Which State Has the Most HBCUs?
There are more than 100 historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in the United States, most of them in the southeast. Discover which state has the most HBCUs.
Historically black colleges and universities are institutions created specifically for students of color before segregation became illegal in 1964.
Most of these colleges and universities are located within the southeastern United States. Keep reading to discover which state has the most HBCUs, along with other states that have the best HBCUs in the U.S.
States with the Most HBCUs
Out of all states, Alabama has the highest number of HBCUs, with 14. However, there are over 100 HBCUs in the country, and there are a few states that have several HBCUs.
We've broken down the five states with the most HBCUs below and given a brief description of each school.
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Alabama
As mentioned above, there are 14 HBCUs in Alabama.
These are:
- Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University: a public university in Normal, AL
- Alabama State University: a public university in Montgomery, AL
- Bishop State Community College: a public community college based in Mobile, AL
- Gadsden State College: a public community college based in Mobile, AL
- H. Councill Trenholm State Community College: a public community college in Montgomery, AL
- J.F. Drake State Technical College: a community and technical college in Huntsville
- Lawson State Community College: a community college based in Birmingham
- Miles College: a private Methodist bachelor's college in Fairfield, AL
- Oakwood University: a private Seventh-day Adventist university in Huntsville, AL
- Selma University: a private Bible college in Selma, AL
- Shelton State Community College: a public community college in Tuscaloosa, AL
- Stillman College: a private Presbyterian bachelor's college in Tuscaloosa, AL
- Talladega College: a private Christian college in Talladega, AL
- Tuskegee University: a private university in Tuskegee, AL
Two HBCUs from Alabama have closed: the Daniel Payne College, which closed in 1979, and Concordia College Alabama, which closed in 2018.
All current HBCUs in Alabama are regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
North Carolina
There are 11 HBCUs in North Carolina.
These are:
- Barber-Scotia College: an unaccredited private Presbyterian college in Concord, NC
- Bennett College: a private women's college in Greensboro, NC
- Elizabeth City State University: a public university in Elizabeth City, NC
- Fayetteville State University: a public university in Fayetteville, NC
- Johnson C. Smith University: a private Presbyterian university in Charlotte, NC
- Livingstone College: a private Methodist college in Salisbury, NC
- North Carolina Central University: a public university in Durham, NC
- North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University: a public university in Greensboro, NC
- Saint Augustine's University: a private Christian university in Raleigh, NC
- Shaw University: a private Baptist university in Raleigh, NC
- Winston-Salem State University: a public university in Winston-Salem, NC
North Carolina A&T State University is the largest of the HBCUs, enrolling nearly 13,500 students.
North Carolina was previously home to Immanuel Lutheran College, a private, Lutheran HBCU that closed in 1961.
All HBCUs in North Carolina, with the exception of Barber-Scotia College, are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Georgia
Georgia is home to 10 HBCUs.
These are:
- Albany State University: a public university in Albany, GA
- Clark Atlanta University: a private, Methodist university in Georgia
- Fort Valley State University: a public university in Fort Valley, GA
- Interdenominational Theological Center: a consortium of five Christian seminaries in Atlanta, GA
- Morehouse College: a private men's liberal arts college in Atlanta, GA
- Morehouse School of Medicine: a private medical school in Atlanta, GA
- Morris Brown College: a private Methodist liberal arts college in Atlanta, GA
- Paine College: a private Methodist college in Augusta, GA
- Savannah State University: a public university in Savannah, GA
- Spelman College: a private women's liberal arts college in Atlanta, GA
Two previous HBCUs in Georgia are now extinct: Georgia Baptist College closed in 1956 and Payne College was absorbed into Morris Brown University.
All HBCUs in Georgia are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Texas
There are nine HBCUs across Texas.
These are:
- Huston-Tillotson University: a private Christian university in Austin, TX
- Jarvis Christian University: a private Christian college in Hawkins, TX
- Paul Quinn College: a private Methodist college in Dallas, TX
- Prairie View A&M University: a public university in Prarie View, TX
- Southwestern Christian College: a private Christian college in Terrell, TX
- St. Philip's College: a public community college in San Antonio, TX
- Texas College: a private Christian college in Tyler, TX
- Texas Southern University: a public university in Houston, TX
- Wiley University: a private Christian college in Marshall, TX
Texas was formerly home to Bishop College, which closed in 1988, and Guadalupe College, which closed after a fire in 1936.
All HBCUs in Texas are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
South Carolina
South Carolina is home to eight HBCUs.
These are:
- Allen University: a private Methodist university in Columbia, SC
- Benedict College: a private Baptist college in Columbia, SC
- Claflin University: a private Methodist university in Orangeburg, SC
- Clinton College: a private Christian college in Rock Hill, SC
- Denmark Technical College: a public technical college in Denmark, SC
- Morris College: a private, Baptist college in Sumter, SC
- South Carolina State University: a public university in Orangeburg, SC
- Voorhees University: a private Christian university in Denmark, SC
One HBCU in South Carolina has closed: Friendship College, which closed in 1981.
All HBCUs in South Carolina are Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Other States with HBCUs
Several other states also have HBCUs. We've listed them below and sorted them by the number of HBCUs in the state:
- Mississippi: 7
- Tennesse: 7
- Louisiana: 6
- Virginia: 5
- Arkansas: 4
- Florida: 4
- Maryland: 4
- Ohio: 3
- Kentucky: 2
- Missouri: 2
- Pennsylvania: 2
- Washington, D.C.: 2
- West Virginia: 2
- Delaware: 1
- Oklahoma: 1
- U.S. Virgin Islands: 1
Find a Historically Black College or University Near You
There are over 100 HBCUs in the U.S., and Alabama, North Carolina, Georgia, Texas, and South Carolina have the most. Check out the programs above to find an HBCU for you today.
