Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) began their history after the Civil War and were established as a practical way to subvert institutional segregation and provide African Americans with access to higher education. Predominantly in the American South, 101 HBCU are still in operation today.
Prominent HBCUs include Spelman College, Howard University, and Tuskegee University. Notable alumni from HBCUs list iconic American names like Martin Luther King, Jr., author Toni Morrison, Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, and Vice President Kamala Harris.
Keep reading to learn more about the best HBCU colleges and scholarship opportunities.
Methodology
Universities.com takes a data-first approach to ranking colleges and universities. Utilizing our college ranking algorithm and various metrics and data sets, specific focus areas include admissions, graduation rates, and financial resources. You can check out a deeper dive into our ranking methodology here.
Best HBCUs in Texas
1. Prairie View A&M University
Founded in 1876, Prairie View A&M University is a public HBCU based in Prairie View, Texas. Home to around 9,000 students, PVAM offers a wide variety of graduate and undergraduate programs, including a highly selective pre-med program. Long dedicated to STEM fields, PVAM also has a reputation for producing the most engineering and architecture students of any HBCU.
2. Huston-Tillotson University
A small private HBCU based in Austin, Huston-Tillotson University plays home to several undergraduate degrees spanning from the humanities to the natural sciences. In addition to offering specialized pre-law and pre-med programs, HTU also provides an engineering dual-degree program with Prairie View A&M University.
3. Texas Southern University
Based in Houston, Texas Southern University has over 10,000 students and is recognized as one of the most prominent HBCUs in the United States. Student-athletes compete at the Division I level, and TSU offers an expansive roster of undergraduate, graduate, professional, and online degree programs.
4. Wiley College
One of the oldest HBCUs west of the Mississippi river, Wiley College was founded in 1879 and is home to about 1500 students. Based in rural Marshall, Texas, Wiley College is historically linked to the Civil Rights Movement while also laying claim to being the first HBCU to win one of the nation’s most prominent debate competitions.
5. Paul Quinn College
This small, private Dallas-based HBCU was established in 1872. PQC offers a number of undergraduate academic programs, including religious studies, legal studies, and business administration. Students can also select a liberal arts degree with a path to Texas teacher certification. PQC is also home to the Urban Research Initiative, which takes an interdisciplinary approach to challenges facing urban areas.
6. St. Philip’s College
St. Philip’s College is a public, historically black community college serving students in the San Antonio area. Founded in 1898, SPC serves over 10,000 students and offers various academic and technical areas spanning from air conditioning and refrigeration to the culinary arts. SPC serves a wide variety of students and provides associate degrees, professional certificates, and continuing education programs.
7. Jarvis Christian College
Jarvis Christian College is a small private, Christian HBCU based in the East Texas town of Hawkins. Dating back to 1904, JCC began offering college-level courses in 1927. Providing various on-campus and online degrees, popular academic programs include 100% online tracks in business administration and criminal justice.
8. Texas College
Associated with the United Negro College Fund and established in 1894, this private Christian HBCU has an enrollment of nearly 1,000 learners. Texas College holds accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCC) and is home to a rigorous teaching program that seeks to prepare the next generation of competent and compassionate educators.
9. Southwestern Christian College
Established in 1948, Southwestern Christian College offers an associate of arts, an associate of science, and a bachelor’s degree in religious studies. This Terrell, Texas-based HBCU is accredited by the SACSCC and strives to offer students a Biblically informed education that prepares them for their future academic, business, and personal endeavors.
If you’re looking for other hbcu’s , check out the Find Your Perfect “U” tool. You can search over 6,000 colleges and universities with 11 different filters to find the perfect school for you!
How Do I Pay For College?
Earning a college degree requires a significant investment of both time and money. And while some institutions seem almost prohibitively expensive, students have many opportunities to offset the cost of their education.
Financial aid opportunities exist in many forms. From government and private loans to scholarships and grants, students of any age and from any background should have access to some form of financial assistance. Additionally, online programs can help students earn their degrees while keeping up with personal and professional obligations.
Before enrolling, reach out to your school’s financial aid department. Financial aid professionals work to ensure that financial hurdles do not get in the way of your education.
Scholarships for Black Students
- Fund II Foundation UNCF STEM Scholars Program–This annual United Negro College Fund (UNCF) scholarship selects 500 Black high schools seniors who plan on pursuing a STEM degree.
- UNCF K-12 Education Fellowship Program–Offered to college juniors interested in education reform, applicants must have a 3.0 GPA and be enrolled at an HBCU.
- Frederick Douglass Bicentennial Scholarship Program–This annual scholarship awards two $10,000 scholarships for high-performing HBCU seniors. Winners demonstrate strong academic performance, leadership skills, and financial need.
- Urban Scholarship Fund Scholarship–For Texas residents, this scholarship is typically available for graduating high school seniors planning to attend a two or four-year college or university. Applicants must also demonstrate financial need.
- ADP HBCU Scholarship Program–This scholarship offers need-based assistance to students attending HBCU colleges and universities. Providing funding to rising sophomores and juniors, preference is given to first-generation college students.
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