Best HBCU Online Colleges 2023
HBCUs were established to provide more opportunities to African Americans and are largely responsible for establishing and expanding the African American middle class. There are 101 HBCUs in the United States (of 121 institutions that existed during the 1930s), representing three percent of the nation’s colleges, including public and private institutions. HBCUs currently produce nearly 20% of all African American college graduates and 25% of African American STEM graduates.
In the present day, HBCUs persist in playing a vital role in providing African Americans and historically underrepresented groups with essential pathways to higher education. These institutions serve as conduits for diverse educational opportunities, ensuring greater access and inclusivity. HBCUs offer a wide range of degree programs and a supportive, welcoming, and culturally aware environment.
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Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.A 2015 study revealed that black HBCU alumni reported higher levels of financial and purpose fulfillment than non-HBCU graduates. HBCU graduates were also more involved in applied internships, long-term projects, and extracurricular activities, which offered them practical experience while also assisting them in gaining marketable skills and relationships.
Because we value the importance of historically black colleges and universities and the benefits they provide, EDsmart has gathered a list of the top historically black colleges and universities in the nation that offer online programs for those seeking a more flexible education.
Rankings
EDsmart assesses HBCU’s based on data that covers four main areas:
- Cost (average net price)
- Academic quality (graduation rate)
- Student satisfaction (retention rate)
- Salary After Attending (the median earnings of former students who received federal financial aid, 10 years after entering the school)
All data was gathered from the U.S. Dept of Education websites College Scorecard and College Navigator.
This ranking aims to help students assess the affordability and value of top HBCUs so they can make informed decisions about which college to attend.
Top Online HBCUs
1. Howard University
Programs Offered: Bachelor and Masters
Score: 100.0
Average Net Price: $41,388
Retention Rate: 88%
Graduation Rate: 63%
Salary After Attending: $56,236
Howard University is a private, federally chartered historically black university in Washington, D.C. It was founded in 1867 by Civil War general Oliver O. Howard and is named in his honor. Howard University has an undergraduate enrollment reaching almost 7,500 students and a competitive acceptance rate of 39%. Of those who are accepted, Howard University graduates about 63% of students, which is higher than the national average.
Howard University’s online classes are asynchronous, which means that students can do their work whenever they want. This allows students to balance their studies with their work and personal commitments. The online programs at Howard University are taught by the same faculty who teach on-campus classes, and students have access to the same resources and support services as their on-campus counterparts.
2. North Carolina Agricultural and Tech State University
Programs Offered: Bachelor, Masters, and Doctorate
Score: 99.8
Average Net Price: $10,563
Retention Rate: 80%
Graduation Rate: 50%
Salary After Attending: $41,157
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, or NC A&T, is a public university in the city of Greensboro, North Carolina. It is a historically black university. The university has both undergraduate and graduate degree programs that can be taken on campus or online. NC A&T’s online programs are made to give students the freedom to go to school while still taking care of their professional and personal responsibilities.
In addition to online programs, NC A&T also offers a number of hybrid programs, which combine online coursework with on-campus classes. This gives students the flexibility of online learning while still giving them the chance to talk to their classmates and teachers in person.
3. Spelman College
Programs Offered: Certification
Score: 99.8
Average Net Price: $44,833
Retention Rate: 89%
Graduation Rate: 76%
Salary After Attending: $52,227
Spelman College is situated in the bustling Georgian metropolis of Atlanta. While Spelman College does not offer fully online degrees, it does offer several online certifications. The purpose of these certifications is to give students specialized knowledge and skills in a certain field. Spelman College offers online certifications like digital marketing, human resources, and supply chain management. Spelman College is a fairly small school with a total enrollment of 2,100 students and an acceptance rate of 53%.
The objective behind these certifications is to equip students with the necessary knowledge and skills to thrive in today’s rapidly evolving business environment. Specifically, the Digital Marketing Certification aims to provide students with the essential expertise to excel in the digital marketing realm. Similarly, the Human Resources Certification aims to prepare students for influential positions within the human resources field, while the Supply Chain Management Certification is designed to equip students with the requisite skills for successful careers in supply chain management.
4. Xavier University of Louisiana
Programs Offered: Bachelor, Masters, and Doctorate
Score: 99.0
Average Net Price: $20,108
Retention Rate: 74%
Graduation Rate: 47%
Salary After Attending: $53,554
The private, historically black, Catholic Xavier University of Louisiana is located in New Orleans, Louisiana. It has a wide range of on-campus and online bachelor’s and master’s degree programs. The online programs are intended to provide students with the flexibility to complete their educations while balancing their careers and personal lives. At the Xavier University of Louisiana, the same professors teach both on-campus and online classes. This keeps the quality of education consistent. This makes the transition from on-campus learning to online learning easier.
5. Tuskegee University
Programs Offered: Bachelor and Masters
Score: 99.0
Average Net Price: $36,528
Retention Rate: 76%
Graduation Rate: 66%
Salary After Attending: $44,419
Tuskegee University, which is in Tuskegee, Alabama, was founded in 1881. Multiple advanced degree options are available both on-campus and online. Tuskegee University’s online degree options are made to accommodate working adults who must also take care of their families and other responsibilities. It is a modest university with 2,170 undergraduate students enrolled. Tuskegee has a 61% acceptance rate, making admissions somewhat competitive. Mechanical engineering, animal sciences and husbandry, and biology seem to be popular majors.
