The 64 HBCUs that reported their admissions and enrollment data for the 2022-23 year to the federal government last month have reported a collective 543,066 applications for the class of 2027, marking the largest applicant pool in at least a decade. This represents a significant increase of 122,066 applications over the previous year, 2022.
The growth in applications to HBCUs has outpaced that of other higher-education institutions. Overall, college applications were up by just 6 percent. This surge in interest is particularly notable for smaller institutions such as Wilberforce University in Ohio and Shaw University in North Carolina.
Wilberforce University, which welcomed only 204 first-year students last year, received more than 12,000 applications in 2023, tripling the previous year’s 4,100 applications. Similarly, Shaw University saw over 10,000 applicants for a first-year class of 186.
FAMU also experienced a substantial increase, with 22,000 students applying for admission in 2023, a 161.24 percent increase over the 8,717 applications received in 2022. Part of this increase can be attributed to FAMU joining the Common Application program, which allows potential students to apply to over 1,000 schools with a single application.
The average HBCU admission rate dropped slightly in 2023, from 69 percent to 66 percent, making it the most competitive year for Black colleges since the pandemic. This increased competition has led to an identity crisis for some HBCUs, which traditionally emphasize accessibility as part of their mission.
Robert Mason, founder of the Common Black College Application, attributes the surge in applications to cultural and academic factors that have been prominent since the murder of George Floyd in 2020 and the subsequent national protests. "Parents want their sons and daughters to be in safe spaces," Mason said.
While the increased competition has not resulted in a higher yield of admitted students enrolling, the record-breaking application numbers reflect a growing interest in HBCUs and their unique offerings.