Written by Amanda Push via Student Loan Hero
For some students, attending a historically Black college or university (HBCU) in the U.S. aligns with their personal and professional goals. However, as both the inflation rate and cost-of-living expenses increase, affording rising tuition can be a challenge for many students and families.
To learn more about the affordability of HBCUs, Student Loan Hero researchers dug into U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard data, using average annual net cost to determine which schools are the most and least affordable. Net cost includes expenses such as tuition, room, board and books, while accounting for grants and scholarships.
Coahoma Community College in Mississippi is the cheapest HBCU, while Spelman College in Atlanta is the least affordable, according to the findings. Here’s more about the cost of HBCUs.
Key findings
- Coahoma Community College is the most affordable HBCU. The average annual net cost to attend the two-year public school in Clarksdale, Miss., is $1,004. The No. 2 college — Elizabeth City State University, a four-year public school in North Carolina — has a net cost more than double that, at $2,350.
- Spelman College is the least affordable HBCU. The average annual net cost to attend the four-year private Atlanta school is $43,843. Only one other school — Howard University, a four-year private school in Washington, D.C. — has a net cost above $40,000.
- Denmark Technical College graduates have the lowest median student loan debt among HBCUs. Students graduate from the two-year public South Carolina school with an average of $9,000 in debt. Meanwhile, students at American Baptist College — a four-year private school in Nashville, Tenn. — leave school with the highest median student loan debt at $41,000.
- Only two HBCUs — Clinton College and Spelman College — see at least 75% of their students graduate within 150% of normal time. For Clinton College — a two-year private school in Rock Hill, S.C. — that typically means graduating within three years. At Spelman, that usually means graduating within six years.
Most and least affordable HBCUs
Coahoma Community College in Clarksdale, Miss., is the most affordable HBCU in the U.S. This two-year public school has a net cost of $1,004, less than half that of the next college — Elizabeth City State University, a four-year public school in North Carolina — at $2,350.
Among the five most affordable HBCUs, four are public institutions. Of those five, four are two-year schools, while just one is a four-year college. In fact, most of the institutions at the top of the list are public schools — a mix of two-year and four-year colleges — with private ones appearing periodically. Meanwhile, private schools dominate the bottom of the list.
In particular, Spelman College, a four-year private institute in Atlanta, is the least affordable HBCU, with a net cost of $43,843. Spelman was followed closely by Howard University in Washington, D.C. Howard — also a four-year private institute — has a net cost of $41,289.
The most expensive two-year institution is Virginia University of Lynchburg. This private school has a net cost of $22,042.
| Most — and least — affordable HBCUs | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | HBCU | City | State | Institution type | Net cost |
| 1 | Coahoma Community College | Clarksdale | MS | 2-year public | $1,004 |
| 2 | Elizabeth City State University | Elizabeth City | NC | 4-year public | $2,350 |
| 3 | Simmons College of Kentucky | Louisville | KY | 2-year private | $3,394 |
| 4 | J.F. Drake State Community and Technical College | Huntsville | AL | 2-year public | $3,589 |
| 5 | Gadsden State Community College | Gadsden | AL | 2-year public | $4,427 |
