Historically Black Colleges and Universities
What is a HBCU?
Historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are institutions of higher education in the United States that were established before 1964 with the intention of serving the black community, but not limited to the black community.
There are 105 historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in the United States today, including public and private, two-year and four-year institutions, medical schools and community colleges. All are or were in the former slave states and territories of the U.S. except for Central State University (Ohio), Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, Lewis College of Business (Detroit, Michigan), Lincoln University (Pennsylvania), Wilberforce University (Ohio), and now-defunct Western University (Kansas). Of the 105 HBCU institutions in America today, 27 offer doctoral programs and 52 provide graduate degree programs at the Master's level. At the undergraduate level, 83 of the HBCUs offer a Bachelor's degree program and 38 of these schools offer associate degrees.
Racial Diversity at HBCUs
As colleges work harder to maintain enrollment levels and because of increased racial harmony and the low cost of tuition, the percentage of non-African American enrollment has tended to climb. The following table highlights HBCUs with high non-African American enrollments:
| College name | Percent African American | Percent White Caucasian |
|---|---|---|
| Bluefield State College | 13% for 2009–10 school year | 75% for 2010–11 school year |
| West Virginia State University | 17% for 2010-2011 | 72% for 2010–11 school year |
| Kentucky State University | 64% for 2010–11 school year | 34% for 2010–11 school year |
| Delaware State University | 70% for 2010–11 school year | 25% for 2010–11 school year |
| Lincoln University (Pennsylvania) | 79% for 2010–11 school year | 18% for 2010–11 school year |
| University of the District of Columbia | 74% for 2010–11 school year | 17% for 2010–11 school year |
| Elizabeth City State University | 81% for 2010–11 school year | 17% for 2010–11 school year |
| Fayetteville State University | 78% for 2010-11 school year | 16% for 2010–11 school year |
| Winston Salem State University | 81% for 2010–11 school year | 16% for 2010–11 school year |
| Xavier University of Louisiana | 74% for 2010–11 school year | 13% for 2010–11 school year |
