College Application Guide for HBCU Students

Choosing a college can be a lengthy process for prospective students. Many options exist as you decide on a school that meets your needs, including historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).

According to the Center for Minority Serving Institutions, there was a resurgence of interest in HBCUs in 2016. With a rise in racial tensions and a changing political climate, some students may have sought a more inclusive, safer environment.

A similar increase occurred at the start of the 2020-2021 school year. A surge in HBCU applications followed months of protests against racial injustice. These incidents highlighted, for many, the value of an HBCU education and surrounding environment.

This guide provides resources to help you with the HBCU application process, including instructions for using the Common Black College Application.

The Common Black College Application (CBCA), developed in 2000 by Robert Mason, links aspiring students to over 60 HBCUs. Mason created the application portal to help Black students connect to academic opportunities.

Amiya Nesbitt, a graduate of Alabama A&M University said, “my experience with the Black College Common Application was amazing. I was able to utilize their tools and get accepted into over 9 different universities.”

The application costs $20 and allows prospective students to select four preferred schools within a network of 61 HBCUs. Unlike the Common Application, the Common Black College App does not require students to pay additional application fees for individual institutions.

According to Nesbitt, “[the CBCA] asks for all the information that most basic college applications do, and you specify what schools you want your application sent to. Instead of paying multiple application fees, you pay one flat rate.”

The CBCA does not include every HBCU. Students seeking admission to one of the 40 HBCUs not included in the CBCA database must apply to those schools separately.

Since the Common Black College App allows you to apply to many schools using a single application, it can save time and reduce the need to fill out multiple forms. “The Black College Common Application makes the college application process less stressful than what it has to be,” explains Nesbitt.

HBCU acceptance rates vary from school to school. Howard University and Spelman College — two of the most exclusive HBCUs — have reported acceptance rates of 35% and 51%, respectively. These rates can shift from year to year, depending on the pool of applicants. HBCUs saw an increase in applicants for the 2020-2021 school year.

The typical GPAs for students accepted into many HBCUs schools range from 2.5-3.0. Other HBCUs may require higher GPAs. For example, students accepted at Hampton University and Florida A&M had average GPAs above 3.25. Additionally, some HBCUs use an open-admission policy.

Remember that high school grades account for only part of the college admission requirements. Do not rely on a high GPA alone to get into an HBCU, but also don’t count yourself out because of a low GPA either.

Spelman College, a private liberal arts school, had the highest tuition and fees among HBCUs during the 2021-2022 academic year — around $23,175 annually. However, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, Spelman’s relatively high tuition cost among HBCUs is still lower than the average private college and university tuition and fees across the nation — about $33,600.

Additionally, public HBCUs offer some of the most affordable tuition rates in the country. For example, Fayetteville State University and Albany State University have tuition and fees below $6,000 per year for in-state residents, as of the 2020-2021 school year. Keep in mind that out-of-state residents often pay higher tuition rates.

A common app allows students to apply to multiple colleges and universities with a single application.

The Common Black College Application allows students to apply to more than one HBCU for a reduced fee. However, some colleges and universities only accept their unique application.

Read all application requirements and instructions carefully. If a school you wish to apply to does not accept a common application, you must submit your application directly to the institution.

According to UNCF, over 70% of recent HBCU students were eligible to receive a federal Pell Grant. This income-based grant is awarded to students with an exceptional level of financial need. Submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) can determine a student’s eligibility for various scholarships and financial aid options.

Financial aid opportunities can help students reduce out-of-pocket costs. Scholarships and grants provide funding that students do not need to repay. In contrast, loans require repayment upon graduation and often come with added interest fees.