Historically Black Colleges and Universities- HBCUs

What is an HBCU?

Historically black colleges or universities (HBCUs) are schools that were founded on the belief that every individual deserves access to a college or higher education. The Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, defines an HBCU as: “…any historically black college or 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.” HBCUs offer all students, regardless of race, an opportunity to develop their skills and talents. 

Source: sites.ed.gov/whhbcu/one-hundred-and-five-historically-black-colleges-and-universities/ 

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HBCU FACTS:

Nine of the top ten colleges that graduate most of the African American students who go on to earn Ph.D.s are HBCUs.

More than 50 percent of the nation's African American public school teachers and 70 percent of African American dentists and physicians earned degrees at HBCUs.

Over half of all African American professionals are graduates of HBCUs.

 In 2000, Xavier University in New Orleans individually produced more successful African American medical school applicants (94) than Johns Hopkins (20), Harvard (37), and the University of Maryland (24) combined.

Spelman and Bennett Colleges produce over half of the nation's African American women who go on to earn doctorates in all science fields; more than produced by the Ivy League's Seven Sisters combined (Barnard, Bryn Mawr, Mount Holyoke, Radcliffe, Smith, Wellesley, and Vassar Colleges).

HBCUs significantly contribute to the creation of African American science degree holders: agriculture (51.6 percent), biology (42.2 percent), computer science (35 percent), physical science (43 percent), and social science (23.2 percent).

HBCUs produce 44 percent of all African American bachelor's degrees awarded for communications technology, 33 percent of bachelor's degrees awarded for engineering technology, and 43 percent of bachelor's degrees awarded for mathematics. 



Sources: www.hbcualumnicle.com/hbcu-facts.html
uncf.org/the-latest/6-reasons-hbcus-are-more-important-than-ever