Does Hawaii Have an HBCU? How To Find an HBCU

Historically Black Colleges and Universities were designed for Black students while many states segregated students by race.

Hawai'i wasn't made a state until 1959, just five years before the Civil Rights Act of 1964 made segregation illegal. As a result, it doesn't have any HBCUs.

Keep reading to discover alternatives to Historically Black Colleges and Universities in Hawai'i.

Online HBCUs for Students in Hawai'i

While there aren't any HBCUs or PBIs (Predominantly Black Institutions) in Hawai'i, students who don't want to leave the islands can still study at a Historically Black College or institution by choosing an online program.

We've listed five of the top online HBCUs below in alphabetical order.

1. Central State University

Central State University is a public, Historically Black University in Wilberforce, Ohio. It offers online bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, and certificates.

Online programs are available in areas of study like:

• Business
• Criminal Justice
• Education
• Humanities

Central State University enrolls almost 5,500 students.

33% of students are Black or African American and 95% of undergraduate students are enrolled in at least a portion of their courses online.

2. Delaware State University

Delaware State University is a private, Historically Black research university in Dover, Delaware.

It offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees as well as certificates, online.

Students can study online programs in fields such as:

• Business
• Health Sciences
• Leadership and Management Studies
• Social Sciences

Delaware State University enrolls around 6,200 students, with 68% identifying as Black or African American and 82% of undergraduate students taking some or all courses online.

3. Howard University

Howard University is a private, historically Black research university in Washington, D.C. It offers online bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs.

Online programs are available in areas of study like:

• Business
• Communications
• Healthcare
• Social Sciences

Howard University enrolls just under 13,000 students, 65% of whom identify as Black or African American and 83% of whom are enrolled in at least a portion of their courses online.

4. Jackson State University

Jackson State University is a public, historically Black research university in Jackson, Mississippi. It offers bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, and certificate programs online.

Students can study online programs in fields such as:

• Business
• Education
• History
• Human Services

Jackson State University enrolls almost 7,000 students. Of those, 95% identify as Black or African American and 94% take some or all of their courses online.

5. Winston-Salem State University

Winston-Salem State University is a public, historically Black university in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It offers online bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs.

Online programs are available in areas of study like:

• Education
• Healthcare
• Nursing
• Physical Therapy

Winston-Salem University enrolls just over 5,000 students. Of those, 81% identify as Black or African American, and 80% take at least a portion of courses online.

Benefits of Attending a Predominantly Black Institution

For students of color, there are many benefits to attending a predominantly Black institution. Most importantly, they may be more comfortable at a PBI.

PBIs are also more likely to have a higher percentage of Black educators, more activities geared specifically toward students of color, and more financial aid opportunities for Black students.

Tips on Choosing the Right College Program

Choosing the right college or university can be hard, especially if you're planning to attend a college outside your state. Some things to consider include:

• What college has the strongest program for my intended major?
• What college offers my program in my preferred format (on campus or online)?
• What college has the best location for me?
• What college has extracurriculars I might want to participate in?
• What college fits my budget?
• What college offers financial aid opportunities for me?

What is the Difference Between an HBCU and a PBI?

A Historically Black College or University is an institution founded specifically for Black students in states where students were segregated by race before 1964.

A predominantly Black institution is not an HBCU but has a high percentage of Black students.

There are a few requirements for PBI designation, but most significantly, an institution must have at least 1,000 students, with at least 40% of those being Black Americans.

Colleges and universities must apply to be designated PBIs, so some may meet the requirements to be a PBI but have not pursued designation.

Alternatives to HBCUs in Hawai'i

Hawai'i is a diverse state, with 37% of residents being Asian, 25% white, 10% Native Hawaiian, and 24% two or more races. However, only 2% of residents are Black or African American.

As a result, it isn't surprising that there are no Historically Black Colleges and Universities and no predominantly Black institutions (PBIs) in Hawaii.

Most HBCUs are clustered in the southeastern United States. You can find HBCUs in the following states:

• Alabama
• Arkansas
• Delaware
• Florida
• Georgia
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maryland
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• North Carolina
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Pennsylvania
• South Carolina
• Tennessee
• Texas
• U.S. Virgin Islands
• Virginia
• Washington, D.C.

You can find a full list of the more than 100 HBCUs at the Hundred Seven website.

You can also use the U.S. Department of Education's College Navigator tool to filter by HBCUs as well as other metrics like location and type of institution.

Find a Historically Black College or University Near You

There are no HBCUs or PBIs in Hawai'i, but students can still attend an HBCU online. Check out the programs listed above to find the right HBCU program for you today.