| 6 | Bishop State Community College | Mobile | AL | 2-year public | $4,976 |
| 7 | Fayetteville State University | Fayetteville | NC | 4-year public | $5,899 |
| 8 | Shelton State Community College | Tuscaloosa | AL | 2-year public | $6,217 |
| 9 | St. Philip’s College | San Antonio | TX | 2-year public | $6,250 |
| 10 | H. Councill Trenholm State Community College | Montgomery | AL | 2-year public | $6,723 |
| 11 | Kentucky State University | Frankfort | KY | 4-year public | $7,076 |
| 12 | Southern University at New Orleans | New Orleans | LA | 4-year public | $7,632 |
| 13 | Cheyney University of Pennsylvania | Cheyney | PA | 4-year public | $7,656 |
| 14 | Lincoln University | Jefferson City | MO | 4-year public | $7,830 |
| 15 | Southwestern Christian College | Terrell | TX | 4-year private | $7,928 |
| 16 | Lawson State Community College | Birmingham | AL | 2-year public | $8,039 |
| 17 | Bluefield State College | Bluefield | WV | 4-year public | $8,367 |
| 18 | Southern University at Shreveport | Shreveport | LA | 2-year public | $8,878 |
| 19 | LeMoyne-Owen College | Memphis | TN | 4-year private | $9,109 |
| 20 | Selma University | Selma | AL | 4-year private | $9,229 |
| 21 | Savannah State University | Savannah | GA | 4-year public | $10,220 |
| 22 | North Carolina A&T State University | Greensboro | NC | 4-year public | $10,274 |
| 23 | Central State University | Wilberforce | OH | 4-year public | $10,451 |
| 24 | University of the Virgin Islands | Charlotte Amalie | VI | 4-year public | $10,489 |
| 25 | Harris-Stowe State University | Saint Louis | MO | 4-year public | $10,551 |
| 26 | Rust College | Holly Springs | MS | 4-year private | $11,317 |
| 27 | Coppin State University | Baltimore | MD | 4-year public | $11,686 |
| 28 | Langston University | Langston | OK | 4-year public | $12,131 |
| 29 | Winston-Salem State University | Winston-Salem | NC | 4-year public | $12,286 |
| 30 | University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff | Pine Bluff | AR | 4-year public | $12,320 |
| 31 | Tennessee State University | Nashville | TN | 4-year public | $12,443 |
| 32 | Norfolk State University | Norfolk | VA | 4-year public | $12,645 |
| 33 | Edward Waters College | Jacksonville | FL | 4-year private | $12,653 |
| 34 | Lane College | Jackson | TN | 4-year private | $12,966 |
| 35 | Albany State University | Albany | GA | 4-year public | $12,992 |
| 36 | Delaware State University | Dover | DE | 4-year public | $12,995 |
| 37 | Paine College | Augusta | GA | 4-year private | $13,072 |
| 38 | Denmark Technical College | Denmark | SC | 2-year public | $13,440 |
| 39 | Fort Valley State University | Fort Valley | GA | 4-year public | $13,650 |
| 40 | Alabama State University | Montgomery | AL | 4-year public | $13,650 |
| 41 | Shorter College | North Little Rock | AR | 2-year private | $13,747 |
| 42 | Paul Quinn College | Dallas | TX | 4-year private | $13,951 |
| 43 | Texas College | Tyler | TX | 4-year private | $14,088 |
| 44 | Philander Smith College | Little Rock | AR | 4-year private | $14,141 |
| 45 | Jarvis Christian College | Hawkins | TX | 4-year private | $14,152 |
| 46 | Benedict College | Columbia | SC | 4-year private | $14,291 |
| 47 | Miles College | Fairfield | AL | 4-year private | $14,303 |
| 48 | Allen University | Columbia | SC | 4-year private | $14,306 |
| 49 | West Virginia State University | Institute | WV | 4-year public | $14,408 |
| 50 | Jackson State University | Jackson | MS | 4-year public | $14,484 |
| 51 | Prairie View A&M University | Prairie View | TX | 4-year public | $14,582 |
| 52 | Tougaloo College | Tougaloo | MS | 4-year private | $14,609 |
| 53 | North Carolina Central University | Durham | NC | 4-year public | $14,732 |
