Historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are institutions of higher education in the United States that were established before the Civil Rights Act of 1964 with the intention of primarily serving the African-American community.

As of 2025, there are 101 HBCUs operating in the United States, including 50 public and 51 private institutions.

Compare and explore detailed statistics for 101 HBCUs to find the perfect college match for your academic goals, budget, and career aspirations. Our comprehensive comparison tool provides key data including tuition costs, acceptance rates, financial aid, graduation rates, and enrollment statistics to help you make informed decisions about your higher education:

  • Average Tuition & Fees: HBCUs charge $7,719 for in-state students and $16,249 for out-of-state students on average for undergraduate programs.
  • Graduate Program Costs: Average graduate tuition & fees for HBCUs is $11,324 for in-state graduate students and $17,570 for out-of-state graduate students.
  • Admission Statistics: HBCUs have moderately selective admissions, with an average acceptance rate of 68.37% and an average SAT score of 975 among accepted applicants.
  • Student Population: HBCUs enroll an average of 3,013 students across all programs.
  • Graduation Success Rate: Students at HBCUs complete their degrees at an average rate of 31.70%, with institutions working to improve retention and graduation outcomes.

Use our detailed college comparison tables below to evaluate HBCUs side-by-side. Compare tuition and fees, financial aid packages, admission requirements, student-to-faculty ratios, and graduation outcomes to identify the best college that matches your educational needs and budget. Start comparing colleges now to make the right choice for your future.

Key Statistics & Highlights

Here are the highest and lowest statistics among Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs):

Statistic Average Highest Lowest
Tuition & Fees$16,249Howard University
$35,810		Coahoma Community College
$3,490
Graduate Tuition & Fees$17,570Howard University
$39,178		Selma University
$4,800
Enrollment3,013 studentsSt Philip's College
17,299 students		American Baptist College
46 students
Acceptance Rate68.37%Simmons College of Kentucky
100.00%		Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
20.56%
SAT Score975Fisk University
1,420		Alcorn State University
840

Comparison between all Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)

The following table compares 101 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) with tuition and important admission statistics. You can sort the table to find top-ranked schools in the indicator (column) by clicking/touching a column that you want to sort. Note again, "*" symbol next to certain institutions in below table indicates that the school is newly classified in 2025.

