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Historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) have long served Black students, non-Black students of color and more recently white students. Of their graduates, several alumni have gone on to achieve incredible careers, ranging from Oprah Winfrey and Samuel L. Jackson to Vice President Kamala Harris . HBCUs have produced some of the world’s greatest speakers, artists and businesspeople. It’s no wonder why rankings exist among the 101 institutions that provide higher education to Black students. From having the most successful alumni to being the hardest HBCU to get into, here are our HBCU rankings. The Highest HBCU Rankings In The Country Each of the HBCUs mentioned in this ranking system has their own specialty and draw for students. Between the universities, each one of them garners funding, which contributes to university/college performance academically and athletically. At eighth place is Xavier University known for being a leader in STEM and health sciences. North...
Houston, TX, native Jennifer Ford’s passion for sneakers has led her to work with major apparel giants. Ford is currently the proud owner of Premium Goods, a sneaker boutique in Houston. The idea for opening the shop dials back to her days in New York, NY, following the completion of her economics degree from Emory University, her LinkedIn mentions. While in New York, it would spark her interests in women’s buying departments and women’s product development. However, it was not until she befriended Premium Goods-Brooklyn shop owner Clarence Nathan that Ford manifested her own sneaker boutique in 2004, located in her hometown. “It’s about being with other people who enjoy the same thing as me and [building] a community,” Ford told Vogue in 2023. With its opening in 2004, the Premium Goods Houston location reportedly became the first sneaker retail store in the United States led by a Black woman. Per Premium Goods’ website, the shop features major brands like Jordan Brand, Nike,...
Michelle Obama has attracted investments from Stephen and Ayesha Curry. The former First Lady of the United States is the founder of PLEZi Nutrition, a company designed to reshape the food industry and provide healthier drinks and snack alternatives for children, according to its website. Its inaugural product is a drink called PLEZi, made with fewer sugars and more nutrients like fiber and potassium. The company’s mission is now being fueled through an investment from Stephen and Ayesha Curry, who now serve as investors and brand partners, per a news release. “We’re so excited to welcome Stephen and Ayesha Curry to the PLEZi Nutrition family,” said former First Lady Michelle Obama , co-founder and strategic partner of PLEZi Nutrition, in a news release. “They are true role models. They’re extraordinary at what they do and how they go about their work — with creativity, integrity, and a whole lot of fun. Their commitment to bettering the lives of children and their dedication to...
This Philadelphia, PA, native is transforming her e-commerce startup into a new luxury experience. Kadidja Dosso founded the e-commerce shop Dosso Beauty, a clinically tested, hypoallergenic braiding hair company. In an interview with FOX29 Philadelphia, Dosso shared that the company has been a game changer for more than 50,000 women who suffer from allergic reactions from braiding hair due to toxic chemicals. Dosso launched Dosso Beauty in 2018 after experiencing a horrible allergic reaction to braiding hair, along with a history of scalp and skin sensitivity. While Dosso has had six years of success selling Dosso Beauty products on its e-commerce site, Amazon, GoPuff, DoorDash, independent retail stores, and hair salons, she is ready for the next step. In Dosso’s interview with FOX29, she shared her plans to open the company’s first-ever brick-and-mortar store in July 2024 in Philadelphia, PA. She also plans to open a luxury braid salon within the store called The Dosso Beauty...
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are higher learning institutions established in the United States during the 19th and early 20th centuries primarily for the education of Black Americans. Most HBCUs were founded after the Civil War, during the Reconstruction era, with the purpose of providing higher education opportunities for Black Americans who were previously denied access to mainstream institutions due to segregation and racial discrimination. Today, these same schools still provide opportunities for Black Americans to embrace their culture while getting their education. With many schools existing around the country, certain ones have been regarded as the best HBCUs. The top HBCUs are often ranked based on various criteria such as academic excellence, student outcomes , notable alumni , campus facilities and more. Here is a list of the top 10 best HBCUs, along with what makes them stand out. Spelman College Spelman consistently ranks at number one as the best...
Fantasia Barrino, often referred to under the mononym Fantasia, is a world-wide star with droves of talent and an impressive catalogue of musical success. After winning the third season of “ American Idol ” back in 2004, the generational talent explored a solo music career, a foray into film and stage acting , and a wide array of financial investments . At her financial peak, the young songstress had amassed millions in net worth, though much of her wealth has been depleted over the years. In fact, fans may be shocked to learn that Fantasia currently holds an estimated net worth of only $500,000 dollars, according to Celebrity Net Worth . Fantasia has been open with the public about the financial struggles of her past, explaining that she was taken advantage of by numerous figures within the music industry, who carved out pieces of her net worth to enrich themselves. Likewise, Fantasia has admitted that she entered the industry lacking the financial wisdom required to succeed. In an...
Morgan State University is receiving extended financial backing from a leading company that works to “build breakthrough crypto solutions.” On May 14, the National FinTech Center at the Baltimore, MD-based HBCU announced it had been awarded a three-year $1,050,000 grant from Ripple. The new funding will go toward advancing the center’s blockchain and fintech research, education, programming, faculty and student technical projects, ecosystem development, operational support, educational workshops, blockchain clubs, and a fintech solution incubator, per a news release. “This generous $1,050,000 grant is not just an investment; it’s a catalyst that propels our ability to innovate, collaborate, and prepare our students to be at the forefront of the FinTech revolution,” said Ali Emdad, Ph.D., f ounding director of the National Center for the Study of Blockchain and FinTech. “The ongoing partnership with Ripple stands as a beacon, illuminating the path toward a transformative educational...