| 54 | Alcorn State University | Alcorn State | MS | 4-year public | $14,836 |
| 55 | Alabama A&M University | Normal | AL | 4-year public | $14,990 |
| 56 | Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University | Tallahassee | FL | 4-year public | $15,060 |
| 57 | Clinton College | Rock Hill | SC | 4-year private | $15,393 |
| 58 | Talladega College | Talladega | AL | 4-year private | $15,661 |
| 59 | Wilberforce University | Wilberforce | OH | 4-year private | $15,684 |
| 60 | University of the District of Columbia | Washington | DC | 4-year public | $15,894 |
| 61 | Bowie State University | Bowie | MD | 4-year public | $15,934 |
| 62 | Morris College | Sumter | SC | 4-year private | $16,105 |
| 63 | Southern University and A&M College | Baton Rouge | LA | 4-year public | $16,312 |
| 64 | Mississippi Valley State University | Itta Bena | MS | 4-year public | $16,394 |
| 65 | Huston-Tillotson University | Austin | TX | 4-year private | $16,775 |
| 66 | Virginia State University | Petersburg | VA | 4-year public | $16,970 |
| 67 | University of Maryland Eastern Shore | Princess Anne | MD | 4-year public | $16,980 |
| 68 | Bethune-Cookman University | Daytona Beach | FL | 4-year private | $16,995 |
| 69 | Voorhees College | Denmark | SC | 4-year private | $17,113 |
| 70 | Dillard University | New Orleans | LA | 4-year private | $17,128 |
| 71 | Morgan State University | Baltimore | MD | 4-year public | $17,619 |
| 72 | Florida Memorial University | Miami Gardens | FL | 4-year private | $17,625 |
| 73 | Wiley College | Marshall | TX | 4-year private | $17,666 |
| 74 | Lincoln University | Lincoln University | PA | 4-year public | $17,731 |
| 75 | Livingstone College | Salisbury | NC | 4-year private | $18,006 |
| 76 | Claflin University | Orangeburg | SC | 4-year private | $18,136 |
| 77 | Stillman College | Tuscaloosa | AL | 4-year private | $18,352 |
| 78 | Grambling State University | Grambling | LA | 4-year public | $18,516 |
| 79 | Saint Augustine’s University | Raleigh | NC | 4-year private | $18,596 |
| 80 | Arkansas Baptist College | Little Rock | AR | 4-year private | $19,029 |
| 81 | Johnson C. Smith University | Charlotte | NC | 4-year private | $19,220 |
| 82 | Shaw University | Raleigh | NC | 4-year private | $19,244 |
| 83 | Texas Southern University | Houston | TX | 4-year public | $19,430 |
| 84 | American Baptist College | Nashville | TN | 4-year private | $19,581 |
| 85 | Xavier University of Louisiana | New Orleans | LA | 4-year private | $19,715 |
| 86 | South Carolina State University | Orangeburg | SC | 4-year public | $20,795 |
| 87 | Bennett College | Greensboro | NC | 4-year private | $21,356 |
| 88 | Virginia Union University | Richmond | VA | 4-year private | $21,813 |
| 89 | Virginia University of Lynchburg | Lynchburg | VA | 2-year private | $22,042 |
| 90 | Fisk University | Nashville | TN | 4-year private | $24,225 |
| 91 | Oakwood University | Huntsville | AL | 4-year private | $24,274 |
| 92 | Hampton University | Hampton | VA | 4-year private | $31,307 |
| 93 | Morehouse College | Atlanta | GA | 4-year private | $31,327 |
| 94 | Clark Atlanta University | Atlanta | GA | 4-year private | $34,263 |
| 95 | Tuskegee University | Tuskegee | AL | 4-year private | $34,575 |
| 96 | Howard University | Washington | DC | 4-year private | $41,289 |
| 97 | Spelman College | Atlanta | GA | 4-year private | $43,843 |
| Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. |
Looking to leave school with less than $20,000 in debt? Consider these 5 HBCUs
According to our latest student loan debt statistics update, students in the class of 2020 graduated with an average of $28,400 in federal and private debt. However, attending an HBCU and walking away with less than $20,000 in debt is possible.
