Most Affordable and Cheapest HBCU Programs

Are you interested in attending a historically Black college but worry about funding? We’ve highlighted the 10 most affordable HBCUs.

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Updated August 7, 2023

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The most affordable HBCUs cost just a fraction of the national average tuition for schools in the U.S.
HBCUs have a rich history, with many dating back to the end of the Civil War.
Just because these HBCUs are affordable doesn’t mean you won’t need financial aid.

Education at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) holds immense value. HBCUs provide a culturally enriched environment and foster a sense of belonging and support for students in higher education.

An added bonus? Many HBCU programs come with a relatively affordable price tag.

These institutions have a deep legacy of nurturing leaders and empowering communities while offering rigorous academic programs and personal and professional connections. Students graduating from HBCUs are linked to a historical lineage that includes names like Oprah, Vice President Kamala Harris, Spike Lee, Toni Morrison, and Martin Luther King, Jr.

Thankfully, though, you don’t need Oprah-level cash to enroll at an HBCU. We’ve weighed the quality and affordability of both public and private HBCUs on this list, so we’re confident you can find a great school within your budget. Keep reading as we spotlight ten of the most affordable HBCUs.

10 Most Affordable and Cheapest HBCUs

University of the District of Columbia

Washington, DC4 yearCampus

$5,292

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$12,144

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

N/A

Acceptance Rate

22%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$9,234

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$17,748

Retention Rate

71%

Students Enrolled

3,725

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$5,292

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$12,144

University of the District of Columbia

Washington, DC4 yearCampus

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$5,292

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$12,144

Acceptance Rate

N/A

Online Enrollment

22%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$9,234

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$17,748

Retention Rate

71%

Students Enrolled

3,725

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Morris College

Sumter, SC4 yearCampus

$13,420

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$13,420

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

N/A

Acceptance Rate

100%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

N/A

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

N/A

Retention Rate

36%

Students Enrolled

395

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$13,420

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$13,420

Morris College

Sumter, SC4 yearCampus

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$13,420

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$13,420

Acceptance Rate

N/A

Online Enrollment

100%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

N/A

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

N/A

Retention Rate

36%

Students Enrolled

395

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Prairie View A&M University

Prairie View, TX4 yearCampus + Online

$7,253

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$22,552

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

76%

Acceptance Rate

95%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$5,096

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$14,316

Retention Rate

74%

Students Enrolled

9,248

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$7,253

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$22,552

Prairie View A&M University

Prairie View, TX4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$7,253

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$22,552

Acceptance Rate

76%

Online Enrollment

95%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$5,096

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$14,316

Retention Rate

74%

Students Enrolled

9,248

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Allen University

Columbia, SC4 yearCampus

$12,540

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$12,540

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

65%

Acceptance Rate

100%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$8,100

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$8,100

Retention Rate

50%

Students Enrolled

705

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$12,540

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$12,540

Allen University

Columbia, SC4 yearCampus

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$12,540

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$12,540

Acceptance Rate

65%

Online Enrollment

100%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$8,100

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$8,100

Retention Rate

50%

Students Enrolled

705

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Bowie State University

Bowie, MD4 yearCampus

$5,647

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$16,338

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

81%

Acceptance Rate

99%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$7,614

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$12,762

Retention Rate

77%

Students Enrolled

6,250

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$5,647

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$16,338

Bowie State University

Bowie, MD4 yearCampus

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$5,647

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$16,338

Acceptance Rate

81%

Online Enrollment

99%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$7,614

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$12,762

Retention Rate

77%

Students Enrolled

6,250

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

LeMoyne-Owen College

Memphis, TN4 yearCampus

$10,776

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$10,776

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

64%

Acceptance Rate

N/A

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

N/A

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

N/A

Retention Rate

48%

Students Enrolled

654

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$10,776

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$10,776

LeMoyne-Owen College

Memphis, TN4 yearCampus

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$10,776

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$10,776

Acceptance Rate

64%

Online Enrollment

N/A

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

N/A

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

N/A

Retention Rate

48%

Students Enrolled

654

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Texas Southern University

Houston, TX4 yearCampus + Online

$6,941

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$19,707

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

66%

Acceptance Rate

72%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$4,767

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$11,824

Retention Rate

51%

Students Enrolled

7,015

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$6,941

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$19,707

Texas Southern University

Houston, TX4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$6,941

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$19,707

Acceptance Rate

66%

Online Enrollment

72%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$4,767

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$11,824

Retention Rate

51%

Students Enrolled

7,015

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Shaw University

Raleigh, NC4 yearCampus

$11,808

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$11,808

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

71%

Acceptance Rate

57%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$10,404

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$10,404

Retention Rate

67%

Students Enrolled

1,283

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$11,808

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$11,808

Shaw University

Raleigh, NC4 yearCampus

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$11,808

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$11,808

Acceptance Rate

71%

Online Enrollment

57%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$10,404

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$10,404

Retention Rate

67%

Students Enrolled

1,283

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Bluefield State College

Bluefield, WV4 yearCampus + Online

$7,488

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$14,352

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

90%

Acceptance Rate

82%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

N/A

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

N/A

Retention Rate

60%

Students Enrolled

1,243

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$7,488

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$14,352

Bluefield State College

Bluefield, WV4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$7,488

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$14,352

Acceptance Rate

90%

Online Enrollment

82%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

N/A

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

N/A

Retention Rate

60%

Students Enrolled

1,243

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

How to Afford an HBCU Education

Just because some HBCUs come with affordable tuition doesn’t mean that your degree isn’t a serious investment of both time and money. Continue reading as we spotlight how you can cut costs and more comfortably afford your HBCU education.

Students should fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to see what financial aid they qualify for.

Scholarships

A scholarship is a type of financial aid awarded to students based on various criteria, including:

Financial need
Athletics
Academics
Public service

Scholarships can cover educational expenses such as tuition, books, and housing. Thankfully, there’s a long list of scholarships for HBCU students. For help getting scholarships, reach out to prospective schools’ financial aid offices for more HBCU facts and information.

Grants

A college grant is a monetary award provided by organizations, institutions, or government agencies to support specific academic projects for students. It can help by providing funding for research, community initiatives, and education, helping recipients pursue their goals and make a positive impact in their respective fields.

One type of federal grant is the Pell Grant, which helps students based on their financial need.

Student Loans

A student loan is money students borrow to finance educational expenses. Loans can help you afford college while covering tuition, books, and living costs. Properly managed, student loans can expand access to higher education. However, excessive debt can lead to financial stress, credit issues, and delayed financial milestones.

Work-Study

Work-study programs offer part-time employment to students, typically on campus, while they pursue their degrees. Their earnings help cover educational expenses, providing both practical experience and financial assistance. While not always the case, work-study opportunities can align with your field of study or interest.