Which HBCU Should I Go To?
With many Historically Black Colleges and Universities to choose from, there are several considerations when deciding where to go. Some important factors include tuition, size of the school, the setting and location, and the acceptance rate. The following chart compares the top five HBCU’s in the U.S.:
|
|
Spelman College |
Howard University |
Xavier University of LA |
Hampton University |
Morehouse College |
|
Tuition |
$28,181 |
$28,916 |
$26,398 |
$29,287 |
$29,468 |
|
Male (M) vs. female (F) |
100% female |
28% M vs. 72% F |
23% M vs. 77% F |
34% M vs. 66% F |
100% male |
|
Starting Salary |
$50,200 |
$52,900 |
$40,200 |
$52,600 |
$51,400 |
|
Setting |
Urban |
Urban |
Urban |
Urban |
Urban |
|
Undergrad Enrollment |
2,207 |
10,859 |
3,384 |
3,063 |
2,152 |
|
Acceptance Rate |
53% |
39% |
81% |
36% |
74% |
|
Graduation Rate (4yrs). |
65% |
52% |
35% |
41% |
42% |
|
Location/Climate |
Georgia/ warm |
Washington D.C./ moderate |
Louisiana/warm |
Virginia/ moderate |
Georgia/ warm |
These HBCU’s have very similar tuition rates and are all located in urban areas but differ in other factors, as indicated by the chart.
The Top 5 HBCU Schools Accolades
These are not the only factors to be considered, however. The best HBCU schools each have several characteristics for which they stand out for on a national scale, according to U.S. News and World Report:
Spelman College: #54 Liberal Arts Colleges and #90 Best Value.
Howard University: #83 National Universities and #22 Best Undergraduate Teaching.
Xavier University of Louisiana: #15 Regional Universities South and #9 Best Undergraduate Teaching.
Hampton University: #202 National Universities and #4 Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
Morehouse College: #128 Liberal Arts Colleges and #42 Most Innovative Schools
Which HBCU Should I Choose?
All of the Top 5 HBCU’s provide a high-quality education so the choice on where to go will depend on which factors are most important to the student. For example, the acceptance rate for Xavier University of Louisiana is much higher than that of Hampton University so that may be an important consideration for a student. The size of the school is often another key factor. Howard University is much larger than the other schools on the list. Those looking for a liberal arts school might gravitate toward Spelman College or Morehouse College. Ultimately, the student should list which factors are critical and then choose the school that best fits the criteria.