Five HBCUs have a median student loan debt among graduates of less than $20,000:
- Denmark Technical College
- Median debt: $9,000
- Net cost: $13,440
- Institution type: 2-year public
- Southwestern Christian College
- Median debt: $9,561
- Net cost: $7,928
- Institution type: 4-year private
- St. Philip’s College
- Median debt: $10,500
- Net cost: $6,250
- Institution type: 2-year public
- University of the Virgin Islands
- Median debt: $15,750
- Net cost: $10,489
- Institution type: 4-year public
- Southern University at Shreveport
- Median debt: $17,250
- Net cost: $8,878
- Institution type: 2-year public
On the other hand, many HBCUs have students who graduate with rather large median debts. Across the 88 HBCUs researchers examined (based on available data), 50 had students graduate with a median debt greater than the average across the schools of $28,288.
American Baptist College — a four-year private school in Nashville, Tenn. — and Virginia University of Lynchburg — a two-year private school — had the largest median debt totals among the HBCUs. Both schools are also among the 14 with the highest net cost.
- American Baptist College
- Median debt: $41,000
- Net cost: $19,581
- Institution type: 4-year private
- Virginia University of Lynchburg
- Median debt: $40,429
- Net cost: $22,042
- Institution type: 2-year private
When choosing between a public and private school, Student Loan Hero senior writer Andrew Pentis recommends that students consider the factors that vary the most between the two.
Variables such as tuition, class, campus size and academic program options can swing widely. For instance, a public college is typically much less expensive to attend than a private university. And while a private school might have smaller class sizes, it might also feature less diversity on campus.
“Students who aren’t sure what they want to study might like the idea of attending a larger school, whether it’s public or private, to give them a wider array of degree programs to consider, plus a larger faculty and staff to lean on for support,” Pentis says. “At the end of the day, students should find out which schools suit them best instead of limiting their search to either public or private.”
| Median student loan debt among graduates at HBCUs | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | HBCU | Median debt | Rank | HBCU | Median debt |
| 1 | Denmark Technical College | $9,000 | 45 | Jarvis Christian College | $29,406 |
| 2 | Southwestern Christian College | $9,561 | 46 | Morgan State University | $29,473 |
| 3 | St. Philip’s College | $10,500 | 47 | Texas Southern University | $29,531 |
| 4 | University of the Virgin Islands | $15,750 | 48 | Lincoln University (Missouri) | $29,750 |
| 5 | Southern University at Shreveport | $17,250 | 49 | Alcorn State University | $30,385 |
| 6 | Bluefield State College | $20,500 | 50 | Miles College | $30,444 |
| 7 | Clinton College | $20,750 | 51 | Jackson State University | $30,488 |
| 8 | Wilberforce University | $21,129 | 52 | Virginia Union University | $30,500 |
| 9 | Bowie State University | $22,750 | 53 | North Carolina Central University | $30,569 |
| 10 | Fayetteville State University | $23,208 | 54 | Oakwood University | $30,676 |
| 11 | West Virginia State University | $23,269 | 55 | Lincoln University (Pennsylvania) | $30,855 |
| 12 | University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff | $23,553 | 56 | Claflin University | $30,931 |
| 13 | Coppin State University | $24,076 | 57 | Savannah State University | $31,000 |
| 14 | LeMoyne-Owen College | $24,250 | 58 | Southern University and A&M College | $31,000 |
| 15 | Xavier University of Louisiana | $24,500 | 59 | Mississippi Valley State University | $31,000 |
| 16 | Philander Smith College | $25,000 | 60 | Bennett College | $31,000 |
| 17 | Howard University | $25,000 | 61 | Johnson C. Smith University | $31,000 |
| 18 | Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University | $25,000 | 62 | Central State University | $31,000 |
| 19 | Elizabeth City State University | $25,000 | 63 | South Carolina State University | $31,000 |
