U.S. News & World Report has released its annual HBCU rankings for 2023-2024.
Every year U.S. News & World Report measures the quality of undergraduate education at historically Black colleges and universities. To qualify for the ranking, the school must must currently be listed as part of the White House and U.S. Department of Education’s Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity through Historically Black Colleges and Universities to be included in U.S. News’ HBCU ranking.
The HBCU must also be an undergraduate baccalaureate-granting institution that enrolls primarily first-year, first-time students and must be a school that is part of the 2024 Best Colleges rankings.
The U.S. News rankings system rests on two pillars: quantitative and qualitative measures that education experts have proposed as reliable indicators of academic quality, and U.S. News’ view of what matters in education. In total, 77 HBCUs that were eligible to be included on the list were ranked.
Here are the top 10 HBCUs based on the 2023-2024 U.S. News & World Report rankings.
Spelman College
Spelman College is ranked the #1 HBCU in the nation for the 17th consecutive year in a row on U.S. News & World Report’s list Spelman Colleges is a private institution that was founded in 1881. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 2,374 (fall 2022), its setting is urban, and the campus size is 39 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Spelman College’s ranking in the 2024 edition of Best Colleges in National Liberal Arts Colleges is #39 and #60 in Best Value Schools. Its tuition and fees are $30,058.
Howard University
Howard University is a private institution that was founded in 1867. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 9,809 (fall 2022), its setting is urban, and the campus size is 257 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Howard University’s ranking in the 2024 edition of Best Colleges in National Universities, is #115 and #93 in Best Value Schools. Its tuition and fees are $33,344.
Florida A&M University
Florida A&M University is a public institution that was founded in 1887. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 7,709 (fall 2022), its setting is urban, and the campus size is 422 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Florida A&M University’s ranking in the 2024 edition of Best Colleges in National Universities is #170 and #91 in Top Public Schools. Its in-state tuition and fees are $5,785; out-of-state tuition and fees are $17,725.
Tuskegee University
Tuskegee University is a private institution that was founded in 1881. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 2,100 (fall 2022), and the campus size is 5,000 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Tuskegee University’s ranking in the 2024 edition of Best Colleges in Regional Universities South is #8 and #25 in Best Value Schools. Its tuition and fees are $22,679.
Morehouse College
Morehouse College is a private institution that was founded in 1867. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 2,567 (fall 2022), and the campus size is 66 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Morehouse College’s ranking in the 2024 edition of Best Colleges in National Liberal Arts Colleges is #100. Its comprehensive cost is $41,644 (2022-23).
Xavier University of Lousiana
Xavier University of Louisiana is a private institution that was founded in 1925. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 2,696 (fall 2022), its setting is urban, and the campus size is 66 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Xavier University of Louisiana’s ranking in the 2024 edition of Best Colleges in Regional Universities South is #16 and #27 in Best Value Schools. Its tuition and fees are $27,870.
Hampton University (tied with North Carolina A&T University)
Hampton University is a private institution that was founded in 1868. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 2,794 (fall 2022), and the campus size is 314 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Hampton University’s ranking in the 2024 edition of Best Colleges in National Universities is #280. Its tuition and fees are $29,312.
North Carolina A&T University (tied with Hampton University)
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University is a public institution that was founded in 1891. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 11,833 (fall 2022), its setting is urban, and the campus size is 800 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University’s ranking in the 2024 edition of Best Colleges in National Universities is #280 and #151 in Top Public Schools. Its in-state tuition and fees are $6,733; out-of-state tuition and fees are $20,243.
Claflin University (tied with Delaware State University)
Claflin University is a private institution that was founded in 1869. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 1,749 (fall 2022), and the campus size is 46 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Claflin University’s ranking in the 2024 edition of Best Colleges is National Liberal Arts Colleges, #159. Its tuition and fees are $17,046.
9. Delaware State University (tied with Claflin University)
Delaware State University is a public institution that was founded in 1891. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 4,996 (fall 2022), its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 706 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Delaware State University’s ranking in the 2024 edition of Best Colleges is Regional Universities North is #111 and #40 in Top Public Schools . Its in-state tuition and fees are $8,358; out-of-state tuition and fees are $18,280.