HBCU Enrollment is on the Rise
While college admissions across the board have declined by 8.5% since 2010, HBCUs are experiencing a different trend. Today, we are seeing an increase in enrollment at HBCUs.
The political climate has been a significant factor in the rise of HBCU enrollment. The 2020 protests following the police killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor were instrumental in motivating Black students to seek safe spaces for their education. Students like Gabrielle Armstrong have articulated their reasons for choosing an HBCU. She explained, “I have the rest of my life to be treated like a minority, to fight to be seen as human.” She wanted to spend four years in a place where she felt like family.
Additionally, the Supreme Court’s decision to outlaw race-based affirmative action has contributed to surges in HBCU enrollment. The LA Times reported significant increases in application rates at several institutions, including a 175% increase at Howard University between 2013 and 2023 and a 122% increase at Morehouse College between 2018 and 2023.
Given the distressed political and cultural climate, the supportive community atmosphere at HBCUs helps students feel welcomed and affirmed as they pursue higher education. Nadrea Njoku, assistant vice president of UNCF’s Frederick D. Patterson Research Institute, echoed this viewpoint. She further explained that HBCUs have the ability to accept students who are diverse in their academic backgrounds, worldviews, and aspirations.
Morgan State University’s director of undergraduate admissions and recruitment, Khala Granville, credited Morgan’s growth to their use of the Common Application and their aggressive student retention policies. From 2018 to 2021, the Common App reported a 30% increase in applications across a selection of HBCUs.
Financial support from programs, grants, philanthropists, and organizations like the HBCU Transformation Project has also facilitated the rise in HBCU growth. Harry Williams, President and CEO of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, says, “The excitement for HBCUs right now is at an all-time high.” With the influx of funds from the government and donors like the Lilly Endowment to the UNCF, universities like Xavier University, which met its $100 million campaign milestone, and Spelman College, which received a historic $100 million donation, the growth and excitement around HBCUs will continue to flourish.