To bolster Historically Black Colleges and Universities, the Biden-Harris Administration announced an additional $1.3 billion in federal funding this week. This funding, added to the previously allocated $16 billion, brings the total federal investment in HBCUs from Fiscal Years 2021 through 2024 to over $17 billion. The record achievement aims to enhance underserved communities’ educational access and economic mobility.
This new funding will profoundly impact HBCUs, which comprise only 3% of the nation’s colleges and universities but serve a disproportionately high number of Pell Grant-eligible low—and middle-income students.
Research indicates that approximately 30% of HBCU students advance at least two income quintiles, compared to only 18% from non-HBCUs. Moreover, HBCUs collectively generate an impressive $16.5 billion annually for the national economy, creating over 136,000 jobs and contributing substantially to their graduates’ lifetime earnings.
In addition to direct financial aid, the new funding includes $188 million in competitive grants aimed at strengthening HBCUs’ research and development capabilities. This comes alongside $1.1 billion focused on need-based grants and support programs like Pell Grants for HBCU students.
The Other $16 Billion In Support
The Biden-Harris administration’s initial $16 billion investment to support HBCUs included $90 million in funding for a University Affiliated Research Center at Howard University by the Department of Defense, the launch of the Connecting-Minority-Communities program and HBCU CHIPS Network by the Department of Commerce, and a $262.5 million investment from the Department of Agriculture for training diverse agricultural professionals. The Department of Energy has introduced a $7.75 million Clean Energy Education Prize, while nearly $25 million has been allocated by the Department of Education for research infrastructure.
Prairie View A&M University leads a University Transportation Center with a share of a $435 million grant from the Department of Transportation, and NASA has allocated nearly $12 million for AI and machine learning programs at HBCUs. Additionally, The Department of Health and Human Services developed initiatives like HBCU-Connect and a $30 million Maternal Health Research Collaborative, while the National Science Foundation is providing over $10 million for Ideas Lab projects to enhance research capacity. Finally, the Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded $5.5 million for housing and community development research.
