The Best Value Historically Black Colleges and Universities

Founded in 1886 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore is now a leading historically black university as well as a competitive doctoral research university. The school has over 4,000 total students, offering 38 undergraduate programs, 15 masters programs, and 8 doctoral programs. Standout offerings include degrees in construction management technology, professional golf management, and hospitality/tourism. Today, two-thirds of the student body is African American, and diversity is a core value at the university.

Now a top historically black university, Kentucky State was founded in 1886 for the purpose of training teachers for the African American population. Today, it has a renowned nursing program and offers degrees in nearly every academic area from criminal justice to agriculture and nearly everything in between. The most popular majors include registered nursing, police science, liberal studies, and psychology. KSU is one of the smaller HCBUs in the United States with just 2,200 total students. The student to faculty ratio is just 12 to 1, and more than three quarters of classes have fewer than 20 students.

Founded in 1910, North Carolina Central University is the oldest publicly funded liberal arts historically black university in the United States. Today, the school offers a wide range of academic programs for students to choose from, including 37 bachelors degrees, 39 masters degrees, and a doctoral degree in Integrated Biosciences. Popular majors include law, criminal justice, psychology, business, and family and consumer sciences. The average class size is 21, meaning students have ample opportunity to interact with professors. US News & World Report has ranked North Carolina Central as one of the top 20 historically black colleges and universities in the country.

Tuskegee University is the only historically black university in the country to also be designated as a National Historic Site. Founded in 1881, this private university now offers over 64 different degree programs to its undergraduate and graduate students. US News & World Report has awarded Tuskegee its #6 position in its prestigious ranking of top historically black colleges and universities in the nation. The student to faculty ratio is very low at 13:1, and the freshman retention rate is high at 74%. Tuskegee is selective, accepting only 53% of applicants.

Morehouse College is the only all-male, 4-year liberal arts historically black college in the United States. Founded in 1867, this private urban school is home to just over 2,000 undergraduate students and is located three miles from downtown Atlanta, Georgia. The most popular major at the college is business, but other common majors include psychology, social sciences, English language and literature, and biology. The student to faculty ratio is very low at just 12:1, and the freshman retention rate is one of the highest in this ranking at over 80%.

An 1890 land grant university, the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff is a top historically black university and the second oldest public institution of higher education in the state of Arkansas. The school is home to 2,721 undergraduate students. It is known worldwide for its Center of Excellence in aquaculture/fisheries and also emphasizes science & mathematics, minority business development, education, and student development & leadership. UAPB is fairly selective with an acceptance rate of 42%, and the student to faculty ration is just 15:1.

Tougaloo College was founded in 1869 by the American Missionary Association and is still affiliated with the United Church of Christ. One of the smallest historically black colleges and universities in the country, the school enrolls just 843 undergraduate students. Still, it offers a reasonably comprehensive offering of undergraduate degree majors. Some of the most popular choices include sociology, media studies, economics, and psychology. Classes are very small as the average student to faculty ratio is just 9:1, and the freshman retention rate is 74%.

Alabama A&M University is a top historically black college located just five minutes from downtown Huntsville, Alabama. The university was founded in 1875 by a former slave and honors its history and heritage while simultaneously adopting a progressive philosophy. The school is relatively small with just under 5,000 students, and students receive individualized instruction thanks to a low, 20:1 student to faculty ratio. Still, it offers a wide range of academic degrees including 41 bachelor's degrees, 23 master's degrees, and 4 doctoral degrees. Alabama A&M prides itself on its dedication to the community, with an impressive 75% student participation rate in school community service projects.

One of the smallest historically black colleges in this ranking, Claflin University enrolls just under 2,000 undergraduate students. As one might expect, the school's student to faculty ratio is very low at 13:1, and most classes are comprised of less than 20 students. This affords students the opportunity to form close bonds with classmates and receive one-on-one attention from professors. Still, the student population is diverse; students come from 24 states and 18 different countries. The most popular majors at Claflin include biology, criminal justice, psychology, mass communication/media studies, and business administration and management.

Founded in 1915, Xavier University of Louisiana is a unique historically black university affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church. The school is mid-size with an undergraduate enrollment of approximately 2,300 students. Class sizes are small as the university boasts a 14:1 student to faculty ratio. Xavier offers degrees in 46 different areas of study, and popular majors include chemistry, biology, communication and media studies, and business/commerce. As a point of pride, the school ranks #1 in terms of the number of African American graduates who go on to complete medical school.

