Top 10 Cheapest and Most Affordable HBCUs

Historically black colleges and universities were originally founded specifically for students of color before desegregation in 1964.

Now, these colleges and universities are pretty similar to other colleges and universities, with some being extremely affordable and others being pricier.

Keep reading to discover the ten cheapest and most affordable HBCUs.

10 Cheapest HBCUs

Several HBCUs offer tuition for less than $5,000 per year. We've listed the top ten least expensive HBCUs below from least to most expensive.

Schools are listed based on in-district or in-state tuition prices. Please note that tuition prices are approximate and subject to change.

1. St. Phillips College

St. Philip's College is a public, historically black community college in San Antonio, Texas that enrolls around 12,500 students. It's part of the Alamo Colleges District.

It primarily offers associate degrees and certificates on campus and online in fields like engineering, healthcare, and liberal arts, as well as training for various trades.

Tuition for students within the district is $3,262 per year, while in-state tuition is $6,742. Out-of-state students pay $14,272, though online students may pay less.

The college also offers several scholarships to qualifying students, including the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Scholarship and a scholarship specifically for online students.

2. Coahoma Community College

Coahoma Community College is a public, historically black community college in Clarksdale, Mississippi. It currently enrolls about 1,800 students.

Students can earn associate degrees and certificates in areas of study like business and health sciences, and it also offers career and trades training.

Tuition for in-state students is $3,300 per semester, while out-of-state students pay double at $6,600 per semester.

Coahoma Community College offers a large variety of scholarships including activity scholarships, administrative scholarships, athletic scholarships, and community scholarships.

3. Elizabeth City State University

Elizabeth City State University is a public, historically Black university in Elizabeth City, North Carolina that enrolls nearly 2,200 students. It's part of the University of North Carolina system.

It offers bachelor's and master's degrees on campus and online in fields such as business, criminal justice, exercise sciences, and social work.

The average tuition is $3,356 per year per year and $7,356 for out-of-state students, with online tuition being less expensive than tuition for on-campus programs.

ECSU is also part of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, a non-profit organization that offers scholarships to many HBCUs.

4. Fayetteville State University

Fayetteville State University is a public historically black university in Fayetteville, North Carolina. It enrolls just under 6,800 students and is part of the University of North Carolina system.

Students can study bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs in person and online in areas of study like business, education, health sciences, and human services.

Tuition for in-state students averages $3,906 per year. Out-of-state students pay an average of $7,906 per year, though online programs are about half of that.

Fayetteville State University offers a handful of scholarship options to eligible students and is also a member of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.

5. Gadsden State Community College

Gadsden State Community College is a public, historically black community college based in Gadsen, Alabama that enrolls about 4,350 students.

It offers associate degrees and certificates on campus and online in fields such as business, engineering, and liberal arts, as well as auto mechanics training.

Tuition averages $3,984 per year for in-state students and $6,984 for out-of-state students. The college also offers multiple scholarship opportunities for eligible students.

6. Selma University

Selma University is a private, historically black Baptist Bible college in Selma, Alabama. It enrolls around 50 students and is affiliated with the Alabama State Missionary Baptist Convention.

Students can earn associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees in areas of study like business, health sciences, liberal arts, and theology.

Tuition averages $4,800 per year. Several scholarships are available, especially for students in religious studies. However, the university is not currently eligible for federal financial aid programs, including the Pell Grant.

7. H Councill Trenholm State Community College

H. Councill Trenholm State Community College is a public, historically black community college in Montgomery, Alabama that enrolls nearly 2,000 students.

It offers associate degrees and certificates in person and online in fields such as computer science, engineering, general studies, and health sciences.

In-state students pay an average of $4,830 per year while out-of-state students pay an average of $8,580 per year. The college also offers two institutional scholarships as well as several other scholarship opportunities.

8. J.F. Drake State Technical College

J.F. Drake State Community and Technical College is a public, historically black community and technical college in Huntsville, Alabama. It enrolls just under 1,000 students.

Students can earn associate degrees and certificates in several areas of study, but the college is best known for its science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programs.

Average tuition is $4,890 per year for in-state students and $8,640 for out-of-state students. The college offers scholarships for academics, leadership, and senior adults.

9. Bishop State Community College

Bishop State Community College is a public, historically black community college based in Mobile, Alabama that enrolls nearly 3,000 students.

It offers associate degrees and certificates in health professions, liberal arts, personal services, and transportation. The college has transfer agreements with all public four-year institutions in Alabama.

In-state students pay an average annual tuition of $4,920 per year, while out-of-state students pay an average annual tuition of $8,670 per year.

The college offers a general scholarship, as well as scholarships for academics, athletics, and leadership. Community scholarships are also available.

10. Lawson State Community College

Lawson State Community College is a public, historically black community college based in Birmingham, Alabama. It enrolls close to 3,000 students.

Students can earn associate degrees and certificates in many different fields, including business, engineering, and health sciences.

Tuition at Lawson State Community College averages $4,920 per year for in-state students and $8,670 per year for out-of-state students.

A general scholarship is available, as are scholarships for activities like performing arts and cheerleading. Students may also be eligible for a range of Alabama scholarships.

Find an Affordable HBCU for You

HBCUs can range in price quite a bit, but there are many affordable options that won't break the bank. Check out the affordable HBCUs above to find your perfect fit today.