Exploring Excellence: A Guide to the Best HBCU Honors Programs

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have a long and distinguished history of providing high-quality education and fostering the development of outstanding Black students. Even though these students can attend almost any university based on their excellent scores on the SAT, the ACT and also because of their high school grade point average, they are still attracted to HBCUs. Among the many opportunities offered at these institutions are honors programs, designed to challenge and support academically talented students. These programs play a significant role in preparing students to function in the global marketplace. Emphasis is placed on a well-rounded program which includes preparation for graduate school, fellowship and scholarship opportunities, travel and study abroad programs, and community service. This article explores some of the best HBCU honors programs, highlighting their unique features and the opportunities they provide.

The Enduring Legacy of HBCUs

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) were first established in the United States many years ago to meet the educational needs of blacks who were disenfranchised by the predominantly white population of the country. Qualified blacks were prevented from attending colleges and universities both public and private owned and operated by whites. This was so whether the universities and colleges were public or private. Blacks, therefore, had to take charge of educating their own. The first HBCU, Cheyney State University was established in 1837. Over the years, even with competition from the increasing number of white institutions of higher learning, HBCUs have continued to survive and to perform well. At present there are 106 HBCUs devoted to the needs of black students. The last one, Morehouse School of Medicine, was established in 1975.

Even though HBCUs make up only 3 percent of the country’s colleges, they produce about 20 percent of African Americans with bachelor’s degrees, and 27 percent of students with STEM degrees. HBCUs have a close-knit community with small class sizes that will enable you to truly engage and grow. You’ll be surrounded by students with similar backgrounds and cultural experiences. HBCUs celebrate the richness of minority cultures. They give students opportunities to explore themselves and their collective identities. They proudly teach black history also provide a deep connection to this history.

The Role of Honors Programs at HBCUs

The Honors Programs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) play a significant role in the education of outstanding black students. Although black students can attend any university of their choosing, they continue in large numbers to select HBCUs. With high ACT and SAT scores and with high school grade point averages of more than 3.5, black outstanding students are being sought after by many of the prestigious colleges in the nation. The excellent students enrolling in HBCUs have had the option of attending Ivy League colleges and other top universities but they choose continually to attend HBCUs. The enrollment of these students in HBCUs indicate that their parents, many of whom were probably educated at one of these institutions, do trust these colleges and universities with the education of their children and expect them to be well educated.

Price (1998) has stated that the development of any community requires intellectual capital and HBCUs must make available a supply of black intellectuals with doctorates in the intellectual disciplines. To provide doctorates is one of the objectives of Honors Programs at these schools. The programs were created to provide students with a challenging college experience that enhances their university experience. Even though some universities have Honors Colleges-Grambling University, Hampton University, Jackson State University, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and Voorhees College are examples-the basic programs are similar. However, the Honors Colleges receive a little more prominence because they have as their administrative head a dean instead of a director. The strengths of these programs lie in the fact that they are committed to nurturing the potential to achieve of the academically-talented students who come to the universities. Self-development. leadership skills, and personal worth are enhanced and the honor students have opportunities to conduct research and exchange ideas in a supportive academic environment.

One of the characteristics of the Honors Programs at these HBCUs is that they offer a sequence of courses that is specifically designed to encourage highly motivated students to think independently and to be creative. The Honors Colloquium and Honors Seminars are examples of these courses. In most of the institutions, programs meet the needs of students in all academic majors whether science, journalism, business, art or theatre. Their program of studies also assists them in becoming mote responsive to community and societal needs through community service.

Admission to Honors Programs

In the majority of the Honors Programs at HBCUs, students are admitted at the beginning of the their first semester, using mainly their SAT, ACT scores and their high school GPA (see Table III). Hampton University and LeMoyne Owen College are among the HBCUs that admit students after completing the first semester or 15 hours of course work. Peterson’s Honors Program (1999) and interviews indicate that students are admitted on four criteria--GPAs, standardized test, scores on the SAT or ACT, and on essay. The following are criteria used for admission in the Honors Programs at HBCUs.

High school grade point average (GPA)---3.0 to 3.5
SAT scores---1100 or higher
ACT scores---20 or higher
An essay

In addition, a committee may meet to decide whether the applicant should be admitted based on the above criteria, an interview and letters of recommendation. Table I shows the requirements of HBCUs and the number of students in the Programs. Southern (800) Jackson State (500), Florida A&M (350), Grambling State (260), and Morehouse College (200) have the largest number of students in the program.