Fisk University is one of the smallest historically black colleges and universities in the United States with an enrollment of just 723 students. Because of this small student body, class sizes are incredibly small as well, with an 11:1 student to faculty ratio. The vast majority—nearly 70%- of classes have less than 20 students. Students can choose from 16 different areas of study, and degrees are awarded on the bachelor's and master's levels. Despite what major they choose, all students will receive a rich liberal arts education at Fisk. U.S. News & World Report has recognized Fisk as one of the top 10 historically black colleges and universities in the nation.

Established in 1881, Spelman College is the oldest historically black college exclusively for women in the United States. Undergraduate enrollment is approximately 2,125, and students come from 41 states and 15 foreign countries. The student to faculty ratio is a low 10 to 1, and 61% of classes are comprised of less than 20 students. In addition to one-on-one instruction, students learn from a knowledgeable faculty; 88% of professors hold terminal degrees in their field. Popular majors at the college include biology, psychology, political science and government, and English language and literature. US News & World Report ranked Spelman as the #1 historically black college in the country.

Located near the Charleston-metro area, West Virginia State University is a leading historically black university and the smallest land grant institution in the United States. The school is home to nearly 3,500 undergraduate students and offers a comprehensive array of bachelor of science as well as bachelor of fine arts degrees. Graduate students will find masters degree programs in biotechnology, public administration, media studies, social work, and criminal justice administration. One of the least selective HBCUs in this ranking and in the country, West Virginia State accepts 96% of all applicants.

With a total enrollment of over 9,000 students, Texas Southern University is one of the largest historically black universities in the United States. The school is an urban-serving institution located in downtown Houston that offers over 100 undergraduate and graduate programs and concentrations from 11 different colleges and schools. Popular majors include accounting, banking, biology, and health care administration. Despite its status as a leading historically black university, Texas Southern has become one of the most diverse institutions of higher education in the state of Texas.

One of the leading public coeducational historically black colleges and universities in the country, Norfolk State University was founded in 1935 and is now home to nearly 5,000 undergraduate students. The school offers degree programs in 49 different subject areas, all from one campus. Popular majors include social work, psychology, registered nursing, and business/commerce. The majority of classes have less than 20 students, and the average student to faculty ratio at Norfolk is 17:1. The university is one of the least selective historically black colleges and universities in our ranking with an acceptance rate of 85%.

Founded in 1882, Virginia State University is a top historically black university and one of Virginia's two land grant universities. One of the larger HCBUs in our ranking, the school is home to well over 4,000 undergraduate students and offers 31 bachelor's programs, 17 master's programs, and 2 doctoral programs. Popular majors include mass communication, criminal justice, media studies, social work, and physical education. The school is also one of the least selective historically black colleges and universities in the United States with a 94% acceptance rate.

Named in honor of President Abraham Lincoln, Lincoln University was founded in 1854 and was the first degree-granting historically black university in the United States. The school now offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate degree programs from its three colleges: the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, the College of Professional, Graduate, and Extended Studies, and the College of Science and Technology. Popular majors amongst Lincoln students include public administration, business, social sciences, and biomedical sciences. Though small, the student body is diverse; students attend Lincoln from 30 different states and 15 foreign countries.

Dillard University is a top historically black university that provides undergraduate students with a top-tier, four-year liberal arts education. The school has a highly acclaimed nursing program as well as a Student Success division which provides support for students and focuses on retention. The school's freshman retention rate is 70%. In addition to nursing, other popular majors at Dillard include business administration and sociology. Students who graduate from this HCBU are prepared to enter prestigious graduate schools such as Yale, Harvard, Princeton, and Johns Hopkins. Dillard is one of the most selective historically black colleges on our list with a 38% acceptance rate.

One of the smaller historically black colleges on our list, Rust College is home to just over 1,000 undergraduate students. The private, coeducational college was founded in 1866 and is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Today, it offers both associates and bachelors degrees in seventeen different academic areas. Popular majors include biology, childcare, broadcast journalism, and computer science. Rust College has a higher student to faculty ratio than many of the other historically black colleges and universities in this ranking at 21:1.

One of the youngest historically black colleges and universities on our list, Mississippi Valley State University was founded in 1950. Today, this private, co-ed HCBU is home to just over 2,000 undergraduate students. The student to faculty ratio is only 15:1, and most classes have less than 20 students. In addition to intimate classroom settings, the university boasts a knowledgeable faculty, with 68% of professors holding a doctoral degree. Popular majors at the university include business, marketing, public administration, homeland security, and fitness studies. Mississippi State is also one of the least selective historically black schools in this ranking; 84% of prospective students who apply to the university are accepted.

