HBCUs
Students interested in HBCUs
Historically Black College and Universities (HBCUs) are institutions of higher education that were established before 1964, with the purpose of educating Black Americans, though students of any race can attend. These institutions opened at a time when Black students were barred from most colleges. There are more than 100 HBCUs across the country, and two of them are in Pennsylvania.
HBCUs Close to Home
You do not have to leave the region to attend an HBCU. These are the closest ones to Philadelphia, starting with the two in Pennsylvania.
- Cheyney University (Cheyney, PA), about 45 minutes away and the oldest HBCU in the country, founded in 1837.
- Lincoln University (Lincoln University, PA), about an hour away in Chester County.
- Delaware State University (Dover, DE), about 90 minutes away.
- Coppin State University (Baltimore, MD), about two hours away. New first-year and transfer students from Pennsylvania pay the in-state tuition rate for their entire undergraduate degree.
- Morgan State University (Baltimore, MD), about two hours away.
- Bowie State University (Bowie, MD), about two and a half hours away.
- Howard University (Washington, DC), about three hours away.
- University of the District of Columbia (Washington, DC), about three hours away.
- University of Maryland Eastern Shore (Princess Anne, MD), about three hours away.
Planning a campus visit? See our College Visits Guide.
Apply to many HBCUs at once. The Common Black College Application lets you apply to multiple HBCUs with a single application and one fee.
HBCU Talk
Conversations we’ve had with current students and alumni about the importance of HBCUs and their experiences on campus.
Fast Facts
- Here are 10 reasons to consider an HBCU
- Best Historically Black Colleges and Universities
- Compare HBCUs to find your best fit using this tool from Malcolm Bernard HBCU College Fairs. Keep an eye on their event calendar for HBCU fairs in the region.
- Thurgood Marshall College Fund offers multiple scholarships every year, many of which are specific to students attending HBCUs.
- Each year, UNCF awards more than $100 million in scholarships to students attending more than 1,100 schools across the country, including their network of 37 HBCUs.