| 20 | Winston-Salem State University | $25,000 | 64 | Texas College | $31,000 |
| 21 | Wiley College | $25,000 | 65 | Norfolk State University | $31,000 |
| 22 | Arkansas Baptist College | $25,250 | 66 | Southern University at New Orleans | $31,031 |
| 23 | Shorter College | $25,250 | 67 | Harris-Stowe State University | $31,688 |
| 24 | Morehouse College | $25,250 | 68 | Morris College | $31,775 |
| 25 | Cheyney University of Pennsylvania | $25,500 | 69 | Talladega College | $31,990 |
| 26 | University of the District of Columbia | $25,889 | 70 | Alabama State University | $32,000 |
| 27 | Delaware State University | $26,000 | 71 | Dillard University | $32,000 |
| 28 | Spelman College | $26,000 | 72 | Stillman College | $32,500 |
| 29 | Fisk University | $26,000 | 73 | Allen University | $32,530 |
| 30 | Hampton University | $26,000 | 74 | Bethune-Cookman University | $32,750 |
| 31 | Albany State University | $27,000 | 75 | Florida Memorial University | $33,000 |
| 32 | Clark Atlanta University | $27,000 | 76 | Alabama A&M University | $33,375 |
| 33 | University of Maryland Eastern Shore | $27,000 | 77 | Fort Valley State University | $33,560 |
| 34 | Rust College | $27,000 | 78 | Tougaloo College | $34,037 |
| 35 | Voorhees College | $27,000 | 79 | Selma University | $34,300 |
| 36 | Tennessee State University | $27,000 | 80 | Shaw University | $34,315 |
| 37 | North Carolina A&T State University | $27,706 | 81 | Paine College | $34,949 |
| 38 | Langston University | $27,949 | 82 | Livingstone College | $35,000 |
| 39 | Huston-Tillotson University | $28,456 | 83 | Saint Augustine’s University | $35,000 |
| 40 | Kentucky State University | $28,504 | 84 | Lane College | $35,063 |
| 41 | Edward Waters College | $29,000 | 85 | Benedict College | $36,000 |
| 42 | Prairie View A&M University | $29,000 | 86 | Grambling State University | $37,192 |
| 43 | Virginia State University | $29,000 | 87 | Virginia University of Lynchburg | $40,429 |
| 44 | Tuskegee University | $29,090 | 88 | American Baptist College | $41,000 |
| Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Note: HBCUs with incomplete information were excluded. |
Where 75% of HBCU students graduate within 150% of normal time
Before going into this statistic, it’s important to know what this means — and why it matters. Graduation rates within 150% of normal time are calculated using factors such as the number of students seeking a degree and completion rates.
For example, for a student seeking a bachelor’s degree at a four-year college, 150% of normal time is usually six years. On the other hand, for a student getting an associate degree, this would mean 150% of normal time is typically three years.
Knowing this information about an institution can give you an idea of how long it may take you to finish your degree at this school.
Among the HBCUs studied, only two schools had 75% of their students graduate within 150% of normal time.
- Clinton College: 75.6%
- Institution type: 4-year private
- Location: Rock Hill, S.C.
- Spelman College: 75.1%
- Institution type: 4-year private
- Location: Atlanta
This was a bit surprising, according to Pentis, as Spelman College was considered the least affordable school in the study with a net cost of $43,843. While Clinton College was significantly less expensive with a net cost of $15,393, it was still in the bottom half of most expensive HBCUs.
“In some ways, one would think higher-priced schools would have lower graduation rates because affordability can inhibit a student’s chances of staying in school and on track for their degree,” Pentis says.
However, schools like Clinton and Spelman have ways to circumvent that reality, such as offering significant financial aid that doesn’t need to be repaid. Spelman, for example, offers a variety of institutional scholarships that cover partial or full tuition costs, with some assistance lasting for as many as four years.
Pentis also points out that higher-priced, more prestigious HBCUs might attract families with deeper pockets.
