It’s that time of year again! It’s time to gather round and see which school gets to bring home the bragging rights because the 2022-2023 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges list has been published and we’re announcing the top five Historically Black Colleges and Universities
For these rankings, HBCUs were solely compared with one another and to be included, an institution must presently be designated by the U.S. Department of Education as an HBCU. An HBCU is defined by the Higher Education Act of 1965 as “any historically Black college or university that was established prior to 1964, whose principal mission was, and is, the education of Black Americans, and that is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association determined by the Secretary (of Education) to be a reliable authority as to the quality of training offered or is, according to such an agency or association, making reasonable progress toward accreditation.”
To be considered for the U.S. News rankings, an HBCU is also required to be an undergraduate baccalaureate-granting institution enrolling primarily first-year, first-time students and must also be a school that is part of the 2022-2023 Best Colleges rankings.
With over 100 HBCUs all across the United States today, 77 of which were eligible to be ranked, they are deemed pillars of the community, primarily among minorities. The colleges highlighted on the list exhibit the leaders relating to the social and economic mobility they make available to their students. With low student-to-faculty ratios, they have higher than standard graduation rates.
Check out who topped the list below.
1. Spelman College - Atlanta, GA
Founded in 1881, Spelman College is a private historically Black, women’s liberal arts college. In the fall 2021, the school had an undergraduate enrollment of 2,417. Some of the college’s most noteworthy graduates are
Stacey Abrams, Marian Wright Edelman, Bernice King, and Keshia Knight Pulliam. Famed writer Alice Walker also spent her first two years of college at Spelman.
Spelman’s ranking in the 2022-2023 National Liberal Arts Colleges edition of Best Colleges is #51.
2. Howard University - Washington, DC
Back again for another year at the #2 spot is Howard University. This private institution was founded in 1867 and had a total undergraduate enrollment of 8,964 in fall 2021.
According to TopRNtoBSN, Howard University offers the top HBCU nursing program in the country and ranks in the 2022-2023 edition of Best Colleges in National Universities at #89.
3. Tuskegee University - Tuskegee, AL
Ranked at #3 is Tuskegee University, founded in 1881 by Booker T. Washington.
This private historically Black university is designated as the Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site by the National Park Service. It is the only college or university campus in the entire country to be designated a National Historic Site by Congress.
Rich in Black history, you can find the graves of Booker T. Washington and George Washington Carver, who was an alum of Tuskeegee University, at the campus. Tuskegee University was also home to World War II’s Tuskegee Airmen.
4. Morehouse College - Atlanta, GA
Founded in 1867, Morehouse College is the only all-male historically Black four-year liberal arts institution in the country.
Martin Luther King, Jr. is just one of the notable alumnus of this prestigious college. Other V.I.P alum include Samuel L. Jackson, Spike Lee, PJ Morton, John David Washington, Jeh Johnson and Bakari Sellers.
5. Xavier University of Louisiana - New Orleans, LA
A “younger” HBCU, Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans (not to be confused with the Xavier University, the predominantly white institution in Cincinnati, OH) was founded in 1925. It is also the only Catholic HBCU.
Earlier this year, the XULA Gold Rush cheer squad took home the 2022 NAIA National Championship Competitive Cheer trophy with the highest point ranking in NAIA history. Aside for this being a first-time victory for the school, XULA also became the first HBCU to win the national championship title in competitive cheer.
