States with the Most HBCUs: A Legacy of Education and Opportunity

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have played a vital role in the higher education of Black students for over 150 years. Many were founded after the Civil War to educate formerly enslaved people and their children, while others were created under the second Morrill Act of 1890, which required states with segregated public higher education to offer land-grant colleges for African Americans. Today, HBCUs continue to be a cornerstone of education for a diverse student population.

The Significance of HBCUs

HBCUs are significant drivers of economic mobility for their students and, in some cases, offer a higher payoff for Black students than predominantly white institutions. They are also better equipped to support Black students as they navigate unique barriers in higher education. The benefits of attending an HBCU, alongside factors such as the racial justice movement and higher profile visibility in recent years, have led to enrollment increases for many HBCUs in the 2021-22 school year.

HBCUs aren’t just schools-they’re family reunions with history, resilience, and unapologetic Black excellence at the core.

States Leading in Number of HBCUs

The majority of HBCUs are located in the Southern United States, where state laws generally required educational segregation until the 1950s and 1960s. As of 2022, the states with the most HBCUs are:

Alabama: 14 HBCUs
North Carolina: 10 HBCUs
Georgia: 9 HBCUs
Texas: 9 HBCUs
South Carolina: 8 HBCUs

Texas and Georgia are also two of the states with the largest Black communities.

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Alabama: The State with the Most HBCUs

Alabama is the state with the most HBCUs, with 14 historically Black colleges, including eight universities and six community colleges. These institutions include:

Alabama A&M University
Alabama State University
Bishop State Community College
Gadsden State Community College
H. Councill Trenholm State Community College
J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College
Lawson State Community College
Miles College
Oakwood University
Selma University
Shelton State Community College
Stillman College
Talladega College
Tuskegee University

North Carolina: A Strong Second

North Carolina is second with 10 HBCUs, all of which are four-year universities. These institutions include:

Bennett College
Elizabeth City State University
Fayetteville State University
Johnson C. Smith University
Livingstone College
North Carolina A&T State University
North Carolina Central University
Saint Augustine's University
Shaw University
Winston-Salem State University

North Carolina A&T State University, aka Aggie Nation, is holding down the #1 spot as the Largest HBCU for the twelfth straight year. In fall 2025, they broke past 15K students for the first time-a 6.7% jump from the year before. Aggie Pride is undefeated.

Georgia and Texas: Tied for Third

Georgia and Texas each have nine HBCUs, with a mix of graduate schools, community colleges, and four-year schools.

Georgia's HBCUs:

Albany State University
Clark Atlanta University
Fort Valley State University
Interdenominational Theological Center
Morehouse College
Morehouse School of Medicine
Paine College
Savannah State University
Spelman College

Texas's HBCUs:

Huston-Tillotson University
Jarvis Christian College
Paul Quinn College
Prairie View A&M University
Southwestern Christian College
St. Philip's College
Texas College
Texas Southern University
Wiley College

Prairie View A&M University is experiencing growth.

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South Carolina: Rounding Out the Top Five

South Carolina has eight HBCUs:

Allen University
Benedict College
Claflin University
Clinton College
Denmark Technical College
Morris College
South Carolina State University
Voorhees College

Other States with Notable HBCU Presence

Several other states also have a significant number of HBCUs, contributing to the overall mission of providing educational opportunities to Black students. These include:

Louisiana: 7 HBCUs (Dillard University, Grambling State University, Southern University and A&M College, Southern University at New Orleans, Southern University at Shreveport, Southern University Law Center, Xavier University of Louisiana)
Mississippi: 6 HBCUs (Alcorn State University, Coahoma Community College, Jackson State University, Mississippi Valley State University, Rust College, Tougaloo College)
Tennessee: 6 HBCUs (American Baptist College, Fisk University, Lane College, LeMoyne-Owen College, Meharry Medical College, Tennessee State University)
Virginia: 5 HBCUs (Hampton University, Norfolk State University, Virginia State University, Virginia Union University, Virginia University of Lynchburg)

Top Five Largest HBCUs

The top five HBCUs by enrollment are:

North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, North Carolina
St. Philip's College in San Antonio, Texas
Howard University in Washington, D.C.
Prairie View A&M University in Prairie View, Texas
Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, Florida

From the Marching 100 to producing the highest number of Black pharmacists in the nation, FAMU is iconic.

HBCU Rankings and Selection

College choice is particularly personal for Black youth, and priorities for college selection are different for each student. All HBCUs have value and are doing what they can to fulfill their shared mission of educating Black Americans.

To get a fair view of the value and performance of individual HBCUs, it is important to consider various rankings and factors. To be included in the U.S. News & World Report ranking, an HBCU 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 Best Colleges rankings. In total, 79 HBCUs were eligible to be included on the list. Niche.com's top-ranked HBCUs are not only leading academic institutions but also offer an exceptional student experience.

The Impact and Future of HBCUs

The total annual economic impact of HBCU spending in the United States is $14.8 billion, the equivalent of a ranking in the top 200 corporations on the Fortune 500 list. While their roots run deep in history, HBCUs are on the forefront of some of the most exciting developments in higher education. Currently, 25% of African American graduates with STEM degrees come from HBCUs, meaning HBCUs are one of the most effective forces helping to diversify the STEM field both in the educational and professional realms.

In general, HBCUs boast an impressive success rate when it comes to retaining and graduating first-generation, low-income African American students. This is partially because HBCUs are generally a better buy-on average, the cost of attendance at an HBCU is 28% less than attending a comparable non-HBCU.

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