Did You Know?

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.

• HBCUs represent less than 3% of colleges and universities in the United States
• HBCUs enroll 12% of all African-American students
• HBCUs produce 23% of all African-American graduates
• HBCUs confer 40% of all STEM degrees and 60% of all engineering degrees for African-American students
• HBCUs educate 50% of African American teachers and 40% of African American health professionals
• 70 percent of African American dentists and physicians earned degrees at HBCUs.
• 58% of HBCUs offer students the opportunity to study abroad.
• 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.
• 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.
  HBCUs have 1/8 of the average size of endowments than historically white colleges and universities. Against these odds, HBCUs historicallyhave provided an affordable education to millions of students of color, graduating the majority of America’s African American teachers, doctors, judges, engineers, and other scientific and technological professionals.
• The Honda Battle of the Bands (hosted in Atlanta, Georgia) was created to celebrate, support and recognize the excellence of Black college marching bands and the unique academic experience offered by Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Honda annually awards more than $200,000 in grants to participating marching bands during the program period.