Best U.S. HBCUs
There are 47 historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in the U.S., schools established to educate Black students when segregation shut them out of most colleges. Today they remain leaders in affordability, student support, and cultural community, and they welcome students of all backgrounds.
Leading our 2027 rankings is Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia, ranked #271 nationally. Also highly ranked: Howard University, Xavier University of Louisiana and Fisk University.
Compare tuition, enrollment, acceptance rates, and majors across every HBCU below. Rankings follow the CollegeSimply methodology, blending academics, cost, outcomes, and selectivity. Filter by state or sort by what matters most to you.
List of HBCUs
Spelman College
- Private 4 Year
- Atlanta, GA
-
5.0 | 2 reviews
- Feb 1 application deadline
Spelman is a highly selective historically Black women's college known for undergraduate sciences and the liberal arts. Most undergrads live on the residential campus in Atlanta's West End, part of the Atlanta University Center.
- SAT Range 1108-1320
- Avg GPA 3.75
- Acceptance Rate 25%
- Net Price $40,354
Howard University
- Private 4 Year
- Washington, DC
-
4.8 | 4 reviews
- Feb 15 application deadline
Howard is a private historically Black university known for undergraduate communications, political science, and business. The urban campus sits in Washington's Shaw neighborhood.
- SAT Range 1090-1320
- Avg GPA 3.66
- Acceptance Rate 41%
- Net Price $33,368
Xavier University of Louisiana
- Private 4 Year
- New Orleans, LA
-
| 0 reviews
- Jul 1 application deadline
Xavier University of Louisiana is a private Catholic HBCU known for undergraduate pharmacy, biology, and chemistry. The urban campus sits in New Orleans.
- SAT Range 950-1113
- Avg GPA 3.7
- Acceptance Rate 69%
- Net Price $17,162
Fisk University
- Private 4 Year
- Nashville, TN
-
| 0 reviews
- Aug 1 application deadline
Fisk is a private historically Black university known for undergraduate natural sciences and music. The historic urban campus sits in Nashville and is closely tied to the Fisk Jubilee Singers.
- SAT Range 1140-1510
- Avg GPA 3.1
- Acceptance Rate 37%
- Net Price $18,595
Tuskegee University
- Private 4 Year
- Tuskegee, AL
-
4.0 | 5 reviews
- Apr 15 application deadline
Tuskegee is a private university known for undergraduate engineering, nursing, and veterinary science. The rural campus is a historic HBCU in Alabama.
- SAT Range 995-1255
- Avg GPA 3.1
- Acceptance Rate 49%
- Net Price $24,344
Hampton University
- Private 4 Year
- Hampton, VA
-
3.8 | 6 reviews
- Mar 1 application deadline
Hampton is a private HBCU known for undergraduate journalism, business, and nursing. The waterfront campus sits along the Hampton River near the Chesapeake Bay.
- SAT Range 790-1090
- Avg GPA 3.3
- Acceptance Rate 62%
- Net Price $27,428
Coppin State University
- Public 4 Year
- Baltimore, MD
-
| 0 reviews
- Jul 15 application deadline
Coppin State is a public historically Black university known for undergraduate nursing and teacher education. The urban campus sits in west Baltimore.
- SAT Range 880-1020
- Avg GPA 2.62
- Acceptance Rate 46%
- Net Price $9,831
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
- Public 4 Year
- Tallahassee, FL
-
5.0 | 3 reviews
- May 1 application deadline
FAMU is a public HBCU known for undergraduate pharmacy, business, and engineering. The campus is located in Florida's capital city of Tallahassee.
- SAT Range 1030-1180
- Avg GPA 3.65
- Acceptance Rate 21%
- Net Price $13,819
Bowie State University
- Public 4 Year
- Bowie, MD
-
3.0 | 1 reviews
- May 15 application deadline
Bowie State is a public HBCU known for undergraduate education and nursing. The suburban campus sits between Baltimore and Washington, D.C.
- SAT Range 796-1083
- Avg GPA 3.12
- Acceptance Rate 72%
- Net Price $17,287
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
- Public 4 Year
- Pine Bluff, AR
-
| 0 reviews
UAPB is a public historically Black university known for undergraduate aquaculture and agriculture. Students study on a residential campus in Pine Bluff in southeastern Arkansas.
- SAT Range 845-1108
- Avg GPA 2.9
- Acceptance Rate 41%
- Net Price $12,373
Winston Salem State University
- Public 4 Year
- Winston-Salem, NC
-
| 0 reviews
- Feb 15 application deadline
Winston-Salem State is a public historically Black university known for undergraduate nursing and health sciences. The urban campus is part of the University of North Carolina system.
- SAT Range 830-1020
- Avg GPA 3.01
- Acceptance Rate 78%
- Net Price $12,989
University of Maryland Eastern Shore
- Public 4 Year
- Princess Anne, MD
-
| 0 reviews
- Jun 1 application deadline
UMES is a public historically Black university known for undergraduate agriculture, aviation science, and hospitality management. The rural campus is located in the small town of Princess Anne on Maryland's Eastern Shore.
- SAT Range 840-1010
- Avg GPA 3.07
- Acceptance Rate 96%
- Net Price $13,311
Tougaloo College
- Private 4 Year
- Tougaloo, MS
-
| 0 reviews
Tougaloo is a private historically Black liberal arts college known for undergraduate programs in the sciences and social sciences. The historic campus just outside Jackson was a key site in the Civil Rights Movement.
- SAT Range 790-1090
- Avg GPA 2.8
- Acceptance Rate 60%
- Net Price $14,328
Virginia State University
- Public 4 Year
- Petersburg, VA
-
| 0 reviews
- May 1 application deadline
Virginia State is a public historically Black university known for undergraduate agriculture, education, and business. The historic campus is in Petersburg near Richmond.
- SAT Range 840-1070
- Avg GPA 2.85
- Acceptance Rate 89%
- Net Price $17,840
Delaware State University
- Public 4 Year
- Dover, DE
-
| 0 reviews
- Feb 1 application deadline
Delaware State is a public historically Black university known for undergraduate aviation and agriculture. The main campus is in Dover, Delaware's capital city.
- SAT Range 800-1020
- Avg GPA 3.09
- Acceptance Rate 47%
- Net Price $13,953
North Carolina A & T State University
- Public 4 Year
- Greensboro, NC
-
4.0 | 1 reviews
- Jun 1 application deadline
NC A&T is a large public HBCU known for undergraduate engineering and agriculture. The urban campus is in Greensboro.
- SAT Range 1020-1190
- Avg GPA 3.61
- Acceptance Rate 50%
- Net Price $10,097
Elizabeth City State University
- Public 4 Year
- Elizabeth City, NC
-
| 0 reviews
- Jun 30 application deadline
ECSU is a public HBCU known for undergraduate aviation and teacher education. The campus is in the small coastal city of Elizabeth City in northeastern North Carolina.
- SAT Range 920-1080
- Avg GPA 3.16
- Acceptance Rate 64%
- Net Price $6,483
Johnson C Smith University
- Private 4 Year
- Charlotte, NC
-
4.5 | 2 reviews
Johnson C. Smith is a private historically Black university known for undergraduate business, computer science, and social work. The compact urban campus sits in Charlotte's historic West End.
- SAT Range 800-980
- Avg GPA 2.48
- Acceptance Rate 45%
- Net Price $19,705