List of historically black colleges and universities


This list of Historically black colleges and universities lists institutions of higher education in the United States that were established before 1964 with the intention of serving the black community.
Alabama leads the nation with the number of HBCUS, followed by North Carolina then Georgia.

Current institutions

Defunct institutions

SchoolCityStateFoundedClosedTypeReligious AffiliationComment
Avery CollegePittsburghPennsylvania18491873PrivateA.M.E. Zion ChurchThough the records are scant, it appears that Avery College suspended operations in 1873, the year of a great nationwide financial panic. Trustees considered selling the school property to the marker University of Western Pennsylvania, which had reluctantly accepted Avery's donation to assist in educating a handful of African-American students. Nothing came of the negotiations, however, and Avery College never reopened. As late as 1908, the trustees were debating whether to establish a manual training school or a hospital and nursing school facility on the property. Years later the original three-story building was demolished to make way for a new highway project.
Bishop CollegeDallasTexas18811988PrivateHome Mission SocietyFounded in Marshall, Texas; later moved to Dallas.
Booker T. Washington Junior CollegePensacolaFlorida19491965PublicThe first of twelve black junior colleges created in Florida, it closed after passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Nominally merged with Pensacola Junior College.
J. P. Campbell CollegeStarted in Vicksburg, moved to Jackson in 1898Mississippi18901964PrivateAfrican Methodist Episcopal ChurchLocated across the street from Jackson College, now Jackson State University, J. P. Campbell College famously admitted students expelled from high school for participating in the Civil Rights Movement. Then, amidst a failed plan to relocate to Mound Bayou, Mississippi, a black town, it collapsed financially.
Carver Junior CollegeCocoaFlorida19601963PublicOne of eleven black junior colleges founded in Florida after the Brown vs. Board of Education decision, in an attempt to show that separate but equal higher education facilities existed in Florida. All were abruptly closed after passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
Collier-Blocker Junior CollegePalatkaFlorida19601964PublicOne of eleven black junior colleges founded in Florida after the Brown vs. Board of Education decision, in an attempt to show that separate but equal higher education facilities existed in Florida. All were abruptly closed after passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
Concordia College, AlabamaSelmaAlabama19222018PrivateLutheran Church–Missouri SynodKnown as "Alabama Lutheran Academy and Junior College" until 1981; It was the only historically black college among the ten colleges and universities in the Concordia University System. The college ceased operations at the completion of the Spring 2018 semester, citing years of financial distress and declining enrollment.
Daniel Payne CollegeBirminghamAlabama18891979PrivateAfrican Methodist Episcopal Church
Friendship CollegeRock HillSouth Carolina18911981PrivateBaptist
George R. Smith CollegeSedaliaMissouri18941925It burned down April 26, 1925, after which its assets were merged with the Philander Smith College
Gibbs Junior CollegeSt. PetersburgFlorida19571966PublicRegionally accredited. Founded to show that separate but equal educational institutions for African Americans were viable, and that racial integration, mandated by Brown v. Board of Education, was unnecessary. Closed shortly after passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; nominally merged with St. Petersburg Junior College.
Guadalupe CollegeSeguinTexas18841936PrivateTexas Missionary Baptist General ConventionCeased operations after a fire destroyed the main building in 1936.
Hampton Junior CollegeOcalaFlorida19581966PublicOne of eleven black junior colleges founded in Florida after the Brown vs. Board of Education decision, in an attempt to show that separate but equal higher education facilities existed in Florida. All were abruptly closed after passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
Jackson Junior CollegeMariannaFlorida19611966PublicOne of eleven black junior colleges founded in Florida after the Brown vs. Board of Education decision, in an attempt to show that separate but equal higher education facilities existed in Florida. All were abruptly closed after passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
Johnson Junior CollegeLeesburgFlorida19601966PublicOne of eleven black junior colleges founded in Florida after the Brown vs. Board of Education decision, in an attempt to show that separate but equal higher education facilities existed in Florida. All were abruptly closed after passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
Kittrell CollegeKittrellNorth Carolina18861975PrivateAfrican Methodist Episcopal Church
Leland UniversityNew OrleansLouisiana18701960PrivateHome Mission SocietyFounded as a grade school in New Orleans, Leland was a Baker, Louisiana-based Baptist University when it closed.
Lewis College of BusinessDetroitMichigan19282013PrivateFounded as "Lewis Business College"
Lincoln Junior CollegeFort PierceFlorida19601966PublicOne of eleven black junior colleges founded in Florida after the Brown vs. Board of Education decision, in an attempt to show that separate but equal higher education facilities existed in Florida. All were abruptly closed after passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
Mary Holmes CollegeWest PointMississippi18922005PrivatePresbyterian
Mississippi Industrial CollegeHolly SpringsMississippi19051982PrivateColored Methodist Episcopal Church; later called the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church.
Morristown CollegeMorristownTennessee18811994PrivateMethodist EpiscopalFounded as a seminary and normal school in the late 1870s, became Knoxville College's satellite campus in 1989, and closed for good in 1994.
Mount Hermon Female SeminaryClintonMississippi18751924PrivateAmerican Missionary Association
Natchez CollegeNatchezMississippi18851993PrivateBaptist
Payne CollegeCuthbertGeorgia18791912On June 5, 1912, it became part of Morris Brown University
Roger Williams UniversityNashvilleTennessee18641929PrivateAmerican Baptist Home Mission SocietyTwo suspicious fires destroyed its main building in 1905. Financial problems ledto its closure in 1929; combined with other institutions to form LeMoyne–Owen College.
Roosevelt Junior CollegeWest Palm BeachFlorida19581965PublicRegionally accredited. One of eleven black junior colleges founded in Florida after the Brown vs. Board of Education decision, in an attempt to show that separate but equal higher education facilities existed in Florida. All were abruptly closed after passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
Rosenwald Junior CollegePanama CityFlorida19581966PublicOne of eleven black junior colleges founded in Florida after the Brown vs. Board of Education decision, in an attempt to show that separate but equal higher education facilities existed in Florida. All were abruptly closed after passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
Saint Paul's CollegeLawrencevilleVirginia18882013PrivateProtestant Episcopal ChurchFounded as "Saint Paul Normal and Industrial School". Closed June 2013.
Saints CollegeLexingtonMississippi2006PrivateChurch of God in ChristOriginated as Saints Junior College and Academy
Southern Christian InstituteEdwards Mississippi1908?1954PrivateProtestantMerged into Tougaloo College. For a time thereafter its campus, renamed Mt. Beulah, was used by the Delta Ministry, CDGM, and other civil rights organizations.
Storer CollegeHarpers FerryWest Virginia18651955PrivateFounded by Freewill Baptist Missionary SocietyIts endowment was transferred to Virginia Union, where its alumni have been recognized, and its physical assets were given to Alderson-Broaddus College to create scholarships for black students. Its former campus is now part of the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park.
Suwannee River Junior CollegeMadisonFlorida19591966PublicOne of eleven black junior colleges founded in Florida after the Brown vs. Board of Education decision, in an attempt to show that separate but equal higher education facilities existed in Florida. All were abruptly closed after passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
Volusia County Junior CollegeDaytona BeachFlorida19581965PublicOne of eleven black junior colleges founded in Florida after the Brown vs. Board of Education decision, in an attempt to show that separate but equal higher education facilities existed in Florida. All were abruptly closed after passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
Western University QuindaroKansas18651943PrivateAfrican Methodist Episcopal Church