Largest HBCUs by Black Enrollment
Written by EDsmart Staff | Updated August 20, 2026
North Carolina A&T State University has the largest Black student enrollment among HBCUs, with 10,744 Black students. Howard University is second with 10,050, followed by Prairie View A&M University with 8,193. Unlike rankings based on total school enrollment, EDsmart’s analysis ranks HBCUs by the number of Black students enrolled at each school.
The table below also shows each school’s total enrollment and the percentage of students who are Black/African-American, making it easier to compare the size and makeup of their student populations.
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Key takeaways
- Largest Black enrollment: North Carolina A&T State University, with 10,744 Black students.
- Second largest: Howard University, with 10,050 Black students.
- Third largest: Prairie View A&M University, with 8,193 Black students.
- Highest Black share in the top 10: Jackson State University, where 92.0% of students were Black in fall 2024.
- Change from our original ranking: North Carolina A&T moved from third to first, while Howard remained second.
- Data year: Fall 2024.
10 HBCUs With the Largest Black Enrollment
The table ranks HBCUs by the number of Black students enrolled. Total enrollment and Black share are included for context, but they do not affect the ranking.
| Rank | HBCU | Location | Black enrollment | Total enrollment | Black share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Carolina A&T State University | Greensboro, NC | 10,744 | 14,311 | 75.1% |
| 2 | Howard University | Washington, DC | 10,050 | 14,890 | 67.5% |
| 3 | Prairie View A&M University | Prairie View, TX | 8,193 | 9,922 | 82.6% |
| 4 | Morgan State University | Baltimore, MD | 7,913 | 10,739 | 73.7% |
| 5 | Florida A&M University | Tallahassee, FL | 7,820 | 9,313 | 84.0% |
| 6 | Southern University and A&M College | Baton Rouge, LA | 7,231 | 8,279 | 87.3% |
| 7 | Texas Southern University | Houston, TX | 7,165 | 8,704 | 82.3% |
| 8 | North Carolina Central University | Durham, NC | 6,496 | 8,579 | 75.7% |
| 9 | Alabama A&M University | Normal, AL | 6,326 | 7,295 | 86.7% |
| 10 | Jackson State University | Jackson, MS | 5,820 | 6,326 | 92.0% |
Source: EDsmart calculations using the Fall 2024 IPEDS enrollment file (EF2024A), the 2024 IPEDS institutional directory, and the U.S. Department of Education’s HBCU list. Black enrollment counts include students classified by IPEDS in the Black or African American race/ethnicity category across undergraduate and graduate levels and attendance statuses. Total enrollment and Black share are shown for context and do not determine rank.
How We Ranked the Largest HBCUs by Black Enrollment
We ranked HBCUs by the number of Black students enrolled in fall 2024.
We started with the U.S. Department of Education’s list of HBCUs, matched each school with its enrollment data, and ranked the schools from the largest Black student enrollment to the smallest.
Total enrollment and the percentage of students who are Black are included for context, but they do not affect the ranking.
This ranking measures the size of each school’s Black student population. It does not measure academic quality, affordability, or how well a school may fit an individual student.
How the Black Enrollment Ranking Changed Since Our Original Edition
Our original article also ranked HBCUs by Black enrollment. The source year for those older figures was not recorded, so this is a comparison with our earlier list rather than a precise year-to-year trend. The table shows the original figures next to fall 2024 enrollment.
North Carolina A&T moved from third in our original ranking to first in Fall 2024, reaching 10,744 Black students. Howard remained second with 10,050. Prairie View A&M rose from sixth to third, and Morgan State moved from 10th to fourth. Florida A&M, which led the original ranking, is fifth in the Fall 2024 data.
| HBCU | Published rank | Published Black enrollment | 2024 rank | 2024 Black enrollment | Count change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida A&M University | 1 | 10,098 | 5 | 7,820 | −2,278 |
| Howard University | 2 | 9,370 | 2 | 10,050 | +680 |
| North Carolina A&T State University | 3 | 8,977 | 1 | 10,744 | +1,767 |
| Jackson State University | 4 | 8,403 | 10 | 5,820 | −2,583 |
| Texas Southern University | 5 | 7,311 | 7 | 7,165 | −146 |
| Prairie View A&M University | 6 | 7,123 | 3 | 8,193 | +1,070 |
| Tennessee State University | 7 | 6,751 | 14 | 4,758 | −1,993 |
| North Carolina Central University | 8 | 6,717 | 8 | 6,496 | −221 |
| Southern University and A&M College | 9 | 6,370 | 6 | 7,231 | +861 |
| Morgan State University | 10 | 6,339 | 4 | 7,913 | +1,574 |
Source: Original EDsmart figures as previously published and EDsmart calculations from Fall 2024 IPEDS. Because the source year for the original figures was not recorded, the count changes are descriptive comparisons rather than a precise fixed-period trend.
