It’s been four weeks of historical information and modern insight into Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs): their innovative programs, services, and partnerships they’ve cultivated to help their students succeed. Yet all of this means
nothing if we don’t share with you how to make these schools a reality for your students.
Scouting and Applying
The US Department of Education’s College Navigator Tool is a great resource for comparing HBCUs by majors offered, locations, cost, etc. This tool will be updated as federal
changes happen, so we recommend adding it to your college search toolbox.
Over the past several years, how students apply to college has changed. Currently, 67 HBCUs are now utilizing the Common Black College Application, a tool like the Common Application but
specifically to help students apply to HBCUs. Some institutions, like Bethune Cookman University and Kentucky State University, are members of the Common Black College Application. Students applying through the Common Black College Application can
choose four top schools to receive their materials, but it also makes students’ applications available to all its member institutions, thus increasing the odds of a student being accepted into college for one flat application fee.
Any HBCU alum will tell you visiting the campus solidified their decision to attend their alma mater. HBCU tours are a great way to see multiple schools at once and explore campus before committing. Local chapters of the National Urban League (see the
Nebraska chapter's 2023 tour here), the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), and
the
Shawn Carter Foundation offer HBCU tours.
Finding the Funds: Scholarships
Alright, so we’ve made our list of schools, we’ve applied, been accepted, but how do we pay for it?
UNCF and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) are two of the biggest scholarship networks for Black students seeking to pay for college. With its 37 HBCU members, UNCF has assisted students with finding over $5 billion in scholarships since 1944. Their scholarship search tool curates funding opportunities tailored specifically for Black students
with companies like Pepsi, Best Buy, and Disney. UNCF also offers free webinars highlighting various scholarships; the next session will be held in April.
TMCF’s mission serves 43 publicly supported HBCUs, including private HBCUs who receive federal appropriations, like Howard University. TMCF partners with
entities like GEICO and American Airlines to bring students funding opportunities. Founded in 1987, TMCF has awarded more than $300 million in scholarships specifically to HBCU
students.
The
Congressional Black Caucus Foundation offers more than 300 scholarships annually to Black students in a wide range of majors. The CBC Foundation’s HBCU National Racial Equity Initiative
for Social Justice Scholarship is a $10,000 award for students majoring in criminal justice, education, civil rights, or community and economic development.
Syndicated radio host and Tuskegee University alumnus Tom Joyner’s Foundation has awarded over $69 million since 1998, helping more than 32,000 students along the way. The Foundation’s
latest scholarship winner is a junior biology major at Howard named Hannah who was awarded $15,000. Tennessee State University alumna Oprah Winfrey’s charity,
the Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation, has created a four-year scholarship program, the Oprah Winfrey Leaders Scholarship. Of the 15 recipients, students at three HBCUs
were chosen from Tennessee State University, Howard University, and Charles Drew University.
While the bigger name funding sources might seem like the best route, looking locally may mean a smaller pool of scholarship applicants. National and local chapters of Black sororities and fraternities,
as well as National Pan Hellenic Chapters offer scholarships to ease the burden of education costs. These organizations were founded by African Americans in the early 20th century with an emphasis on service and scholarship. Of the nine organizations,
six were founded at HBCUs, including five at Howard and one at Morgan State University.
Leveraging the Network: Local Alumni
We talked about HBCU alumni a bit last week, but your city’s local alumni HBCU network can be an untapped resource
on the institutions your students are interested in. These organizations often provide scholarships and connections to key players on campus, but also a support system for connecting incoming students with upperclassmen from their hometowns to ensure
they persist and graduate.
Many major cities have an HBCU alumni collective to support both university recruitment and student persistence efforts. The Cleveland Council of Black College Alumni Association offers a full
year of college access programming to northeast Ohio students looking to pursue HBCUs. The Council's annual schedule of events includes their annual college fair held every November, a post acceptance letter strategy workshop, and a senior send off celebration. The Council consists of over 70 members representing more
than 20 HBCUs, and currently offers three scholarships.
I hope this HBCU series challenged you to look beyond preconceived notions, to see the outstanding legacies and potential of these institutions, while acknowledging their immense successes despite the obstacles. Sharing my Howard story with students back
home in Cleveland is what sparked my journey as a higher education advocate, and I’m so grateful for the doors my HBCU education has opened for me. In making diversity, equity, and inclusion a top priority, I urge you to support your students looking
to pursue HBCUs and make the introduction for those who may not have considered them. You never know who you’ll inspire.
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