“These schools might have higher graduation rates, in part, because many of their students went to very good high schools that prepared them for the rigors of college, or perhaps they come from families with multiple generations of college graduates who offer students a great support system for excelling in school,” Pentis said.
| HBCU graduation rates within 150% of normal time | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | HBCU | Graduation rate | Rank | HBCU | Graduation rate |
| 1 | Clinton College | 75.6% | 49 | West Virginia State University | 30.8% |
| 2 | Spelman College | 75.1% | 50 | St Philip’s College | 30.8% |
| 3 | Howard University | 65.0% | 51 | Bluefield State College | 30.5% |
| 4 | Bennett College | 63.4% | 52 | Alabama A&M University | 29.7% |
| 5 | Hampton University | 59.8% | 53 | Savannah State University | 29.4% |
| 6 | Morehouse College | 54.2% | 54 | Virginia Union University | 28.6% |
| 7 | Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University | 52.6% | 55 | Central State University | 28.2% |
| 8 | Tuskegee University | 51.9% | 56 | Rust College | 28.1% |
| 9 | Xavier University of Louisiana | 51.5% | 57 | Huston-Tillotson University | 27.8% |
| 10 | Claflin University | 51.3% | 58 | Bishop State Community College | 27.6% |
| 11 | Winston-Salem State University | 51.2% | 59 | Stillman College | 27.2% |
| 12 | Oakwood University | 51.0% | 60 | Lincoln University (Missouri) | 26.8% |
| 13 | North Carolina A&T State University | 50.9% | 61 | Edward Waters College | 26.5% |
| 14 | Dillard University | 50.7% | 62 | Southwestern Christian College | 26.4% |
| 15 | Tougaloo College | 50.3% | 63 | Cheyney University of Pennsylvania | 26.2% |
| 16 | Fisk University | 50.2% | 64 | Coppin State University | 25.5% |
| 17 | North Carolina Central University | 49.2% | 65 | Kentucky State University | 25.4% |
| 18 | Johnson C. Smith University | 49.1% | 66 | Morris College | 25.3% |
| 19 | Lincoln University (Pennsylvania) | 47.4% | 67 | Gadsden State Community College | 25.0% |
| 20 | Clark Atlanta University | 44.3% | 68 | Miles College | 25.0% |
| 21 | Philander Smith College | 43.7% | 69 | Benedict College | 24.5% |
| 22 | Bowie State University | 43.4% | 70 | Livingstone College | 23.8% |
| 23 | Morgan State University | 43.3% | 71 | Albany State University | 23.2% |
| 24 | Delaware State University | 41.6% | 72 | Texas Southern University | 23.1% |
| 25 | Voorhees College | 41.3% | 73 | Allen University | 22.4% |
| 26 | University of Maryland Eastern Shore | 41.1% | 74 | Lane College | 22.2% |
| 27 | Alcorn State University | 40.9% | 75 | Southern University at New Orleans | 21.2% |
| 28 | Southern University and A&M College | 40.9% | 76 | H. Councill Trenholm State Community College | 20.9% |
| 29 | Elizabeth City State University | 38.5% | 77 | Wilberforce University | 20.3% |
| 30 | Virginia State University | 38.5% | 78 | Denmark Technical College | 20.0% |
| 31 | Jackson State University | 38.1% | 79 | Shelton State Community College | 19.7% |
| 32 | Florida Memorial University | 36.4% | 80 | Paul Quinn College | 19.6% |
| 33 | Prairie View A&M University | 35.9% | 81 | Lawson State Community College | 19.5% |
| 34 | Norfolk State University | 35.8% | 82 | Langston University | 17.7% |
| 35 | Wiley College | 35.7% | 83 | Shaw University | 17.0% |
| 36 | South Carolina State University | 35.2% | 84 | Harris-Stowe State University | 17.0% |
| 37 | Grambling State University | 35.1% | 85 | Saint Augustine’s University | 16.4% |
| 38 | Fort Valley State University | 35.0% | 86 | LeMoyne-Owen College | 14.2% |
| 39 | Fayetteville State University | 34.3% | 87 | J.F. Drake State Community and Technical College | 13.8% |
| 40 | Talladega College | 34.0% | 88 | University of the District of Columbia | 12.9% |
| 41 | University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff | 33.5% | 89 | Paine College | 12.7% |
