Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) represent a big part of African American history and a large portion of higher education in today’s world. There has been much debate about the changing landscape of higher education: “Is tuition still rising?”, “How much is a college degree worth?” or “Is college still worth it?”. A more important question being raised is whether black colleges are still worthwhile for students- and the answer is that yes, they absolutely are. HBCUs provide not only tremendous social and cultural advantages specifically tailored toward black students and have many financial advantages that set more black people up for success in whatever field they go into.

HBCUs offer a wide variety of aid for those who come from low-income families or first-generation students. These students make up a sizable amount of the student population at HBCUs. They are given access to different avenues of aid to help them pay for college and provide them with access to more opportunities. HBCUs traditionally have lower tuition costs than non-HBCU institutions, making them more affordable for many families. This scenario creates an ideal situation for more African American students to graduate without debt. 

HBCUs are vital to the black community here in the United States. They create a community for black students where people can relate to one another more easily. This commonality between people overall helps with the college experience in the long term and helps students feel more supported by their peers. This is done not only in the classrooms but also in social settings and activities. Many HBCUs have renowned programs not only in specific academic disciplines but also for the arts. Many HBCUs are known for their incredible marching bands and the abilities their programs have to entertain, and the talents of the individual performers.

HBCUs have been widely disregarded in terms of federal funding; funding necessary to keep these colleges afloat and improve their resources, infrastructure, academic progress, and research. As these institutions are neglected from federal funds, many students are being forced to take on more and more debt.

HBCUs are a cultural hub for young African American adults to meet one another and forge a path for themselves as they enter the workforce. Many prominent HBCUs such as Bethune-Cookman University, Florida A&M University, and Clark Atlanta University reinforce and showcase the values, morals, and diversity found in other pillars of the Black community within the US. Black churches are also a foundation for the different Black communities across the country. HBCUs are rooted in the same faith and values that these places have, contributing to the students’ overall success.funding-funding

Another vital aspect of HBCUs is the historical enrichment that they provided. Many of the people who started these HBCUs are prominent figures in African American history. People like Mary McCloud Bethune have their names forever imprinted on history because a university bears their names. The struggles and accomplishments of those who fought to establish these institutions for African Americans are extraordinary and will forever be celebrated as long as HBCUs still operate. Moreover, HBCUs have allowed for even more pillars in the black community like black sororities and fraternities to exist and thrive in today’s world. 

As someone who does not attend an HBCU, my university Florida International University is a Primarily White Institution (PWI). I see the value in the social bond that is created, the two groups of people. A PWI is a university where a majority of the student body and faculty are white. Though they may have different nationalities and backgrounds, they are similar at the core. That bond is unique to the people who belong to that culture, paralleled between students at HBCUs. HBCUs have long been an essential aspect of higher education. They will continue to thrive with the help of alumni, current students, and by passing legacies of people who paved their success.

Written by Aaliyah Sims

Citations:

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Six Reasons HBCUs Are More Important Than Ever | UNCF. (2017, January 19). UNCF. https://uncf.org/the-latest/6-reasons-hbcus-are-more-important-than-ever

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trevoykellyphotography. (2018, January 25). People Three Portrait - Free photo on Pixabay. Pixabay.com. https://pixabay.com/photos/people-three-portrait-black-3104635/