U.S. News and World Report recently issued its annual rankings of the best colleges and universities in the United States. In addition to its rankings of the best national universities and liberal arts colleges, the magazine ranks regional colleges and universities and also the nation’s historically Black colleges and universities.
For the nineteenth consecutive year, Spelman College in Atlanta was ranked as the best HBCU in the United States. Howard University in Washington, D.C., was ranked second, the same rank as last year. Morehouse College in Atlanta took third place, up from fifth place last year. Tuskegee University in Alabama was ranked fourth and Florida A&M University was ranked fifth; last year these schools tied for third place. Spelman, Howard, Morehouse, Tuskegee, and FAMU were also the top five HBCUs two years ago.
Other HBCUs in the top 10 are:
6. Xavier University of Louisiana (same as last year)
7. Hampton University in Virginia (same as last year)
8. North Carolina A&T State University (same as last year)
9. Morgan State University in Baltimore (up from tenth place)
10. Delaware State University (down from ninth place)
Top-ranked Spelman College tied for the 37th-best liberal arts school in the country, up from 40th place last year and 39th place two years ago. Spelman is also among the nation’s top seven women’s colleges. Howard University tied for the 88th-best national university, down from 86th place last year, but up significantly from 115th place two years ago.
I’m sick and tired of these damn HBCUs still seeking validation from White organizations such the racist a*s U.S. News and World Report. As a result, the neoliberal upper echelon administrators from the HBCUs will be using this questionable rating as a damn baseline to boast amongst themselves all the while still virtually non-existent to most Black Americans and especially White, Latino, and Asian American.
In other words, HBCUs should aspire to be known for serious academic rigor and not your proverbial “rowdy and wasteful” annual Homecoming along with the “Shuckin n Jivin” 21st century Amos n Andy “Step Shows”, Crime on/near Campus, and administrative malfeasance.
Is it possible that you might express your opinion without resorting to what we commonly call “curse words” or without what seems to be mean-spiritedness? Nevertheless, if you intend to be offensive, then keep on doing you! You have the same right to self-determination as everybody else, including HBCUs!
Who is this suggesting that HBCUs are not known for serious academic rigor? Friend, there are many HBCUs meeting the mark. Of course, because HBCUs operate in a nation that is overwhelmingly white and are viewed through that lens, we have an uphill climb. You see, having an academic ranking of HBCUs is not even desirable to some. A great homecoming is something to behold!
Are you kidding me “My Dear”. HBCUs are not known for serious academic rigor across this country. Hell, the majority of native born Black American students never heard of HBCUs even in 2025. Case in point, we only have ONE HBCU that has the coveted RI out of an estimated 105 HBCUs. The sum total of your misguided comment is very indicative of being an ole higher education fart who’s utterly clueless. In other words, HBCUs should expend the same amount of energy and resources as they do for the Tom Foolery Homing’s as they do in delivering high quality services (i.e., public safety, food quality, housing, efficient financial aid services, etc.) to faculty, staff, and students. Finally, I just bet you’re one of those ole HBCUs farts who holds membership to one of those buffoonish so-called BGLOs (remember, native born Black Americans can NEVER be GREEK), OES, PHAM, etc. all the while mired in colorism, nepotism, and groupism. Give me a break “Johns Son”.