Founded in 1877, Philander Smith College is a top historically black college and the only Negro College Fund institute in the state of Arkansas. The private urban school is small with just 765 undergraduate students, and it offers just four types of degrees: bachelor of arts degrees, bachelor of science degrees, bachelor of business administration degrees, and bachelor of social work degrees. Popular majors include psychology, sociology, business administration, and English language and literature. In comparison with other historically black colleges and universities, Philander Smith is fairly selective with an acceptance rate of 52%.

Clark Atlanta University is a top historically black university located in downtown Atlanta, Georgia. It is a private university and is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Enrollment numbers are just under 3,500 students, and the school offers degrees at every level in 38 different subject areas. Popular majors include communications, journalism, psychology, visual and performing arts, business, and marketing. Class sizes are small, and 80% of faculty members hold a PhD or equivalent in their fields. Clark Atlanta is also one of the less selective historically black colleges in this ranking, with an acceptance rate of 72%.

Established in 1956, Southern University of New Orleans is a leading historically black university located less than ten miles from downtown New Orleans. The four-year, public, coeducational university offers associates through master's degree programs, including in-demand offerings such as computer information systems, health information management systems, business administration, and teacher education, for example. The university is mid-size in comparison with the other historically black colleges and universities in this ranking with a student body of approximately 2,420.

Le Moyne-Owen College is the result of a 1968 merger of Le Moyne College and Owen College, two private historically black colleges. The school is now a fully accredited four-year institution offering bachelor of science degrees, bachelor of arts degrees, and bachelor of business administration degrees in 23 different areas of study from five academic divisions: the Division of Business & Economic Development, the Division of Education, the Division of Fine Arts & Humanities, the Division of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, and the Division of Social and Behavioral Sciences. Le Moyne-Owen is also one of the several faith-based historically black colleges in this ranking and is affiliated with the United Church of Christ.

Paul Quinn College is one of the several faith-based historically black colleges in our ranking. The private, four-year liberal arts college was founded in 1872 and is affiliated with the African Methodist Episcopal Church. The school offers a small number of comprehensive degree programs in fields such as legal studies, business administration, liberal arts, health and wellness, and religious studies. Paul Quinn boasts an exceptionally low student to faculty ratio of 9:1. It is also in the process of becoming a work college, meaning students will graduate with minimal debt.

Talladega College is a private, four-year historically black college providing bachelors degrees in the liberal arts tradition. The school was founded in 1867 and is affiliated with the United Church of Christ. Students can pursue one of 17 majors, and class sizes are small; the school's average student to faculty ratio is just 12:1. The majority of students not only earn a bachelor's degree, but they go on to pursue advanced degrees as well. Eighty percent of students enter graduate school after their program completion.

Founded in 1897, Langston University is one of the smallest historically black colleges and universities in the country with just over 2,000 undergraduate students. Class sizes are expectedly small as well; the student to faculty ratio is 17:1. The school has a well-known doctoral program in physical therapy, and other standout areas of study include biotechnology, urban education, goat research, rehabilitation counseling, and international studies. Comparatively, Langston University is one of the less selective historically black colleges and universities with a 52% acceptance rate.

Grambling State University was founded in 1901 by the North Louisiana Colored Agriculture Relief Association. Today, the school is a leading historically black university offering 47 different degree programs from 5 distinct colleges. Popular majors include criminal justice/safety studies, communications, biology, and registered nursing. The student to faculty ratio at Grambling State is a little higher than some of the other historically black colleges and universities in our ranking, but at 20:1, it is still low enough for students to receive individualized instruction from professors.

An 1890 land grant institution of higher education, South Carolina State University remains South Carolina's only public HBCU. The school has 2,529 undergraduate students, but it also offers master's degrees, educational specialist degrees, and doctoral degrees. Popular majors include physical education teaching and coaching, criminal justice/law enforcement administration, family and consumer sciences, and mass communication/media studies. The student to faculty ratio is 17:1, and more than 60% of classes are comprised of fewer than 20 students.

Founded in 1876, Stillman College is a private coeducational liberal arts college affiliated with the Presbyterian Church. The school is small, serving approximately 1,000 undergraduate students. It is also fairly selective, accepting just over half of all applicants. Stillman is known for its superb degree offerings in business administration, biological sciences, and teacher education, but many other majors are available as well. The faculty is highly knowledgeable, with 92% of professors holding PhDs in their respective subject areas.