Tuition Comparison Table between Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
School NameStateDegree OfferedTuition & FeesAverage Financial AidAcceptance RatePopulationGraduation RateStudent to Faculty Ratio
Alabama A & M University four-year, public ALDoctorate
Master's
Bachelor's		$18,634 ($10,024) $12,495 258% 7,295 24% 19 to 1
Alabama State University four-year, public ALDoctorate
Master's
Bachelor's		$19,576 ($11,248) $10,569 298% 4,081 30% 15 to 1
Albany State University four-year, public GAMaster's
Bachelor's
Associate		$17,008 ($5,656) $7,550 - 6,768 31% 21 to 1
Alcorn State University four-year, public MSDoctorate
Master's
Bachelor's
Associate		$8,785 ($8,785) $10,544 245% 2,995 57% 16 to 1
Allen University four-year, private SCDoctorate
Master's
Bachelor's
Associate		$14,304 $13,454 273% 610 13% 12 to 1
American Baptist College four-year, private TNBachelor's
Associate		$13,604 $9,664 - 46 39% 5 to 1
Arkansas Baptist College four-year, private ARBachelor's
Associate		$8,760 $6,091 - 342 7% 13 to 1
Benedict College four-year, private SCMaster's
Bachelor's		$17,748 $15,364 296% 1,691 24% 13 to 1
Bennett College four-year, private NCBachelor's$19,140 $21,098 251% 180 25% 7 to 1
Bethune-Cookman University four-year, private FLMaster's
Bachelor's		$14,794 $15,194 288% 2,853 31% 17 to 1
Bishop State Community College 2-4 year, public ALAssociate$9,210 ($5,340) $4,244 - 4,001 36% 17 to 1
Bluefield State University four-year, public WVMaster's
Bachelor's
Associate		$18,376 ($10,648) $10,063 297% 1,141 37% 13 to 1
Bowie State University four-year, public MDDoctorate
Master's
Bachelor's		$19,938 ($9,218) $6,216 272% 6,353 38% 15 to 1
Central State University four-year, public OHMaster's
Bachelor's		$10,058 ($8,058) $7,074 299% 2,708 23% 16 to 1
Cheyney University of Pennsylvania four-year, public PABachelor's$18,870 ($10,904) $13,124 - 617 41% 15 to 1
Claflin University four-year, private SCMaster's
Bachelor's		$17,046 $16,015 265% 1,852 52% 13 to 1
Clark Atlanta University four-year, private GADoctorate
Master's
Bachelor's		$28,310 $14,599 264% 4,252 49% 16 to 1
Clinton College four-year, private SCBachelor's
Associate		$11,136 $9,534 - 126 14% 10 to 1
Coahoma Community College 2-4 year, public MSAssociate$3,490 ($3,490) $5,748 - 1,633 41% 17 to 1
Coppin State University four-year, public MDDoctorate
Master's
Bachelor's		$14,024 ($7,100) $10,592 246% 2,210 26% 12 to 1
Delaware State University four-year, public DEDoctorate
Master's
Bachelor's
Associate		$20,634 ($10,670) $13,619 247% 5,327 39% 17 to 1
Denmark Technical College 2-4 year, public SCAssociate$11,955 ($6,315) $2,690 - 675 13% 15 to 1
Dillard University four-year, private LAMaster's
Bachelor's		$22,734 $18,735 242% 1,080 43% 14 to 1
Edward Waters University four-year, private FLMaster's
Bachelor's		$16,366 $13,258 285% 1,177 28% 14 to 1
Elizabeth City State University four-year, public NCMaster's
Bachelor's		$10,536 ($6,536) $8,908 264% 2,258 44% 19 to 1
Fayetteville State University four-year, public NCDoctorate
Master's
Bachelor's		$8,353 ($4,353) $6,627 282% 7,107 38% 20 to 1
Fisk University four-year, private TNMaster's
Bachelor's
Associate		$25,858 $26,079 237% 1,059 30% 12 to 1
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University four-year, public FLDoctorate
Master's
Bachelor's
Associate		$17,725 ($5,785) $10,096 221% 9,313 53% 14 to 1
Florida Memorial University four-year, private FLMaster's
Bachelor's		$20,174 $13,476 285% 1,277 31% 17 to 1
Fort Valley State University four-year, public GAMaster's
Bachelor's		$16,878 ($5,526) $9,507 266% 2,897 41% 21 to 1
Gadsden State Community College 2-4 year, public ALAssociate$7,368 ($4,272) $4,462 - 5,071 38% 17 to 1
Grambling State University four-year, public LADoctorate
Master's
Bachelor's		$16,706 ($7,683) $8,945 245% 5,150 36% 25 to 1
