Historically Black Colleges and Universities Ranking
Historically Black Colleges and Universities Ranking Methodology
These historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) were compared only with one another for these rankings. In order to be on the list, a school must be designated currently by the U.S. Department of Education as an HBCU. To qualify for the U.S. News ranking, an HBCU also must be an undergraduate baccalaureate-granting institution that enrolls primarily first year, first-time students and must be a school that is currently part of the 2013 Best Colleges rankings.
Atlanta, GA
Founded in 1881, Spelman College is a private institution. Spelman College follows a semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered selective.
Washington, DC
Howard University is a historically black college located in Washington, D.C. Despite its urban setting, students are permitted to bring cars to campus—though freshmen may not apply for on-campus parking.
Atlanta, GA
Morehouse College was established in 1867 as a private institution. Morehouse College follows a semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered selective.
Hampton, VA
Hampton University, a private, historically black institution in Virginia, has graduated people such as Alberta Williams King, mother of Martin Luther King Jr., and Booker T. Washington, influential African-American educator.
Nashville, TN
Fisk University has a total undergraduate enrollment of 480, with a gender distribution of 35.8 percent male students and 64.2 percent female students. At this school, 64.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 36.0 percent of students live off campus.
New Orleans, LA
Founded in 1915, Xavier University of Louisiana is a private institution. Xavier University of Louisiana follows a semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered selective.
Tuskegee, AL
Tuskegee University is a private institution that was founded in 1881. The school has 55.0 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students, and the student-faculty ratio at Tuskegee University is 12:1.
Orangeburg, SC
Claflin University was established in 1869 as a private institution. Claflin University follows a semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered less selective.
New Orleans, LA
A private institution, Dillard University was founded in 1869. Dillard University offers a Greek system, where 2.0 percent of the student body is involved in a sorority and 2.0 percent is involved in a fraternity.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $5,187 (2012-13)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $17,127 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 11,180
- Setting:
- city
Tallahassee, FL
Located in Tallahassee, Florida A&M University is a historically black institution that offers a range of degrees to students of all races. The university, more commonly known as FAMU, offers more than 100 student organizations and several fraternities and sororities to join.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $5,199 (2012-13)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $15,797 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 9,206
- Setting:
- city
Greensboro, NC
North Carolina A&T State University is a historically black school in Greensboro. The Aggies sports teams compete in the NCAA Division I Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $4,801 (2011-12)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $15,374 (2011-12)
- Enrollment:
- 6,416
- Setting:
- city
Durham, NC
North Carolina Central University is a historically black college in Durham. The NCCU Eagles are Division I sports teams that compete in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $7,056 (2011-12)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $15,052 (2011-12)
- Enrollment:
- 3,744
- Setting:
- suburban
Dover, DE
Delaware State University was established in 1891 as a public institution. Delaware State University follows a semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered less selective.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $9,258 (2011-12)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $18,170 (2011-12)
- Enrollment:
- 3,744
- Setting:
- city
Orangeburg, SC
A public institution, South Carolina State University was founded in 1896. South Carolina State University offers a Greek system, where 32.0 percent of the student body is involved in a sorority and 38.0 percent is involved in a fraternity.
Greensboro, NC
Bennett College has a total undergraduate enrollment of 736, with 100.0 percent female students. At this school, 65.5 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 34.5 percent of students live off campus.
Atlanta, GA
Clark Atlanta University is a historically black institution that formed when Atlanta University and Clark College merged in 1988. Many notable people have passed through Clark Atlanta and the two founding schools, such as civil rights activist and writer W.E.B. DuBois, who taught social work at the university.
Charlotte, NC
Johnson C. Smith University is a private institution that was founded in 1867. The school has 57.1 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students, and the student-faculty ratio at Johnson C. Smith University is 14:1.
Tougaloo, MS
Tougaloo College was established in 1869 as a private institution. Tougaloo College follows a semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered selective.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $6,088 (2011-12)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $18,616 (2011-12)
- Enrollment:
- 7,105
- Setting:
- urban
Nashville, TN
Tennessee State University is a historically black institution just outside downtown Nashville. Famed TV personality Oprah Winfrey is one of the school’s many notable graduates.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $4,151 (2011-12)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $13,894 (2011-12)
- Enrollment:
- 2,836
- Setting:
- rural
Elizabeth City, NC
Elizabeth City State University has a total undergraduate enrollment of 2,836, with a gender distribution of 39.5 percent male students and 60.5 percent female students. At this school, 52.3 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 47.7 percent of students live off campus.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $7,082 (2012-13)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $16,426 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 6,711
- Setting:
- urban
Baltimore, MD
Founded in 1867, Morgan State University is a public institution. Morgan State University follows a semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered less selective.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $8,250 (2011-12)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $14,910 (2011-12)
- Enrollment:
- 4,285
- Setting:
- city
Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University is a public institution that was founded in 1875. The school has 46.4 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students, and the student-faculty ratio at Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University is 19:1.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $5,654 (2011-12)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $14,767 (2011-12)
- Enrollment:
- 5,692
- Setting:
- city
Winston-Salem, NC
Winston-Salem State University was established in 1892 as a public institution. Winston-Salem State University follows a semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered least selective.
Huntsville, AL
A private institution, Oakwood University was founded in 1896.
- In-state tuition and fees:
- $9,996 (2012-13)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees:
- $14,482 (2012-13)
- Enrollment:
- 1,749
- Setting:
- rural
Lincoln University, PA
Lincoln University has a total undergraduate enrollment of 1,749, with a gender distribution of 41.7 percent male students and 58.3 percent female students. At this school, 86.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 14.0 percent of students live off campus.