Founded in 1873, Wiley College is a leading historically black college and the first black college established west of the Mississippi River. A private, suburban, primarily liberal arts college, the school offer 14 undergraduate majors from 4 different academic divisions. The latest student enrollment numbers put the student body at just 1,390, making Wiley one of the smaller historically black colleges and universities in this ranking and in the country. Classes are also small, averaging about 20 students, and the student to faculty ratio fluctuates between 17:1 and 19:1. Wiley College is affiliated with the United Methodist Church and the United Negro College Fund.

A top Christian historically black college, Morris College was founded in 1908 under authorization from the Baptist Educational and Missionary Convention of South Carolina. This undergraduate school offers bachelor's degrees in the arts and sciences as well as career and professional fields, including a variety of subject areas including Christian education, organizational management, mass communications, pastoral ministry, and recreational administration among others. Morris is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and is a member of the United Negro College Fund.

One of the smaller historically black colleges and universities in the United States, Miles College is a private liberal arts college that serves approximately 1700 undergraduate students. Enrolled students can choose from 28 different bachelor's degree programs from six distinct academic divisions. Popular majors include criminal justice, political science, history, and computer and information sciences. The school was founded in 1898 with a foundation in the values of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. Miles is one of just 39 historically black colleges and universities in the country to have been designated as a United Negro College Fund Institution.

Paine College is a private, coeducational historically black college founded in 1882. The school is affiliated with both the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church and the United Methodist Church, so there is a heavy emphasis on students' spiritual development. The school's academic offerings are somewhat limited, but it does offer both BA and BS degree programs in six different areas from two distinct schools: the School of Arts and Sciences and the School of Professional Studies. Majors include topics in humanities, education, business, media studies, and more. Paine is one of the more selective historically black colleges and universities on our list with a 31% acceptance rate.

Voorhees College was founded in 1897 and was the first historically black college in the state of South Carolina to be accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges & Schools. Voorhees is a four-year private liberal arts college affiliated with the Episcopal Church and the United Negro College Fund. The school offers degrees in twelve different disciplines, including mass communication, organizational management, health & recreation, and computer science. The school is one of the least selective historically black colleges and universities in the nation, with a 93% acceptance rate.

A leading historically black college, Benedict College is a private liberal arts school founded in 1870. The school honors its roots as a HCBU by giving back to the black community. Among many other honors, the school has been awarded the National Civic Engagement Award by the Washington Center for its community involvement. The school is located in an urban setting with a diverse faculty, 60% of whom hold terminal degrees in their respective fields. New students are embraced by this historically black college, and the average freshman retention rate is 60%.

Founded in 1879, Livingstone College is a private historically black college affiliated with the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. The school is one of the smaller HCBUs in our ranking with well under 2,000 students. Popular majors at Livingstone include secondary education, sport and fitness administration, business administration, and liberal studies. The college is fairly selective, with a 48% acceptance rate. Livingstone has recently adopted a unique holistic learning program, which provides instruction on debt management, health and wellness, social responsibility, and more.

Wilberforce University is a historically black university founded in 1865 by leaders of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. The school is a private, urban, student-centered university with a rural setting, yet close to urban centers such as Daytona and Cincinnati. It offers 19 undergraduate degree programs and 1 graduate degree program. Dual degree programs are also offered in architecture, aerospace, and nuclear engineering. Wilberforce is a member of the United Negro College Fund and embraces the core values of Christian principles, quality education, and social and community responsibility.

Founded in 1894, Texas College is a top historically black college affiliated with the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church and the United Negro College Fund. The school is a four-year college, offering 12 bachelor's degree programs in areas of study such as mathematics, music, business administration, computer science, sociology, and more. It also offers two associate of arts programs in early childhood education and general studies. The student to faculty ratio is higher than most of the other historically black colleges and universities in this ranking at 20:1, but students do receive support services such as academic tutoring and advising.

Founded in 1865, Shaw University is one of the oldest historically black universities in the nation and the first HCBU established in the South. It is a relatively small urban school with well under 2,000 undergraduate students, and the student to faculty ratio is 19:1 with nearly half of all classes having less than 20 students. Popular majors at the university include marketing; public administration; parks, recreation, and fitness studies; journalism; and social sciences. Shaw is a fairly selective school, with 44% percent of all students being accepted by the university.