Beyoncé’s Cécred is looking to make an impact outside of just the haircare industry. As previously shared by AFROTECH™, the technology-backed company launched in February 2024. Testing was a big proponent in bringing the haircare line that’s “validated by science” to life. “Every hair texture deserves testing, research and development,” Beyoncé told Essence for its March/April 2024 cover story. “Black women in general are the last to be included in testing. We are often prescribed things based on studies we were not included in. It’s bigger than me, or hair. Now we have created something that celebrates healthy hair for all women, including us. I’m always honored to invest in us.” Within the same month of Cécred’s launch, BeyGood, Beyoncé’s public charity foundation, announced its Cécred x BeyGood Fund. According to its website, the annual $500,000 fund was created to give back to professional hairstylists for the impactful work they bring to their respective communities. “Fostering...
Propel and Southern Company have teamed up once again for a new initiative. The two have joined forces to launch the Propel HBCU Cybersecurity Consortium (HCC), according to a news release. The inaugural consortium was created to further support HBCUs’ cybersecurity curriculums. What’s more, it aims to connect academia, industry, and government. “The dynamic and ever-evolving cybersecurity landscape has generated a myriad of leading career opportunities that have become critical across virtually every business sector – with a mere nine percent of those individuals being Black professionals,” Propel President Dr. Lisa Herring shared in a statement. “In partnership and collaboration with our co-founder, Southern Company, we’re cracking the code in a sector that is grossly underrepresented by diverse talent and an industry in need of a greatly expanded workforce.” The news release notes that the HCC is made up of a resource hub, professional development, accelerated learning, and...
Colleges in general are expensive — and that also goes for your favorite HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities). But how much bang are you really getting for your buck at these schools? A recent report by Forbes compiled a list of the HBCUs that will provide you the most “bang for your buck.” The outlet confirmed, too, that graduating from a historically Black college/university provides more of a positive impact than just a degree from a university where fellow melanated students can achieve their dreams. For example, the average HBCU grad will make nearly $1 million more than a non-HBCU grad — and for every one dollar spent on an HBCU student, $1.44 is put back into the economy. In total, HBCUs generate more than $14 billion in economic impact. So, when you’re told to vote with your dollars, that’s exactly what they’re talking about. “Some HBCUs have significantly lower tuition rates than other four-year institutions,” reports CultureBanx, who compiled the report...
In today’s day and age of social media, simply tagging someone in a post could potentially change the course of their careers. With viral sensations and challenges ruling over our timelines, it’s also become a trend for Black creators to not receive proper recognition as the originators for the majority of what blows up online. Meta’s Alexis Michelle Adjei, Cameryn Boyd, and Alexandra Zaoui made the active choice to step in and help the underrepresented group get their due credit. “I feel like it was every day on these different platforms overall — on Instagram, of course — of seeing dances, designs, and songs, and [Black creators] would make these amazing viral trends,” Adjei shared with AfroTech. “It was beautiful to see everybody do their own takes on it, but when you went back to look at the originator they were often Black and brown folk who were really being the trendsetters. And they were getting lost in the story. When it would come to what would be displayed or what would...
On a mission to diversify the engineering sector, $5 million has been pledged towards 15 accredited Historically Black College and Universities’ (HBCUs’) Schools of Engineering. Los Angeles Sentinel reports LADWP Board of Water and Power Commissioners has signed a five-year agreement with Advancing Minorities’ Interest in Engineering to house technical and scientific research at HBCUs. “As LADWP attracts top scientific talent for our next generation, we must also keep equity in mind to ensure we are reaching potential candidates who may not have been traditionally represented in our ranks and in the utility industry,” said Monique Earl, LADWP Senior Assistant General Manager and Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer, according to Los Angeles Sentinel. “Refocusing our recruitment programs to engage with HBCUs and other educational institutions championing diversity is key to creating robust pathways to employment for underrepresented groups and ultimately transforming our...
Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott has placed another generous donation to support Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). According to a press release, HBCU Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (CDU) will receive $20 million thanks to MacKenzie Scott’s contribution. The donation marks the largest yet for the HBCU. “The mission of Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science is noble, and it takes noble people like MacKenzie Scott to help bring it to fruition,” stated, Benjamin Quillian, Ph.D., Chair of CDU’s Board of Trustees, according to a press release. “This kind act will have a ripple effect that starts with our students and ends with improved health outcomes in under-resourced neighborhoods.”
What a way to honor a loved one! According to QCityMetro, Hellena Tidwell honored her late husband with quite the donation to their alma mater, North Carolina Central University. Tidwell, along with the couple’s two sons, pledged a total of $500,000 in honor of Isaiah Tidwell. The funds will help to support the historically Black university’s accounting program.
Have you ever wanted to support your favorite HBCU, but didn’t have the means or the wherewithal to do so? This “spare change” app will help you do just that! AfroTech previously spoke with Dominique King — founder of the I Heart My HBCU app — who leveraged this technology to make donations to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) easy (they can be done in as little as 60 seconds) back in December of 2020. “When creating this app, it was important for me to encourage HBCU Alumni to support all HBCUs. Users can easily adjust how much or how little of the spare change they share to their five favorite HBCUs,” she said in a statement about the I Heart My HBCU app. “I Heart My HBCU became the first platform where users could donate spare change to any of the 104 HBCUs in one place.” King first launched her groundbreaking app in 2017 and became one of an elite cadre of Black female tech entrepreneurs in the space. A graduate of Howard University, King’s first goal was to...