What HBCU Has the Highest Acceptance Rate?

Historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are institutions that were formed specifically for black students before segregation was abolished in 1964.

Today, these colleges and universities are much like others in the United States. For example, their acceptance rates can vary from as low as 25% to as high as 100%.

Keep reading to discover which HBCU has the highest acceptance rate and other HBCUs with high acceptance rates.

HBCUs With the Highest Acceptance Rates

The HBCU with the highest acceptance rate is Le Moyne-Owen College in Tennessee. However, there are many HBCUs with high acceptance rates.

We've listed the ten HBCUs with the highest acceptance rates below from the highest to lowest acceptance rate.

Acceptance rates are gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics for the 2022-2023 school year. They may be subject to change.

1. LeMoyne-Owen College

LeMoyne-Owen College is a private, historically black Christian college in Memphis, Tennessee. It offers associate and bachelor's degrees.

Programs are available in areas of study like:

• biological sciences
• business
• criminal justice
• general studies

LeMoyne-Owen College had a 100% acceptance rate for the 2022-2023 school year. It enrolls a little over 600 students, 95% of which are Black or African American.

2. Alabama State University

Alabama State University is a public, historically black university in Montgomery, Alabama. It offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs in person and online.

Students can earn degrees in fields such as:

• biological sciences
• business
• education
• healthcare

Alabama State University accepts 97% of applicants. It currently enrolls nearly 4,000 students, and 93% of its student body is Black or African American.

3. Bluefield State University

Bluefield State University is a public, historically black university in Bluefield, West Virginia. It offers associate degrees, bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, and certificate programs.

Programs are available through the four colleges within the university:

• College of Arts, Education, and Social Sciences
• College of Health Sciences
• College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math
• W. Paul Cole, Jr. College of Business

Bluefield State University has an acceptance rate of 97%. It enrolls about 1,300 students and although it is an HBCU, only about 15% of the student body identifies as Black or African American.

4. Texas Southern University

Texas Southern University is a public, historically black university in Houston, Texas. It offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs on campus and online.

Students can earn degrees in fields such as:

• business
• communication
• criminal justice
• health sciences

Texas Southern University accepts 97% of applicants. It enrolls over 8,500 students, with 84% identifying as Black or African American.

5. University of the Virgin Islands

The University of the Virgin Islands is a public, historically black university in the Virgin Islands. It offers associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees, as well as certificates, in person and online.

Programs are available in areas of study like:

• biological sciences
• business
• health sciences
• psychology

The University of the Virgin Islands has an acceptance rate of 97%. It enrolls around 1,600 students, 70% of whom identify as Black or African American.

6. West Virginia State University

West Virginia State University is a public, historically black university in Institute, West Virginia. It offers bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, and certificates on campus and online.

Students can earn their degrees through the university's four colleges:

• College of Arts and Humanities
• College of Business and Social Sciences
• College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
• College of Professional Studies

West Virginia State University accepts 96% of applicants. It currently enrolls over 3,500 students, and despite being an HBCU, only 8% of the student population identifies as Black or African American.

7. Xavier University of Louisiana

Xavier University of Louisiana is a private, Catholic, historically black research university in New Orleans. It offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees, as well as certificates.

Programs are available in areas of study like:

• biological and biomedical sciences
• pharmacology
• public health
• psychology

Xavier University of Louisiana has an acceptance rate of 95%. It enrolls about 3,400 students, with 86% identifying as Black or African American.

8. Southern University at New Orleans

Southern University at New Orleans is a public, historically black university in New Orleans, Louisiana. It offers associate, bachelor's, and master's programs in person and online.

Students can earn degrees in fields such as:

• business
• criminal justice
• education
• human services

Southern University at New Orleans accepts 94% of applicants. It enrolls nearly 2,000 students, and 89% identify as Black or African American.

9. Kentucky State University

Kentucky State University is a public, historically black university in Frankfort, Kentucky. It offers associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs on campus and online.

Programs are available in areas of study like:

• business
• education
• liberal arts
• social sciences

Kentucky State University has an acceptance rate of 91%. It enrolls about 1,700 students, of whom 68% identify as Black or African American.

10. Jackson State University

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

Students can earn degrees in fields such as:

• business
• education
• healthcare
• human services

Jackson State University accepts 98% of applicants. It enrolls nearly 7,000 students, and of those, 95% identify as Black or African American.

Find a Historically Black College or University for You

There are many HBCUs in the country, and several have high acceptance rates. Check out the programs above to find the right HBCU for you today.