H Councill Trenholm State Community College 2-4 year, public ALAssociate$9,060 ($5,190) $4,996 - 2,046 16% 16 to 1
Hampton University four-year, private VADoctorate
Master's
Bachelor's
Associate		$30,592 $18,630 262% 4,244 57% 15 to 1
Harris-Stowe State University four-year, public MOBachelor's$11,640 ($7,008) $11,231 - 1,002 28% 12 to 1
Howard University four-year, private DCDoctorate
Master's
Bachelor's		$35,810 $21,995 241% 14,890 70% 13 to 1
Huston-Tillotson University four-year, private TXMaster's
Bachelor's
Associate		$26,709 $6,878 239% 1,059 34% 14 to 1
Interdenominational Theological Center four-year, private GADoctorate
Master's		$15,246 - - 60 - -
J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College 2-4 year, public ALAssociate$9,060 ($5,190) $4,961 - 1,187 14% 13 to 1
Jackson State University four-year, public MSDoctorate
Master's
Bachelor's		$11,965 ($8,965) $8,235 293% 6,326 51% 14 to 1
Jarvis Christian University four-year, private TXMaster's
Bachelor's
Associate		$11,720 $12,693 - 622 15% 10 to 1
Johnson C Smith University four-year, private NCMaster's
Bachelor's		$21,300 $16,611 245% 1,302 34% 12 to 1
Kentucky State University four-year, public KYDoctorate
Master's
Bachelor's
Associate		$13,578 ($9,387) $9,825 296% 2,020 32% 10 to 1
Lane College four-year, private TNBachelor's
Associate		$11,790 $11,608 - 738 18% 15 to 1
Langston University four-year, public OKDoctorate
Master's
Bachelor's
Associate		$14,616 ($6,863) $11,746 - 1,937 17% 17 to 1
Lawson State Community College 2-4 year, public ALAssociate$8,910 ($5,040) $5,639 - 3,453 27% 19 to 1
Le Moyne-Owen College four-year, private TNBachelor's
Associate		$12,076 $13,259 299% 659 27% 10 to 1
Lincoln University four-year, public MOMaster's
Bachelor's
Associate		$17,692 ($9,796) $7,810 - 2,054 21% 11 to 1
Lincoln University four-year, public PAMaster's
Bachelor's		$19,384 ($12,512) $12,423 266% 1,670 44% 12 to 1
Livingstone College four-year, private NCMaster's
Bachelor's
Associate		$18,296 $14,693 259% 936 28% 14 to 1
Meharry Medical College four-year, private TNDoctorate
Master's		- - - 1,226 - -
Miles College four-year, private ALBachelor's$13,314 $11,013 - 1,180 16% 12 to 1
Mississippi Valley State University four-year, public MSMaster's
Bachelor's		$7,692 ($7,692) $8,254 292% 2,205 27% 13 to 1
Morehouse College four-year, private GABachelor's$32,893 $19,731 244% 2,847 59% 14 to 1
Morehouse School of Medicine four-year, private GADoctorate
Master's		- - - 967 - -
Morgan State University four-year, public MDDoctorate
Master's
Bachelor's		$19,124 ($8,229) $9,858 282% 10,739 41% 18 to 1
Morris Brown College four-year, private GABachelor's$9,718 $7,463 - 432 25% 17 to 1
Morris College four-year, private SCBachelor's$16,664 $7,450 - 383 17% 10 to 1
Norfolk State University four-year, public VADoctorate
Master's
Bachelor's
Associate		$21,682 ($10,180) $12,969 288% 6,053 38% 15 to 1
North Carolina A & T State University four-year, public NCDoctorate
Master's
Bachelor's		$20,673 ($6,813) $10,685 250% 14,311 57% 20 to 1
North Carolina Central University four-year, public NCDoctorate
Master's
Bachelor's		$19,735 ($6,699) $11,314 287% 8,579 42% 16 to 1
Oakwood University four-year, private ALMaster's
Bachelor's
Associate		$22,512 $14,369 245% 1,226 45% 14 to 1
Paine College four-year, private GABachelor's$14,596 $8,437 295% 390 14% 11 to 1
Paul Quinn College four-year, private TXMaster's
Bachelor's		$13,498 $7,703 240% 628 27% 20 to 1
Philander Smith University four-year, private ARMaster's
Bachelor's		$13,014 $12,496 - 780 30% 11 to 1
Prairie View A & M University four-year, public TXDoctorate
Master's
Bachelor's		$26,874 ($11,299) $9,220 279% 9,922 43% 17 to 1
Rust College four-year, private MSBachelor's
Associate		$13,265 $12,526 249% 467 12% 10 to 1
Saint Augustine's University four-year, private NCMaster's
