Does Minnesota Have an HBCU? Non-HBCU Alternatives

Historically Black Colleges and Universities are institutions that were designed specifically to serve students of color when institutions were still segregated.

Minnesota does not have any HBCUs, but it still has a handful of colleges and universities that enroll a diverse student body. Keep reading to discover non-HBCU alternatives in Minnesota.

Alternatives to HBCUs in Minnesota

Most HBCUs are in the south or eastern United States, and as a result, there are no HBCUs in Minnesota.

However, there are institutions in the state with a higher number of non-white students. We've listed five of those alternatives to HBCUs in Minnesota below in alphabetical order.

All colleges and universities listed below are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

1. Augsburg Universtiy

Augsburg University is a private evangelical university in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs.

Programs are available in areas of study like:

• Business
• Education
• Health Sciences
• Social Sciences

Augsburg University enrolls just over 3,000 students. Of those, 65% of undergraduate, on-campus students are BIPOC, and 55.1% of all students are students of color.

2. Herzing University

Herzing University is a private, non-profit university. It's based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, but has multiple campuses throughout the U.S., including one in Minneapolis. Programs are available on campus and online.

Students can earn associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees, as well as certificates, in fields such as:

• Business
• Computer Science
• Health Sciences and Nursing
• Liberal Arts

One of the core values of Herzing University as a whole is to increase access for diverse students. There is a special emphasis on increasing the number of Black healthcare providers in the healthcare system.

At the Minneapolis campus, 44% of students identify as white, while 25% are black, 11% are Asian, and 7% are Hispanic or Latino.

3. Metropolitan State University

Metropolitan State University is a public university based in St. Paul. It offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs in person and online.

Programs are available in areas of study like:

• Business
• Computer Science
• Health Sciences
• Social Sciences

Metropolitan State University enrolls just under 3,000 students. Of those, 51% are students of color. The university has been federally recognized as a Minority-Serving Institution.

4. Minneapolis Community and Technical College

Minneapolis College is a public community college in Minneapolis. It offers associate degrees and certificate programs on campus and online.

Students can study fields such as:

• Business
• Health Sciences
• Liberal Arts
• Psychology

Minneapolis Community and Technical College enrolls around 9,200 students. 36% are white, while 33% are black, 12% are Hispanic or Latino, 5% are Asian, and 6% are two or more races.

5. Saint Paul College

Saint Paul College is a public community and technical college in St. Paul. It offers associate degrees and certificate programs in person and online.

Programs are available in areas of study like:

• Business
• Career Training
• Health Sciences
• Liberal Arts

Saint Paul College enrolls over 7,650 students in credit programs and nearly 3,600 in non-credit programs. 65% are students of color, making Saint Paul College the most diverse in Minnesota.

Benefits of Attending a Predominantly Black Institution

There are several benefits to attending a Predominantly Black or Minority Serving Institution. For example, these institutions may:

• Offer a greater range of culturally-focused student programs
• Offer more financial aid opportunities to students of color
• Have a higher number of employees of color
• Provide opportunities to work with underserved communities

Tips on Choosing the Right College Program

There are several things to consider when trying to choose the right college program. This includes:

• The type of program you want to pursue
• Extracurricular activities offered
• The location of the school
• Whether or not on-campus housing is available
• Tuition costs and financial aid options

What Is the Difference Between an HBCU and a PBI?

A historically Black college or university (HBCU) is an institution created specifically to serve African American students before desegregation in 1964.

A predominantly Black institution (PBI) is an institution that has, among other requirements, at least 1,000 undergraduate students with at least 40% of those students identifying as Black Americans.

Minnesota's population is only 7.6% Black or African American, as of the 2020 census, so it's no surprise that there are no HBCUs or PBIs in the state.

However, the programs listed above still offer diversity for students of color.

Find a Historically Black College or University Near You

There are no HBCUs in Minnesota, but there are other diverse institutions in the state. Check out the featured programs above to find the perfect fit for you today.