The 10 HBCUs With the Largest Black Student Enrollment
1. North Carolina A&T State University
Greensboro, North Carolina | 10,744 Black students | 14,311 total students
North Carolina A&T ranks first by Black student headcount in Fall 2024. Black students made up 75.1% of its total enrollment. The public land-grant university offers programs in engineering, agriculture, business, science, technology, health, education, and the humanities. Review the university’s academic programs and Fall 2024 enrollment report.
2. Howard University
Washington, DC | 10,050 Black students | 14,890 total students
Howard ranks second by Black student headcount, with Black students making up 67.5% of fall 2024 enrollment. The private research university offers more than 120 degree programs across 14 schools and colleges. See Howard’s official academics page.
3. Prairie View A&M University
Prairie View, Texas | 8,193 Black students | 9,922 total students
Prairie View A&M ranks third, with Black students making up 82.6% of fall 2024 enrollment. The public land-grant university is part of the Texas A&M University System and offers programs in agriculture, engineering, nursing, architecture, business, education, and criminal justice. Explore the university’s official overview.
4. Morgan State University
Baltimore, Maryland | 7,913 Black students | 10,739 total students
Morgan State ranks fourth by Black enrollment. Black students made up 73.7% of its fall 2024 student body. Maryland’s public urban research university offers more than 150 academic programs, from bachelor’s degrees through doctorates. Read Morgan State’s official university overview.
5. Florida A&M University
Tallahassee, Florida | 7,820 Black students | 9,313 total students
Florida A&M ranks fifth in Fall 2024, with Black students making up 84.0% of fall 2024 enrollment. The public land-grant university has 14 colleges and schools and offers bachelor’s, master’s, professional, and doctoral degrees. View FAMU’s colleges and schools.
6. Southern University and A&M College
Baton Rouge, Louisiana | 7,231 Black students | 8,279 total students
Southern ranks sixth by Black student headcount. Black students made up 87.3% of fall 2024 enrollment. Southern is a public land-grant university and the flagship campus of the Southern University System. Visit the official Southern University website.
7. Texas Southern University
Houston, Texas | 7,165 Black students | 8,704 total students
Texas Southern ranks seventh, with Black students making up 82.3% of fall 2024 enrollment. The public doctoral university offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate programs through 10 colleges and schools. See the university’s official facts and overview.
8. North Carolina Central University
Durham, North Carolina | 6,496 Black students | 8,579 total students
North Carolina Central ranks eighth by Black student headcount. Black students made up 75.7% of fall 2024 enrollment. Browse NCCU’s colleges and schools.
9. Alabama A&M University
Normal, Alabama | 6,326 Black students | 7,295 total students
Alabama A&M ranks ninth by Black student count. Its Fall 2024 Black enrollment totaled 6,326 students, or 86.7% of total enrollment. The public 1890 land-grant university offers programs in agriculture, engineering, technology, business, education, science, and the arts. See Alabama A&M’s official university facts.
10. Jackson State University
Jackson, Mississippi | 5,820 Black students | 6,326 total students
Jackson State ranks 10th by Black student headcount and has the highest Black share among the schools in this top 10: Black students made up 92.0% of fall 2024 enrollment. Visit Jackson State University for current academic and admissions information.
What Does Black Enrollment Tell Students?
Black enrollment count shows the size of the Black student population at an institution. That can matter to students who are looking for a large Black peer community, alumni network, campus organizations, or a particular HBCU environment. But headcount alone does not tell you whether a college is affordable, academically strong in your major, supportive, or a good personal fit.
Black enrollment count and Black enrollment share also answer different questions. A university can enroll a large number of Black students without having the highest Black percentage, while a smaller school can have a very high Black share but fewer Black students overall. Use both measures as context, along with cost, financial aid, graduation results, majors, location, and student support.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which HBCU has the largest Black student enrollment?
North Carolina A&T State University had the largest Black student enrollment among HBCUs in Fall 2024, with 10,744 Black students.
Which HBCU has the second-largest Black enrollment?
Howard University ranked second in Fall 2024 with 10,050 Black students.
Is the HBCU with the largest total enrollment also the one with the largest Black enrollment?
No. Total enrollment and Black enrollment are different measures. St. Philip’s College had more total students than any HBCU in Fall 2024, but North Carolina A&T had the largest Black student enrollment.
Which top-10 HBCU has the highest percentage of Black students?
Among the 10 HBCUs with the largest Black student counts, Jackson State University had the highest Black share in Fall 2024 at 92.0%.
Do HBCUs have to enroll mostly Black students?
No. HBCU status is based on a school’s history and mission, not on whether most current students are Black. HBCUs admit students of all races.
Sources
- National Center for Education Statistics: IPEDS Fall 2024 enrollment files
- U.S. Department of Education: Accredited HBCU listing and federal definition
- U.S. Department of Education: College Scorecard data
- U.S. Department of Education: College Scorecard data dictionary
- Southern University: 2024–25 fact book
- Official college and university pages linked in the profiles above