Студенты-афроамериканцы выбирают исторически черные вузы рекордными темпами

For the first time in recent history, Black students around the country are choosing to attend historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in record numbers. Now, as the conversation around HBCUs continues to shift, enrollment numbers suggest many of the nation’s Black colleges are giving some of the country’s most selective institutions of higher learning a run for their money. Suggested Reading Across the country, flagship HBCUs are reporting record enrollment, stronger freshman academic profiles and unprecedented competition for admission. Experts say the major realignment is a consequence of political tension and financial instability burdening many Black households. For Black colleges trying to meet the growing demands of Black students, this shift is momentous. North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NCAT) offers one of the clearest examples. Enrollment at the nation’s largest HBCU surpassed 15,200 students this fall, becoming the first HBCU to register more than 15,000 students, according to the NCAT Fall Census Report. University officials reported an average 3.7 GPA among incoming first-year students, while freshmen arriving from outside North Carolina posted an average 3.93 GPA. School officials say this is evidence that high-achieving students are crossing state lines specifically to attend the university en masse, despite political pressure designed to hurt HBCUs. RELATED: There’s a New King of the HBCUs, and the Numbers Say It’s Florida A&M We previously told you all about President Donald Trump’s anti-diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts that have left many Black institutions vulnerable. The 2025 memo ending DEI initiatives came only two years following the landmark Supreme Court decision to end race-conscious college admissions, which some predicted would mean an end to the rise of HBCUs. Instead, it seems Black students have doubled down on their dreams of higher education at a Black institution. At Atlanta’s Spelman College, growing demand has translated into elite selectivity. The college received more than 11,500 applications for the Class of 2029 and admitted just 23.5% of applicants, according to Spelman College’s Class Profile Announcement. This places its acceptance rate alongside many nationally recognized selective institutions like the University of Miami (18% acceptance) or the University of California, San Diego (28.4% acceptance). Many Black students are prioritizing campuses where they feel a stronger sense of belonging and community. An April analysis by KOLUMN Magazine described the trend as an “HBCU surge,” arguing that many top-performing Black students are intentionally choosing HBCUs over predominantly white institutions (PWIs). Morehouse College is seeing a similar trend to its Atlanta sister school. According to the Morehouse College Academic Profiles & Competitiveness Report, the institution welcomed one of its largest and most academically competitive incoming classes, drawing from more than 7,000 applications while enrolling students with an average high school GPA of 3.7. As more Black students take their talents to HBCUs, PWIs like Harvard University have reported a drop in Black and Hispanic enrollment, suggesting a large rift in the educational fabric between Black students and white colleges. The Root also told you about the nation’s 15 largest HBCUs, where enrollment continues to climb. But the numbers suggest this moment is about more than growth. It’s about who is filling those classrooms. Despite housing and historical underfunding challenges– which we also reported on— Black students remain diligent in taking their perfect GPAs and hefty resumes to Black spaces. Now, the challenge facing many HBCUs is no longer convincing students to enroll– it’s finding enough space for a new generation of scholars determined to build their futures at institutions created with them specifically in mind. Straight From Sign up for our free daily newsletter.