4,858

9. Delaware State University

• Location: Dover, DE
• National Rank: 65
• Scholarship/Fellowship Dollars per Enrolled Student: $4,876

8. Alcorn State University

• Location: Alcorn, MS
• National Rank: 63
• Scholarship/Fellowship Dollars per Enrolled Student: $5,063

7. Alabama State University

• Location: Montgomery, AL
• National Rank: 58
• Scholarship/Fellowship Dollars per Enrolled Student: $5,228

6. Prairie View A & M University

• Location: Prairie View, TX
• National Rank: 51
• Scholarship/Fellowship Dollars per Enrolled Student: $5,317

5. Elizabeth City State University

• Location: Elizabeth City, NC
• National Rank: 50
• Scholarship/Fellowship Dollars per Enrolled Student: $5,321

4. Central State University

• Location: Wilberforce, OH
• National Rank: 45
• Scholarship/Fellowship Dollars per Enrolled Student: $5,447

3. University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff

• Location: Pine Bluff, AR
• National Rank: 30
• Scholarship/Fellowship Dollars per Enrolled Student: $5,862

2. South Carolina State University

• Location: Orangeburg, SC
• National Rank: 24
• Scholarship/Fellowship Dollars per Enrolled Student: $6,571

1. Cheyney University of Pennsylvania

• Location: Cheyney, PA
• National Rank: 20
• Scholarship/Fellowship Dollars per Enrolled Student: $6,756

The HBCUs above offer a wide range of scholarships to prospective students, and these tips can help you take advantage of every opportunity:

Attend Admissions Events – Admissions representatives are looking for talented students who will contribute to their college or university. Admissions events can help you get more information about your favorite schools, but they also give admissions representatives more information about the students who are applying to their programs. These representatives will work with faculty and staff members at their HBCUs to decide who is accepted and who is not, and they may help them decide which scholarships are right for each student. You need to make a great first impression; when you attend an open house or your school’s college day, you should be prepared to talk with admissions representatives about your achievements, future goals, and the scholarship opportunities that can help you attend college.

Look For Recruiters – If you plan on playing sports at an HBCU, you should work with your coach to find universities that are looking for talented players. High school athletes can secure scholarships through early commitments when a college coach makes an unofficial offer to recruit you for their school’s team. Try to line up multiple offers before your final semester of high school so that you can choose the best school for your future goals.

Take The PSAT – Many high school students believe that the PSAT is only a practice test, but it is also the qualifying exam for the National Merit Scholarship Program. The National Merit Scholarship Program is open to all high school students, and the winners receive money from the National Merit Corporation to offset the cost of college tuition. PWIs and HBCUs actively recruit National Merit Scholars, and scholarship recipients often receive larger awards at the universities that they attend.

Fill Out The FAFSA – The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is a vital part of your scholarship search! Your FAFSA will help HBCUs determine how much federal and institutional aid you deserve. Make sure that you fill out the FAFSA by the deadline that each HBCU indicates, and submit any and all information that the school will need to process your scholarship application.