| 42 | American Baptist College | 33.3% | 90 | Texas College | 12.4% |
| 43 | Coahoma Community College | 32.9% | 91 | Jarvis Christian College | 11.0% |
| 44 | Bethune-Cookman University | 32.8% | 92 | Southern University at Shreveport | 10.7% |
| 45 | Alabama State University | 32.8% | 93 | Shorter College | 9.5% |
| 46 | Mississippi Valley State University | 31.8% | 94 | Arkansas Baptist College | 7.8% |
| 47 | Tennessee State University | 31.7% | 95 | Virginia University of Lynchburg | 5.3% |
| 48 | University of the Virgin Islands | 31.2% | 96 | Selma University | 1.8% |
| Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Notes: For full-time undergraduates seeking bachelor’s degrees, 150% of normal time is typically six years. For full-time undergraduates seeking associate degrees, it’s typically three years. HBCUs with incomplete information were excluded. |
3 years after entering repayment, these HBCUs have the biggest groups paying down student loan debt
Another important factor to understand when looking at HBCUs is repayment rates.
This is defined as the percentage of student borrowers that haven’t defaulted on their loans and are making repayments. This rate is typically measured at the one-, three-, five- and seven-year marks after students start paying their loans.
Student Loan Hero researchers found that the schools with the highest repayment rates after three years are generally four-year public or private institutions. According to the data, the following schools had repayment rates above 60% after three years:
- Dillard University: 69.1%
- Institution type: 4-year private
- Net cost: $17,128
- Southern University at New Orleans: 68.3%
- Institution type: 4-year public
- Net cost: $7,632
- Xavier University of Louisiana: 66.4%
- Institution type: 4-year private
- Net cost: $19,715
- Southern University and A&M College: 65.2%
- Institution type: 4-year public
- Net cost: $16,312
- Tuskegee University: 62.2%
- Institution type: 4-year private
- Net cost: $34,575
| Repayment rates among HBCUs | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | HBCU | Repayment rate | Rank | HBCU | Repayment rate |
| 1 | Dillard University | 69.1% | 41 | Saint Augustine’s University | 43.8% |
| 2 | Southern University at New Orleans | 68.3% | 42 | Wiley College | 43.7% |
| 3 | Xavier University of Louisiana | 66.4% | 43 | Kentucky State University | 43.5% |
| 4 | Southern University and A&M College | 65.2% | 44 | Lincoln University (Pennsylvania) | 43.5% |
| 5 | Tuskegee University | 62.2% | 45 | South Carolina State University | 43.3% |
| 6 | University of the Virgin Islands | 59.3% | 46 | Alabama A&M University | 42.9% |
| 7 | Lincoln University (Missouri) | 59.0% | 47 | Cheyney University of Pennsylvania | 42.9% |
| 8 | Fisk University | 56.9% | 48 | Virginia State University | 38.2% |
| 9 | Bluefield State College | 56.7% | 49 | Fayetteville State University | 37.8% |
| 10 | Southern University at Shreveport | 56.5% | 50 | Virginia Union University | 37.8% |
| 11 | Grambling State University | 56.2% | 51 | Bennett College | 37.4% |
| 12 | University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff | 55.3% | 52 | Norfolk State University | 37.3% |
| 13 | Alcorn State University | 54.1% | 53 | Claflin University | 37.0% |
| 14 | Hampton University | 53.1% | 54 | Alabama State University | 36.6% |
| 15 | North Carolina A&T State University | 51.8% | 55 | Elizabeth City State University | 36.4% |
| 16 | Jackson State University | 51.6% | 56 | Morgan State University | 36.0% |
| 17 | St Philip’s College | 51.3% | 57 | Stillman College | 35.8% |
| 18 | Spelman College | 50.8% | 58 | University of Maryland Eastern Shore | 35.6% |
| 19 | Harris-Stowe State University | 50.7% | 59 | Jarvis Christian College | 35.5% |
| 20 | Huston-Tillotson University | 50.6% | 60 | Texas College | 33.6% |
| 21 | Tougaloo College | 50.5% | 61 | Savannah State University | 32.5% |
