Black colleges or Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are institutions started for higher education for African Americans before the Civil War (1964), but in the recent years many of the institutions have become more diverse and include students irrespective of their race and ethnicity. There is a total of 107 Black colleges in the United States identified by the Higher Education Act of 1965, of which 3 are currently closed. In this article we shall see which state has the most number of Black Colleges?
The state of Alabama has the most number of Black Colleges identified by the Higher Education Act of 1965. It has a total of 14 (originally 15, but one closed in 2018) of Black colleges. They are as follows:
- Alabama A&M University- Huntsville
- Alabama State University- Montgomery
- Bishop State Community College- Mobile
- Concordia University-Alabama- Selma (closed 2018)
- Gadsden State College- Gadsden
- J.F. Drake State Technical College- Huntsville
- Lawson State Community College- Birmingham
- Miles College- Fairfield
- Oakwood University- Huntsville
- Selma University- Selma
- Shelton State Community College- Tuscaloosa
- Stillman College- Tuscaloosa
- Talladega College- Talladega
- Tuskegee University- Tuskegee
- H. Councill Trenholm State Community College- Montgomery
Things to know before applying
- Students from any race can apply to the colleges, given that they have the required marks.
- The colleges offer various courses to choose from and the students can apply to them based on the employability they offer.
- The tuition fees of HBCUs are comparatively lower. They offer financial assistance in terms of scholarships, loans, and grants. They offer cost effective quality education to the students.
- Students can choose the college based on the location, whether it is close to their home, whether the cost of living there is affordable or not, whether it is in the suburbs or city or whether the campus is big or small.
- Students can apply for the college by filling the Admission Application (Online) and select the required field. All colleges have different procedures and require a certain set of documents. Detailed information about admission is present on the official website of each college.
Affordability
The black colleges aim to do away with the segregation towards black community and hence, encourage more students to attend college at a minimal rate. Therefore, the fee is low and affordable. According to the United Negro College Fund (UNFC), the HBCUs have 26% less tuition fee as compared to the other non-profit colleges in the United States.
The tuition fees for the colleges in Alabama for in state and out of state students are as follows:
- Alabama A&M University: In-state: $12, 588
Out-state: $8,320
- Alabama State university: In-state: $7,923
Out-state: $14,244
- Bishop State Community College: In-state: $2,700
Out-state: $4,830
- Concordia Alabama College: In-state: $8,090
Out-state: $8,090
- Gadsden State Community College: In-state: $4,350
Out-state: $7,560
- J F Drake State Medical College: In-state: $2,052
Out-state: $2,700
- Lawson State Community College: In-state: $4,080
Out-state: $7,290
- Miles College: In-state: $9,896
Out-state: $5,798
- Oakwood University: In-state: $14,966
Out-state: $14,966
- Selma University: In-state: $5,375
Out-state: $3,130
- Shelton State Community College: In-state: $3,720
Out-state: $5,790
- Stillman College: In-state: $15,088
Out-state: $15,088
- Talladega College: In-state: $11,111
Out-state: $11,111
- Trenholm State Community College: In-state: $2,496
Out-state: $3,720
- Tuskegee University: In-state: $17,720
Out-state: $17,720
For all information on Scholarships and grants, the students can visit the official website: https://hbcuconnect.com/scholarships/
Courses Offered
The colleges offer a variety of courses from Undergraduate to PhD level in the following fields of study:
- Agriculture
- Language and Humanities
- Business and Legal Studies
- Mathematics, Engineering and Construction
- Health Sciences
- Computer Sciences
- Fine Arts
- Education
- Theology
- Behavioral Sciences
- Veterinary Medicine
- Nursing
Some of the colleges like, Lawson State Community College provides certification courses based on duration (long or short) and provides courses based on services (e.g., barbering, plumbing).
Co-Curricular activities offered
The colleges offer several extracurricular activities for the interested students. Some of the colleges are known for their athletics as much as for their academics.
Some of the activities offered are:
- Choral groups/ choirs
- Dance
- Radio/ Television station
- Student Newspaper
- Marching/ Jazz/ Pep/ Concert Bands
- Sororities
- Fraternities
- Intermural sports
Which of the colleges offer online programs?
Most colleges and Universities are offering online education degree programs. They are:
- Alabama A&M University
- Alabama State University
- Bishop State Community College
- J F Drake State Technology College
- Shelton State Community College
- Stillman College
Along with access to online classes, all the colleges have access to digital libraries. The black colleges have formed HBCU Library Alliance, together with Cornell University.
Do all the Colleges offer Co-education?
Yes, all colleges offer co-education. Most colleges have a majority of women, whereas very few have a majority of men. However, the overall average of all colleges has an equal strength of both men and women in the student’s body.
Conclusion
The HBCUs are responsible for expanding the scope of education for African American middle class and help them get over economic instability. They offer a variety of courses (doctoral programs, master’s programs, bachelor’s degree programs, and associate degrees) and are cost efficient. The state of Alabama has the greatest number of Black Colleges, that is 15.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. 1) What is the best HBCU in Alabama?
A. The Alabama State University offers the best courses. The fees is affordable. The teaching staff is good and so is the campus.
Q. 2) Which amongst the Top 10 black colleges are in Alabama?
A. The Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, Alabama is amongst the Top 10 Black Colleges by Wall Street Journal/ College Ranking. It is ranked number 4, whereas its overall ranking is 317.
Q. 3) Which is the largest HBCU in Alabama?
A. The Alabama A&M University is the largest among all colleges in Alabama with more than six thousand students from undergrad to doctoral level. It offers the most diverse faculty in Alabama. More than 90% of the students receive financial aid.
Q. 4) What is the required GPA for HBCU?
A. Test scores matter to HBCUs, yet they admit students with lower grades as well. Their average GPA is 2.0 to 3.0 and can admit students with lower GPA as well.