The nomination of Howard University graduate Kamala Harris for president has brought new attention to historically Black colleges and universities, or HBCUs, in the United States.
The oldest HBCUs have been in existence for over 150 years, and HBCUs continue to play an important role in the U.S. higher education landscape. As of fall 2022 – the latest semester with available data – there were 99 HBCUs nationwide, and they collectively enrolled just under 290,000 students, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
Congress defines HBCUs as accredited institutions of higher education that were founded before 1964 and have a primary mission to educate Black students. However, not all students who attend HBCUs today are Black.
Read more at Pew Research Center.