Courses and Faculty

The advantages to the students entering the program are varied. The classes, courses, and faculty lend themselves to success in the various programs. The classes are small and thus are suitable for in-depth discussion and opportunities to delve deeper into topics of interest Most programs have 17-24 hours of honors courses. These are taken during the freshmen and sophomore years. Students receive honors credits in one of three ways. They may take an honors course (small classes limited to honors students), they may take an honors seminar, or they may contract with a professor to receive honors credit. To remain in the program students need to maintain at least a 3.0 GPA. During their junior and senior years the honor students work on their Honors-in-the-Major project or senior thesis. This second phase of the Honors Program has been adopted by almost all of universities that have an honors program. Alcorn, Grambling and Hampton are among those universities that have an honors thesis or Honors-in-the-Major project. Students, with the help of an advisor, select a topic of interest and work with the professor to complete the thesis before graduation. Courses in research assist them in their writing. The quality of this thesis is such that it also helps to prepare them for graduate work. The faculty is dedicated and they are among the highest skilled. They are researchers and excellent scholars who continually challenge the students. Faculty and scholars from other universities and the community are invited as speakers to the Honors Programs.

Spotlight on Specific HBCU Honors Programs

Florida A&M University

Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, an HBCU, has over the years been competing favorably with Yale and Harvard universities for more National Achievement Scholars-the most academically talented black students graduating from high school. Figure I shows that for three consecutive years 1995-1997 HBCUs attracted more of these scholars than Harvard or Yale-Florida A&M University in 1995 with 59 National Achievement Scholars and again in 1997 with 73 such scholars and Howard University in 1996 with 70 scholars. Figure II shows that between 1994 and 1998 both Howard and FAMU ranked among the top five universities in the nation attracting National Achievement Scholars. FAMU ranked 6th, 5th and 3rd, 5th and 3rd again and Howard was ranked 5th, 3rd, 5th,3rd, and 4th, in the same period.

Florida A&M University Ranked No. HBCU Schools in America,” said President Marva B. Johnson, J.D. an overall grade of A-, the highest among all HBCUs in the nation. FAMU Housing recognized for the progress we’ve made. said Herbert Johnson, University Housing Director. our facilities, services, and communities support student success at the highest level.”Florida A&M University Greek Life. “We are incredibly proud to see Florida A&M University ranked No. across all 27 Florida colleges and institutions, and securing No. of 743 schools for Best Greek Life Colleges in America,” said Edward Kincheon, Jr., assistant director, Fraternity & Sorority Life and Volunteer Programs. “The FAMU standard is excellence, and our FSL community is no exception.

Students in the programs have excellent opportunities to participate in research other than their senior thesis. The ability to have close contacts with the professors so that they can pursue their interest lends itself to opportunities for research whether at their home university or through summer internships at other universities. Many of the students who enter the Honors Program possess such high academic record that they qualify to obtain scholarships. At Florida A&M University many of the Honor students receive Presidential scholarships. These are sponsored by companies such as Ely Lily, IBM, and Nations Bank and are awarded by the president of the university. These include the Life-Gets-Better and the Distinguished Scholars Award. The recipients of these awards have a full scholarship for their entire four years of undergraduate study. In addition, some HBCUs Honors Programs are able, with limited funds, to award partial scholarships to deserving students. The criteria for scholarships in many of the Honors Programs at HBCUs are based on ability and need.

Morehouse College

There is a world of universities and professions to choose from. Today, Black men have access to them all. But since 1867, many of the best and brightest have chosen an HBCU in Atlanta, Morehouse College. College is a big decision, and we are here to help students and parents envision the promise and limitless future of an elite liberal arts education at a top HBCU in Georgia, Morehouse College. We believe in the power of mentorship. Apply to Morehouse CollegeWe know students by name and provide mentorship through relationships that last a lifetime. The Morehouse ManAt Morehouse College, you rise to meet the highest expectations. Our HistoryMorehouse College was founded in 1867 and is an HBCU in Atlanta, Georgia. AcademicsOur seven academic divisions, led by world-class faculty, provide interdisciplinary learning to produce 21st-century critical thinkers. Getting AdmittedEach year over 650 students become men of Morehouse to continue the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Edwin Moses, Samuel L. Explore our HBCU in Atlanta and walk in the footsteps of history, where American Presidents have spoken, Dr. The Impact of No. We don’t just educate students. We produce innovators and leaders who are men of distinction. Homeland Security Secretary, Surgeon General-Morehouse Men are in a class of their own. Dream Makers SummitThe Dream Makers Summit is a Morehouse College Signature Event showcasing Student Excellence in scholarship, creativity, and innovation. Commencement WeekendThe 142nd Morehouse Commencement Weekend will take place May 15 - 17, 2026.

