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A complete list of historically Black colleges and universities in the U.S. by state
Written By: Taylor Nichols
Published: March 8, 2022
HBCUs have played a critical role in higher education for Black students over the past 150+ years. Many historically Black colleges were founded after the Civil War to educate formerly enslaved people and their children. Others were created under the second Morrill Act of 1890 requiring states with segregated public higher education to offer land-grant colleges for African Americans.
Today, HBCUs continue to be a cornerstone of education for a diverse student population. Historically Black colleges are significant drivers of economic mobility for their students, and in some cases offer a higher payoff for Black students than predominantly white institutions. HBCUs are also better equipped to support Black students as they navigate unique barriers in higher education.
The benefits of attending an HBCU, alongside factors such as the racial justice movement and higher profile visibility in recent years, have led to enrollment increases for many HBCUs in the 2021-22 school year.
Where are HBCUs located in the United States?
- Alabama: 14
- North Carolina: 10
- Georgia: 9
- Texas: 9
- South Carolina: 8
- Louisiana: 7
- Mississippi: 6
- Tennessee: 6
- Virginia: 5
- Arkansas: 4
- Florida: 4
- Maryland: 4
- District of Columbia: 3
- Kentucky: 2
- Missouri: 2
- Ohio: 2
- Pennsylvania: 2
- West Virginia: 2
- Delaware: 1
- Oklahoma: 1
- Virgin Islands: 1
Source: IPEDS
Alabama, North Carolina, Georgia, and Texas are the states with the most HBCUs. Texas and Georgia are also two of the states with the largest Black communities.
Alabama is the state with the most HBCUs, with 14 historically Black colleges, including eight universities and six community colleges. North Carolina is second with 10 HBCUs, all of which are four-year universities. Georgia and Texas each have nine HBCUs, with a mix of graduate schools, community colleges, and four-year schools.
How many historically Black colleges and universities are there in the United States?
There are currently 102 open colleges recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as HBCUs. These research universities, liberal arts colleges, graduate schools, and community colleges can be found in 19 different states across the country. This figure does not include colleges that are closed, not currently accredited, or not recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as HBCUs.
Additional Historically Black colleges not accounted for in this list:
- Hinds Community College - Utica Campus
- Utica College, founded in 1903, merged with Hinds Community College in 1982 but remains an HBCU.
- Morris Brown College
- Morris Brown College regained accreditation ahead of the 2021-22 school year.
What are the top five largest HBCUs?
The top five HBCUs by enrollment are:
- North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, North Carolina
- St. Philip's College in San Antonio, Texas
- Howard University in Washington, D.C.
- Prairie View A&M University in Prairie View, Texas
- Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, Florida
Complete list of HBCUs in the United States
Alabama - 14 HBCUs
- Alabama A&M University
- Alabama State University
- Bishop State Community College
- Gadsden State Community College
- H. Councill Trenholm State Community College
- J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College
- Lawson State Community College
- Miles College
- Oakwood University
- Selma University
- Shelton State Community College
- Stillman College
- Talladega College
- Tuskegee University
North Carolina - 10 HBCUs
- 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
- Saint Augustine's University
- Shaw University
- Winston-Salem State University
Georgia - 9 HBCUs
- Albany State University
- Clark Atlanta University
- Fort Valley State University
- Interdenominational Theological Center
- Morehouse College
- Morehouse School of Medicine
- Paine College
- Savannah State University
- Spelman College
Texas - 9 HBCUs
- Huston-Tillotson University
- Jarvis Christian College
- Paul Quinn College
- Prairie View A&M University
- Southwestern Christian College
- St. Philip's College
- Texas College
- Texas Southern University
- Wiley College
South Carolina - 8 HBCUs
- Allen University
- Benedict College
- Claflin University
- Clinton College
- Denmark Technical College
- Morris College
- South Carolina State University
- Voorhees College
Louisiana - 7 HBCUs
- Dillard University
- Grambling State University
- Southern University and A&M College
- Southern University at New Orleans
- Southern University at Shreveport
- Southern University Law Center
- Xavier University of Louisiana
Mississippi - 6 HBCUs
- Alcorn State University
- Coahoma Community College
- Jackson State University
- Mississippi Valley State University
- Rust College
- Tougaloo College
Tennessee - 6 HBCUs
- American Baptist College
- Fisk University
- Lane College
- LeMoyne-Owen College
- Meharry Medical College
- Tennessee State University
Virginia - 5 HBCUs
- Hampton University
- Norfolk State University
- Virginia State University
- Virginia Union University
- Virginia University of Lynchburg
Arkansas - 4 HBCUs
- Arkansas Baptist College
- Philander Smith College
- Shorter College
- University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
Florida - 4 HBCUs
- Bethune-Cookman University
- Edward Waters College
- Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (Florida A&M)
- Florida Memorial University
Maryland - 4 HBCUs
- Bowie State University
- Coppin State University
- Morgan State University
- University of Maryland Eastern Shore
District of Columbia - 3 HBCUs
- Howard University
- University of the District of Columbia
- University of the District of Columbia - David A. Clarke School of Law
Kentucky - 2 HBCUs
- Kentucky State University
- Simmons College of Kentucky
Missouri - 2 HBCUs
- Harris-Stowe State University
- Lincoln University
Ohio - 2 HBCUs
- Central State University
- Wilberforce University
Pennsylvania - 2 HBCUs
- Cheyney University of Pennsylvania
- Lincoln University
West Virginia - 2 HBCUs
- Bluefield State College
- West Virginia State University
Delaware - 1 HBCU
- Delaware State University
Oklahoma - 1 HBCU
- Langston University
Virgin Islands - 1 HBCU
- University of the Virgin Islands
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