Tuskegee University students can earn their bachelor’s degrees by studying online. The goal of these programs is to give students the flexibility they need to keep going to school while also taking care of their work and personal obligations. Students at Tuskegee University can choose from the following online bachelor’s degree programs: a Bachelor of Science with a major in Industrial and Systems Engineering; a student in nursing with a Bachelor of Science, and a computer science degree that leads to a Bachelor of Science (BSCS). Tuskegee University offers several master’s degrees online, including business administration, nutrition, and food science, and computer science.
6. Hampton University
Programs Offered: Associate, Bachelor, Master, and Doctorate
Score: 98.8
Average Net Price: $26,824
Retention Rate: 74%
Graduation Rate: 50%
Salary After Attending: $52,372
Hampton University was founded in 1838. Multiple advanced degree options are available both on-campus and online. The online degree programs at Hampton University are made to fit the needs of working adults who also have personal and family obligations.
Tailored for individuals currently employed and aspiring to advance in their respective professions, these courses provide a platform for career growth. Students will gain the information and expertise necessary to compete successfully in today’s fast-paced business climate by participating in these programs which are developed specifically with student achievement in mind.
7. Delaware State University
Programs Offered: Associate, Bachelor, and Masters
Score: 97.8
Average Net Price: $14,866
Retention Rate: 72%
Graduation Rate: 41%
Salary After Attending: $42,994
Delaware State University is a public historically black land-grant research university in Dover, Delaware. This very modest educational facility is home to a total of 3,617 undergraduate students. The admissions procedure at Delaware State is extremely demanding because the percentage of applicants who are accepted into the school is only 39%.
Biology, communications, and criminology are three of the most popular undergraduate majors. At Delaware State University only 41% of students graduate but those who do earn an average starting salary of $28,200.
8. University of The Virgin Islands
Programs Offered: Associate, Bachelor, and Masters
Score: 97.3
Average Net Price: $9,952
Retention Rate: 65%
Graduation Rate: 30%
Salary After Attending: $37,808
The University of the Virgin Islands has a long history of educating black Americans and is dedicated to continuing that tradition. This is due to the fact that UVI was originally established as a black college. UVI has a completely open admissions policy, so there is no chance of being rejected. Nursing, business, police, and criminal science are always at or near the top of lists of the most popular majors for undergraduates. The average beginning salary for graduates of the University of the Virgin Islands is $24,400, and the university graduates thirty percent of the students that enroll there.
Through its Center for Online and Distance Education, the University of the Virgin Islands has online programs for both undergraduate and graduate degrees. The programs are meant to give students who can’t go to classes on campus more freedom and convenience. Some of the online undergraduate and graduate degree programs offered by UVI include business administration, human resource management, nursing, and education. Students can also complete certificates and professional development courses online.
9. Albany State University
Programs Offered: Associate, Bachelor, and Masters
Score: 96.0
Average Net Price: $13,520
Retention Rate: 67%
Graduation Rate: 28%
Salary After Attending: $35,851
The Albany Georgia, campus of Albany State University is a public institution. There are only 4,226 students in the undergraduate program so it is not a very big school. The acceptance rate at Albany State is 73%, so applicants should expect some level of competition. The fields of nursing, liberal arts and humanities, and business are three of the most common majors. The average starting salary for graduates of Albany State University, who make up 28% of all graduates, is $24,500.
Some of the online undergraduate degrees you can get are in Business Administration, Criminal Justice, and Health Science. All online programs are made to be flexible and easy for students who can’t go to classes on campus, and they are all delivered at different times.
10. Alabama Agriculture and Mechanical A&M University
Programs Offered: Bachelor and Masters
Score: 95.8
Average Net Price: $15,529
Retention Rate: 55%
Graduation Rate: 31%
Salary After Attending: $36,339
Alabama A&M University is a school in Huntsville Alabama, that is supported by the state government. AAMU has a long history of caring about the education of African Americans and a strong desire to keep doing so. Because of this, Alabama A&M University is considered a historically black college. With a total undergraduate enrollment of 4,663 students, it is considered to be on the smaller side. At Alabama A&M University the admissions rate is a competitive 90%. Biology, business, and mechanical engineering are three of the most common majors chosen by students enrolling in undergraduate programs. The average starting wage for graduates of Alabama A&M University, which has a graduation rate of 31%, is $25,200. The university also has a relatively high percentage of students who earn their degrees.
Business Administration, Early Childhood Education, and Criminal Justice are some of the online bachelor’s degree programs that are available. AAMU also offers an online Master of Education and an online MBA program. All of the online programs are made to give students who can’t go to classes on campus more freedom and convenience. They give the coursework to the students in an asynchronous way, so the students can do it on their own time.
11. Lincoln University of Pennsylvania
Programs Offered: Bachelor
Score: 95.0
Average Net Price: $11,583
Retention Rate: 52%
Graduation Rate: 25%
Salary After Attending: $34,731
Lower Oxford Township, Pennsylvania, is the location of Lincoln University, a public university that is part of the Philadelphia Metropolitan Area. Only 1,664 students are in the undergraduate program, which makes it a pretty small school. The percentage of applicants who are accepted at Lincoln University is 90%. Most students choose to major in Human Services, Digital Communication, Media/Multimedia, or Health Service Preparatory Studies. Lincoln University has a graduation rate of 25%, and its alumni go on to earn a starting salary of $25,600 after graduation.
Through its Office of Distance Learning, Lincoln University offers online versions of some of its undergraduate degree programs. The Business Administration Degree Program, the Criminal Justice Degree Program, and the Nursing Degree Program are all examples of Undergraduate Degree Programs that are Available Online.