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Norfolk State University

Peterson's Honors… Robert C. HONORS in the Robert C. Nusbaum (RCN) Honors College is about more than high grades. Through classes, activities, events, exposures and experiences, students are stretched through development to shine at graduation as vetted Honors Scholars! Dr. Khadijah O. The Robert C. Nusbaum Honors College is open to all majors across Norfolk State University. Stretch your academic potential in our enhanced academic classes, co-curricular enrichment activities and special programs for high-ability and self-motivated students. Shine brightly across classes, with opportunities to study abroad, attend and present at conferences, and work closely with faculty on cutting-edge research projects! The RCN Honors College is an authentic community of scholars where critical thinking, curiosity, imagination and creativity are encouraged. To obtain a current listing of all Honors courses, go to MyNSU and use the Search for Sections feature. After selecting Course Catalog, filling in the semester desired, students should scroll down to the bottom of the form and find the Course Type box. After “Honors” is selected, a list of all current Honors Courses should appear. Honors Scholars, also known as Junior Fellows are required to participate in academic and co-curricular activities each semester. Best practice demonstrates that students who are active across the University, perform better academically and have higher rates of successful persistence. Honors at NSU supports this philosophy, and requires students to organize, attend, and participate in events each semester. Honors Cafés are required weekly opportunities for Honors Scholars to commune with one another and Honors Faculty to discuss, learn about, investigate and share on a wide variety of topics. Honors Café meets on Tuesdays, 4:30-5:30pm, EST.

Other Notable HBCU Honors Programs

Several other HBCUs offer exceptional honors programs that deserve recognition:

Howard University: Renowned for its comprehensive graduate programs and commitment to academic excellence.
Spelman College: A leading women's college offering unique accelerated master's degree programs in partnership with other universities.
North Carolina A&T State University: Known for its extensive range of graduate programs and research opportunities.
Tennessee State University: Recognized for its agriculture and environmental sciences program and its strong graduate offerings.
Xavier University of Louisiana: Committed to providing graduate studies opportunities to local residents.
Hampton University: Offers a variety of master's degrees across numerous disciplines.
Alcorn State University: Considered a top HBCU in Mississippi, providing a strong academic foundation.
Tuskegee University: Established by Booker T. Washington, known for its focus on science and technology.
Bowie State University: Offers reasonably priced master's degree programs that prepare students for the workforce.
Prairie View A&M University: A leading HBCU in Texas with a wide range of graduate programs.
Morgan State University: Known as Maryland's Public Urban University, offering a diverse array of graduate programs.
Winston-Salem State University: Specializes in preparing students to make a difference in their communities through its graduate programs.

Research and Scholarship Opportunities

Information on scholarships and fellowships are sent to the Honors Office and students who frequent there have opportunities to receive assistance and guidance in applying for these fellowships. The Truman scholar from Florida A&M University and the Rhodes Scholar from Morehouse were both members of their university’s Honors Programs. The Emerging Leaders Workshop, which shares valuable information on scholarships and fellowships and graduate assistantships for minority students, is held in Virginia each summer and is sponsored jointly by the Truman Scholarship Office, Dupont and Mellon Foundation. Black students who attend this workshop receive valuable information on preparing early for graduate school, preparation of a resume, and how to apply for prestigious scholarships such as the Truman, the Rhodes, the Marshall, and Mellon scholarships.