Bachelor's		$16,896 $14,093 234% 175 25% 10 to 1
Savannah State University four-year, public GAMaster's
Bachelor's
Associate		$19,043 ($5,750) $9,740 - 3,193 28% 21 to 1
Selma University four-year, private ALMaster's
Bachelor's
Associate		$4,800 $1,398 - 95 6% 3 to 1
Shaw University four-year, private NCMaster's
Bachelor's		$17,738 $15,006 280% 964 22% 14 to 1
Shelton State Community College 2-4 year, public ALAssociate$8,997 ($5,127) $3,360 - 4,601 30% 18 to 1
Shorter College 2-4 year, private ARAssociate$6,246 $8,365 - 287 13% 16 to 1
Simmons College of Kentucky four-year, private KYMaster's
Bachelor's
Associate		$16,398 $10,964 2100% 506 14% 10 to 1
South Carolina State University four-year, public SCDoctorate
Master's
Bachelor's		$21,750 ($11,060) $12,189 283% 3,242 37% 19 to 1
Southern University and A & M College four-year, public LADoctorate
Master's
Bachelor's		$17,272 ($9,922) $8,290 235% 8,279 27% 21 to 1
Southern University at New Orleans four-year, public LAMaster's
Bachelor's
Associate		$16,954 ($8,054) $7,863 279% 2,468 13% 13 to 1
Southern University at Shreveport 2-4 year, public LAAssociate$4,958 ($4,958) $5,819 - 2,951 10% 22 to 1
Southwestern Christian College four-year, private TXBachelor's
Associate		$14,638 $12,144 - 110 3% 15 to 1
Spelman College four-year, private GABachelor's$31,556 $16,546 225% 3,417 78% 11 to 1
St Philip's College four-year, public TXBachelor's
Associate		$9,952 ($5,542) $4,777 - 17,299 28% 25 to 1
Stillman College four-year, private ALBachelor's$12,126 $11,124 262% 731 25% 13 to 1
Talladega College four-year, private ALMaster's
Bachelor's
Associate		$15,650 $13,549 285% 760 31% 17 to 1
Tennessee State University four-year, public TNDoctorate
Master's
Bachelor's
Associate		$22,416 ($8,616) $13,650 270% 6,310 34% 13 to 1
Texas College four-year, private TXBachelor's
Associate		$10,008 $10,018 - 614 14% 17 to 1
Texas Southern University four-year, public TXDoctorate
Master's
Bachelor's		$21,473 ($8,637) $8,193 297% 8,704 22% 19 to 1
Tougaloo College four-year, private MSMaster's
Bachelor's
Associate		$12,407 $6,803 260% 1,301 33% 9 to 1
Tuskegee University four-year, private ALDoctorate
Master's
Bachelor's		$25,386 $23,740 249% 3,121 55% 14 to 1
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff four-year, public ARDoctorate
Master's
Bachelor's
Associate		$17,955 ($9,375) $12,409 241% 2,005 40% 12 to 1
University of Maryland Eastern Shore four-year, public MDDoctorate
Master's
Bachelor's		$20,122 ($9,076) $10,907 296% 3,177 35% 11 to 1
University of the District of Columbia four-year, public DCDoctorate
Master's
Bachelor's
Associate		$12,514 ($5,662) $4,974 - 4,202 33% 8 to 1
University of the Virgin Islands four-year, public VIDoctorate
Master's
Bachelor's
Associate		$16,557 ($5,957) $8,753 299% 1,792 28% 10 to 1
Virginia State University four-year, public VADoctorate
Master's
Bachelor's		$22,650 ($10,043) $15,647 289% 5,605 39% 13 to 1
Virginia Union University four-year, private VADoctorate
Master's
Bachelor's		$17,830 $16,146 298% 1,646 34% 16 to 1
Virginia University of Lynchburg four-year, private VADoctorate
Master's
Bachelor's
Associate		$9,248 $9,455 - 581 38% 15 to 1
Voorhees University four-year, private SCDoctorate
Master's
Bachelor's		$12,630 $12,711 - 578 43% 13 to 1
West Virginia State University four-year, public WVDoctorate
Master's
Bachelor's		$14,990 ($9,570) $10,186 296% 3,246 39% 13 to 1
Wilberforce University four-year, private OHMaster's
Bachelor's		$16,448 $14,718 241% 838 12% 12 to 1
Wiley University four-year, private TXMaster's
Bachelor's
Associate		$12,500 $11,626 - 783 24% 18 to 1
Winston-Salem State University four-year, public NCDoctorate
Master's
Bachelor's		$16,782 ($6,126) $9,813 278% 4,782 47% 15 to 1
Xavier University of Louisiana four-year, private LADoctorate
Master's
Bachelor's		$28,979 $20,306 269% 3,218 49% 11 to 1