HBCU’s: A National Resource

By Vicki Redmond

Historical Black Colleges and Universities are a source of accomplishment and great pride for the African American community as well as the entire nation. The Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, defines a Historical Black College and University as: “...any historical black collegeor 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 (of Education) to be a reliable authority as to the quality of training offered or is, according to such an agency or association, making reasonable progress toward accreditation.” 2 HBCU’s offer all students, regardless of race, an opportunity to develop their skills and talents. These institutions train young people who go on to serve domestically and internationally in the professions as entrepreneurs and in the public and private sectors. In 2001, HBCU’s enrolled 13 percent of all African American students in higher education, although they constituted less than 3 percent of America’s 4,197 institutions of higher education. In 2001, the HBCU’s matriculated 21 percent ofall African American students enrolled in four-year colleges, and in 2001-02, awarded first-professional degrees to about 1 in 6 African American men and women, and awarded 22 percent of all baccalaureate degrees earned by African Americans nationwide. HBCU’s also awarded more than 10 percent of master’s and doctor’s degrees to African Americans in 2001-02. 3

2 USC 1061 (2), Title III of the Higher Education Act of 1965

3 Compiled from the digest of Education Statistics 2002, U.S. Department of Education.

The majority of the 105 HBCU’s are located in the Southeastern states, the District of Columbia, and the Virgin Islands. They include 40 public four-year, 11 public two-year, 49 private four-year, and 5 private 2-year institutions. Most are more than 100 years old with Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, founded in 1837, being the oldest of these institutions.