These 20 HBCUs excel at preparing graduates for long-term success, according to Forbes’ first rankings of Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
The lists rank 10 private and 10 public HBCUs using metrics centered on student outcomes and return on investment. Forbes used the same methodology for its 2026 America’s Top 500 Colleges, emphasizing retention and graduation rates, alumni salaries, student debt, and alumni who’ve recently made Forbes lists recognizing high achievers, 30 Under 30 and the Forbes 400.
Forbes top 10 private HBCUs of 2026
- Howard University
- Spelman College
- Morehouse College
- Xavier University of Louisiana
- Hampton University
- Tuskegee University
- Fisk University
- Talladega College
- Clark Atlanta University
- Tougaloo College
Forbes top 10 public HBCUs of 2026
- North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
- Florida A&M University
- Prairie View A&M University
- Morgan State University
- University of the Virgin Islands
- Tennessee State University
- Bowie State University
- Winston-Salem State University
- Elizabeth City State University
- Delaware State University
Howard University lands at No. 1 on the private HBCUs list due to its 90% retention rate, 69% 6-year graduation rate, and an early-career median pay of $70,600, among other factors.
The top public HBCU, North Carolina A&T State University, has a 77% retention rate, 55% 6-year graduation rate, and an early-career median pay of $68,700.
The rankinga coincides with a recent resurgence of applications and enrollment at some HBCUs, Forbes notes. The number of Black college students attending HBCUs fell to a record low of 8% in 2014, but some schools like Florida A&M University have nearly doubled their applications in the past few years, according to Forbes.
The publication attributes the schools’ renewed popularity to Black students seeking more belonging and connection in the wake of recent political turmoil and policy changes, such as the Supreme Court ending affirmative action in 2023 and the Trump Administration’s focus on dismantling DEI programs.
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