Three Key Takeaways
- HBCUs are receiving more than $174 million: The one-time federal investment brings the administration’s additional HBCU funding for fiscal years 2025 and 2026 to more than $612 million.
- The money will come from a STEM grant program: The Education Department said the $174 million was identified from funding previously designated for Hispanic-serving institutions.
- The funding is temporary: HBCUs will have to use the additional federal dollars strategically to strengthen programs, infrastructure and student support while creating benefits that extend beyond the one-time investment.
The U.S. Department of Education is directing more than $174 million in additional federal funding to historically Black colleges and universities, giving the institutions another significant infusion of money for academic programs, infrastructure and student support.
The one-time investment, announced Tuesday, comes on top of $438 million provided to HBCUs last year. Together, the two allocations bring the administration’s additional HBCU funding for fiscal years 2025 and 2026 to more than $612 million.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon announced the funding at a White House summit on HBCUs, calling the institutions important engines of economic opportunity.
“For nearly 200 years, HBCUs have been engines of opportunity in communities,” McMahon said. “This new investment will help ensure these vital institutions have the resources they need to continue delivering world-class education and to prepare students for success in a rapidly evolving economy.”
The latest funding comes from federal programs that previously supported other minority-serving institutions. The Education Department said $174 million for HBCUs was identified from a STEM-focused grant program originally designated for Hispanic-serving institutions.
The decision follows the administration’s broader effort to redirect funding from programs it has argued improperly use racial or ethnic eligibility requirements.
The Thurgood Marshall College Fund, which represents public HBCUs, welcomed the announcement.
Harry L. Williams, the organization’s president and chief executive, said the investment reflects continued federal support for HBCUs and credited advocates for working across party lines to highlight the institutions’ importance.
The money is temporary. The question for HBCUs will be how effectively they can use the infusion to make improvements that last well beyond the federal funding cycle.