| 22 | Mississippi Valley State University | 50.2% | 62 | Bethune-Cookman University | 32.2% |
| 23 | Langston University | 49.5% | 63 | Central State University | 32.1% |
| 24 | Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University | 49.5% | 64 | Johnson C. Smith University | 31.9% |
| 25 | Prairie View A&M University | 48.8% | 65 | Fort Valley State University | 31.7% |
| 26 | Texas Southern University | 48.8% | 66 | North Carolina Central University | 31.6% |
| 27 | Tennessee State University | 48.7% | 67 | Rust College | 30.0% |
| 28 | Philander Smith College | 48.6% | 68 | Shaw University | 29.2% |
| 29 | Arkansas Baptist College | 48.1% | 69 | Paine College | 28.6% |
| 30 | University of the District of Columbia | 47.3% | 70 | Albany State University | 27.6% |
| 31 | West Virginia State University | 47.2% | 71 | Florida Memorial University | 27.0% |
| 32 | Coppin State University | 46.1% | 72 | Edward Waters College | 26.4% |
| 33 | Oakwood University | 46.0% | 73 | Voorhees College | 26.0% |
| 34 | Wilberforce University | 45.9% | 74 | Miles College | 25.8% |
| 35 | Morehouse College | 45.5% | 75 | Livingstone College | 25.6% |
| 36 | Clark Atlanta University | 45.1% | 76 | Benedict College | 24.3% |
| 37 | Delaware State University | 45.1% | 77 | Allen University | 22.9% |
| 38 | Howard University | 44.8% | 78 | Morris College | 22.0% |
| 39 | Winston-Salem State University | 44.3% | 79 | Denmark Technical College | 19.2% |
| 40 | Bowie State University | 43.9% | 80 | Lane College | 18.4% |
| Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Notes: The repayment rate is measured at three years after entering repayment. HBCUs with incomplete information were excluded. |
Finding the right HBCU
Because there are various factors to consider, finding the right HBCU fit can be challenging.
“Students and their families tend to focus their attention on schools instead of themselves, even getting dreamy-eyed about particular colleges or universities, whether because of their prestigious reputations, city locations or sports teams,” Pentis says.
Instead, Pentis advises parents and students to focus on their family’s priorities. Here’s how you can approach this:
- Build a list of what the student wants to get out of their HBCU college experience. This can include proximity to a support system such as family, school size or access to certain majors, classes and activities.
- Once that list is complete, the student can go out and see which HBCUs are the best match for what they’re seeking. When visiting schools, they should be sure to go when school is in session to get a good impression of what day-to-day life is like as a student. The student may also want to take a tour of the campus, meet with an admissions counselor and sit in on a lecture.
- Once the family has a list of HBCUs that mostly fit their criteria, it’s time to compare those schools on an apples-to-apples basis, looking at objective facts like costs and graduation rates. Ideally, the family will be left with at least a few affordable schools that are still likely to support the student from admission to graduation.
Methodology
Student Loan Hero analysts looked at data on historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) to rank the most and least affordable institutions.
Researchers gathered average annual net costs to attend each school and ranked them from lowest to highest. Net cost measures the average annual total cost of attendance, including tuition and fees, books and supplies, and living expenses, minus the average grant/scholarship aid. It’s calculated for all full-time, first-time, degree or certificate-seeking undergraduates who receive Title IV aid.
The latest available data is from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard for the 2019-20 school year.
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