Historically Black Colleges and Universities have been pivotal in providing educational opportunities for Black Americans since their inception over 150 years ago. A recent Pew Research Center report highlights a significant shift in enrollment patterns, which has implications for the future of HBCUs.
As of fall 2022, there were 99 HBCUs across the United States, collectively enrolling 290,000 students, according to data from the National Center for Education Statistics. This figure represents a 30% increase from 1976 when enrollment was just over 222,000. Enrollment peaked in 2010 at over 326,000 students, reflecting broader trends in U.S. higher education that saw total college enrollment soar during the same period. While overall college enrollment increased from about 11 million in 1976 to over 21 million in 2010, numbers have since receded, with approximately 18.6 million students enrolled in colleges as of 2022.
Despite the growth in overall enrollment figures at HBCUs, the demographic makeup of their student bodies has changed markedly. Between 1976 and 2022, the percentage of Black students attending HBCUs increased by 15%, significantly lower than the 117% rise in students of other racial and ethnic backgrounds who chose these institutions. Consequently, the proportion of Black HBCU students has declined from 85% in 1976 to 76% in 2022. (READ MORE)
