By Alaina Coats

Updated April 14, 2025

Most historically Black college and university (HBCU) alumni will tell you that the degree they’ve earned from their alma mater is a sacred honor.

HBCUs were designed and created specifically for Black people at a time in American history when white people banned the pursuit of higher education by Black people. Affluent philanthropists, free Blacks, and churches were the financial donors and architects for building and securing the future of Black education. Cheyney University of Pennsylvania was the first HBCU, built in 1837 through a $10,000 land endowment given by Richard Humphreys, a Quaker from Pennsylvania. The school historically known as the African Institute was created to train Black teachers to teach Black students.

Before the U.S. Supreme Court ruled racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional in the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education case, mostly all Black students in the US attended HBCUs. This wave of Black college enrollment was the beginning of the coined phrase “Black excellence.” Today, scholars proudly carry the prestigious legacy of their forefathers who’ve made it possible for them to have an HBCU education. They notably display their pride through their academic achievements, eloquent speech, and neat attire and appearance.

The traditions instituted centuries ago are still passionately cherished and embraced on HBCU campuses around the country today. From cookouts in the plaza, Greek yard shows on the quad, homecoming dances, and concerts, the HBCU collegiate experience is one that can never be duplicated. Its traditions are deeply lodged in Black culture and experience.

So, can other ethnic groups attend HBCUs, too? Of course, they can. As a matter of fact, thousands of non-Black students already do. According to hbcufirst.com, one in four students enrolled at HBCUs is non-Black. Thirteen percent of white college students in the U.S. attend HBCUs; three percent are Latinx, and one percent are Asian. However, Black people still make up the majority of HBCU enrollment.

There are a few exceptions, however, like West Virginia State University, Bluefield State College of West Virginia, and Gadsden State Community College in Alabama. These three schools are predominantly white HBCUs. According to usnews.com, Bluefield State’s student body is 85% white and about 10% Black. WVSU’s campus is about 61% white and 12 % Black. And Gadsden State is 72% white and 18% Black.

These schools, which once educated mostly low-income Black students, now serve low-income students of other races. This shift happened mainly because Black students finally had more academic options and began moving to different states to attend predominantly white institutions after the Supreme Court ruled it illegal to segregate public schools. In fact, the Court’s decision caused all HBCUs to see a decline in their Black enrollment and graduation rates.

U.S. News & World Report ranks WVSU in the top 50 among HBCUs nationally. “This recognition reinforces that West Virginia State University has much to offer students, no matter where they come from,” university president Erik Cage said in a press release. “As a diverse, 1890 land-grant institution, WVSU gives students the access and opportunities needed to succeed in today’s job market.”

In the South, there is some hesitancy that surrounds applying to HBCUs. Some non-Black students may not know that it is an option because of the institution’s title, “HBCU.” In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Higher Education Act, which defined 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...” Its objective has never been to exclude any race. Therefore, HBCUs are open toanyonee who wants to apply.

Hip-hop artist Travis Scott and power couple Beyoncé and Jay-Z have created scholarships for students who attend HBCUs and are in financial need. Other philanthropists, like P. Diddy and Deion Sanders, have donated millions of dollars to their HBCU alma maters.

If you are thinking about attending an HBCU upon graduation, consider one of the South’s top five:

1. Spelman College, Atlanta, GA

2. Howard University, Washington, D.C.

3. Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL

4. Grambling State University, Grambling, Louisiana

5. North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Greensboro, North Carolina

One in four students enrolled in Historically Black Colleges and Universities is non-Black