With the recent Supreme Court decision banning race-sensitive admissions in higher education, it was expected that many Black students would turn their attention to historically Black colleges and universities. Indeed, some HBCUs have seen impressive growth. Since the court’s decision came after most students had finalized plans for the current academic year, the trend may accelerate even further during next year’s admission cycle.
Here are some enrollment figures from HBCUs that have seen growth.
- Alabama A&M University increased its enrollments by 10.8 percent this year. Enrollments are up more than 32 percent over the past decade.
- Coppin State University in Baltimore saw a 5 percent increase in total enrollments, a 20 percent increase in new first-time students, and a 53 percent increase in new first-time graduate students.
- Elizabeth City State University‘s enrollments are the highest they have been in nine years.
- North Carolina Central University saw an increase in total enrollments of 5.5 percent.
- The class of 2027 at Fayetteville State University is the largest first-year, first-time freshman class since 2007, with more than 800 students.
- Edward Waters University has seen a 26 percent enrollment increase since 2019.
- Virginia Union University had a 31 percent surge in undergraduate enrollment compared to the previous academic year.