HBCU Enrollment Continues to Increases
By Ariyana Griffin
Published under YR Media
Historical Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have experienced an astronomical increase in enrollment and applications within recent years.
According to Forbes.com, “HBCU applications also spiked in 2017 following the election of Donald Trump, says Howard professor Robert Palmer, who has written dozens of books and papers on the Black college experience. “The literature suggests that the spike was because of the racism that was becoming clear and pronounced in society due to Trump,” he says. “Students chose to apply to HBCUs because they knew they would feel safe there.”
In addition, the increase of interest in HBCUs can also be credited to the reawakening of the Black Lives Matter Movement after George Floyd and Breonna Taylor were tragically murdered at the hands of the law. It was difficult to ignore the social injustices that the Black community faced. Stories could be found everywhere on social media, news outlets, and on the streets at large. People protested around the nation to fight and rallied for change which ignited prospective students to begin applying to historically Black institutions of higher learning in effort to be a part of that change.
According to Forbes.com, “Rutgers professor Marybeth Gasman, who has written more than 25 books on HBCUs, African American students and higher education, says that following the May 2020 murder of George Floyd, HBCU presidents have been posting on social media about how their institutions value, protect and respect Black students. “That respect is not guaranteed at predominantly white institutions,” she says.”
The face of the civil rights marches had no particular age range, but youth advocates unquestionably picked up the ball. Youth around the country led hundreds of marches and used their social media platforms to use their voice to express their concerns about injustices. One of the main messages amplified during the protests included encouragement about getting an education at an HBCU, a place where one is the majority and not the minority.
In recent years, Bowie State University applications have increased by 70%, Morgan State University has a 60% increase in undergraduate applications and Howard University has a 15% increase in enrollment.
HBCUs were founded after the Civil War and granted Black Americans a higher education that they were once denied. HBCUs pride themselves on community, scholarship and culture. According to the U.S. Department of Education, “HBCUs provided undergraduate training for 75% of all Black Americans holding a doctorate degree; 75% of all Black officers in the armed forces; and 80% of all Black federal judges.”
Some celebrities are even going back to school to attend college at HBCUs. Comedian/actor/rapper Nick Cannon graduated from Howard University in 2020 during the pandemic after initially enrolling in 2016 to further his education. Actor/comedian/game show host Anthony Anderson also plans to graduate from Howard University in 2022, alongside his son. Also, retired NBA star J.R. Smith attends North Carolina A&T, and even earned a 4.0 GPA during his first semester as an Aggie. Even though Smith has retired from basketball, he can not stay away from being an athlete for too long. He not only joined the Aggie’s golf team, but has recently completed a few tournaments.
Megan Thee Stallion walk across the stage in the fall semester of 2021 in front of thousand, she shared her virtual link so her fans could watch her commencement ceremony. Megan graduated from Texas Southern University with a bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Administration. The excitement of her achievement while maintaining superstardom has not gone unnoticed. The Health Administration program director Dr. Monica Rasmus explained that this has encouraged many one-time dropout students to return to get their degree in the program.
These are just of the many stories of celebrities going to HBCUs, but HBCUs also hold a long list of notable and respectable alumni including our Vice President Kamila Harris and Chadwick Boseman both Howard alumni and Spike Lee of Morehouse. The list goes on.
Historically Black Colleges and Universities tend to lack funding compared to Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs.) HBCUs have been receiving help fighting this issue due to large grants and donations. Philanthropist MacKennzie Scott has given at least $560 million to 23 Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Actors Samuel L. Jackson and his wife LaTanya Richardson Jackson, both Atlanta University Center alumni, gifted Spelman College $5 million. This is the largest donation an alumni has made to date.
Overall, there are many reasons why HBCUs are the place to be, whether it is wanting to be the majority, being involved in amazing programs and opportunities, experiencing the rich history, an African American based curriculum or networking, an HBCU is the place for you. Students who may need help applying should look into the Common Black College Application, where students can apply to over 60 HBCUs for 20 dollars.