Travel and Study Abroad Programs

In a survey of 30 incoming freshmen honor students at FAMU, only two of them had the opportunity to travel abroad either on holiday with their parents or with other students. It seems, therefore, that students in the Honors Program at FAMU and perhaps at other HBCUs, have had little opportunities to travel abroad. The Honors Programs provide them with such opportunities. Some Honors Programs such as the one at FAMU have a travel ~ component in which students spend the Spring break in a foreign country. During their one week stay in another country FAMU students learn the language and the culture, while comparing the educational system with that in their own country. They also observe American businesses that have branches in the country visited. FAMU also has a Study Abroad Program in the Dominican Republic and the Honor students at the university have benefited from it. Students in many of the Honors Program travel to countries in Africa to spend a semester, especially the summer semester, studying and learning of the culture of their ancestors. This is especially attractive to the students because they can compare their language and customs with those of the African countries, information which they can share with other honor students upon their return to their individual HBCU. With the ease of communication and the interdependence of countries, knowledge of a language other than English and the familiarity with the culture of another country are of extreme importance. It is, therefore, imperative for Honors directors of HBCUs to encourage and to assist their students in their preparation to function adequately in the global marketplace by emphasizing language acquisition and travel abroad.

Conferences and Associations

There are two major conferences that Honor students at HBCUs can and do attend. The National Collegiate Honors conference (NCHC), and the National African American Association Honors Program Conference (NAAAHP) are widely attended. These conferences serve three main purposes. Students attending are able to interact with other outstanding students, sharing ideas and information; they can present papers; and they can, at the same time, listen to outstanding presentations by their peers and professors. These students can also receive information on scholarships and graduate school.

The NCHC is the umbrella for all Honors Programs both in two year and four year colleges. They have an updated list of all programs in the country whose institutions are members of the organization. The objective of the NCHC is to assist Honors Programs to improve by providing information to the schools, the directors, the faculty and the students. At the conferences held once annually, there are more than 1200 honor students in attendance. Presentation of papers mainly by students and also by a few professors and information and discussions by keynote speakers are some of the highlights of the conference. The National Association of African American Honors Programs Conference, founded in 1991, is an organization whose objective is to promote and to advance honors programs at HBCUs. The directors who met to establish the organization had, among its goals, the following:

To develop, enhance, and support honors programs in all HBCUs.
To stimulate and encourage community service and leadership.
To sponsor research related to honors education.
To advocate the funding of honors programs by federal and state agencies as well as private organizations.
To facilitate the enrollment of African American students in graduate and professional schools.
To develop an undergraduate educational environment that promotes scholarship, knowledge, and an appreciation of African-American culture as a mirror for understanding other great world cultures.

Through the efforts of the NAAAHP honor students have been able to attend this conference and to present papers. Each year the number of students attending has increased. At the last conference held in Alabama, there were more than 250 participants in attendance. Highlights of the conference included presentations from all disciplines, Model United Nations and a debate competition.

The Rise of Online HBCU Graduate Programs

HBCU graduate programs provide a multitude of opportunities to continue your education. Online graduate programs offer perks, such as flexibility and accessibility. For example, you can complete an HBCU graduate program online from the comfort of your own home or any location with internet access. And, online HBCU graduate programs are just as credible as traditional in-person programs. The key is to make sure you select an accredited online program from an accredited HBCU graduate school. Some of the top HBCU online graduate programs include:

Winston-Salem State University
North Carolina A&T State University
Jackson State University
Lincoln University
Morgan State University

Benedict College: A Legacy of Empowerment

HBCUs are colleges and universities originally founded to provide educational opportunities for students who were excluded from majority institutions solely by virtue of their race. Today, these institutions provide high-quality, culturally sensitive education, grounded in the twin principles of access and equity for historically underrepresented students regardless of their race or nationality. Diversity is the hallmark of the HBCU experience!

Benedict College is proud to be part of this rich legacy as a private historically black, liberal arts college in Columbia, South Carolina. While HBCUs were originally founded to provide college opportunities for African Americans, they offer all students-regardless of race-an opportunity to learn and grow. Benedict College, originally Benedict Institute, was founded in 1870 by a woman, Bathsheba A. Benedict under the auspices of the American Baptist Home Mission Society. As Benedict’s first philanthropist, Mrs. Benedict of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, provided $13,000 towards the purchase of an 80-acre plantation near Columbia, South Carolina as the site for a new school for the recently freed people of African descent.

Benedict Institute, operating in a former slave master’s mansion, was established, in the words of its founder to prepare men and women to be a “power for good in society.” Initially, Benedict Institute directed its educational programs to the severely limited economic and social conditions of the black population in the South. Like many other HBCUs at the time, the Institute’s original objective was to educate and train teachers and preachers.

Benedict College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award baccalaureate and masters degrees. Benedict College admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school.

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