Historically black colleges and universities, or HBCUs, are institutions of higher education that were founded before the Civil Rights Act of 1964, primarily in the years and decades after the American Civil War. HBCU institutions were founded primarily to provide higher education to the African American community, which, until the Civil Rights Movement, were often excluded from many colleges. Since many of these colleges and universities were founded in the years after the American Civil War, HBCUs tend to be concentrated in the U.S. South.
Georgia is home to dozens and dozens of colleges and universities. Among these many institutions, there are 10 HBCU colleges in Georgia. Out of the 10 HBCU colleges in Georgia, the oldest — Clark Atlanta University — was founded in 1865, the year the Civil War ended. The 10 HBCU colleges in Georgia include the following:
- Albany State University
- Clark Atlanta University
- Fort Valley State University
- Interdenominational Theological Center
- Morehouse College
- Morehouse School of Medicine
- Morris Brown College
- Paine College
- Savannah State University
- Spelman College
However, which HBCU colleges in Georgia are the best? BrokeScholar conducted a study in order to identify the best HBCU colleges in Georgia. Read on to find out more about the best HBCU colleges in Georgia.
Best HBCU Colleges in Georgia
When it comes to the best HBCU colleges in Georgia, there are 10 colleges to work with. We used data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), analyzed the schools in terms of a variety of factors, and were able to then compile a list of the best HBCU colleges in Georgia academically.
It should be noted that some data was limited, such as SAT scores, for these HBCU colleges in Georgia, so we also analyzed graduation rates and admission rates as well. In addition, two of the 10 HBCU colleges in Georgia provide degrees only above the bachelor’s degree-level. Here’s a look at the best HBCU colleges in Georgia:
Spelman College
4-year, private not-for-profit institution
Types of degrees:
- Less than one year certificate
- Bachelor's degree
Spelman College is located in Atlanta, Georgia, and was founded in 1881. Among the 10 HBCU colleges in Georgia, Spelman College boasts the highest graduation rate at 74%. Considering the fact that Spelman College only offers bachelor’s degrees, its total student population is the same as its undergraduate student population, approximately 3,102. Three out of the nine HBCU colleges in Georgia analyzed in our study have an open admissions policy, however, Spelman College does not. In fact, quite the opposite, Spelman College's undergraduate acceptance rate is incredibly selective, at 28%. This makes Spelman College the hardest school to get into out of all the HBCU colleges in Georgia. Spelman College notably has a comparatively low transfer-out rate of just 15%. In terms of the enrolled student population, 85% are Black or African American, according to the NCES.
Because Spelman College is a private, not-for-profit institution, it has the same rates of tuition for in-state students as it does for out-of-state students. According to NCES data, the tuition and required fees are approximately $28,885, which puts Spelman College on the more expensive end of the spectrum of the best HBCU colleges in Georgia.
Morehouse College
4-year, private not-for-profit institution
Types of degrees:
- Bachelor's degree
Established in 1867, Morehouse College is located in Atlanta and is the second oldest of the HBCU colleges in Georgia, behind only Clark Atlanta University. Morehouse College has an undergraduate student population of an estimated 2,567, with all students at the school being undergraduates. Morehouse College has a pretty selective acceptance rate of applicants, having an admission rate of 60% — down from 65% in last year's iteration of this study.
What’s more, Morehouse College has the second highest graduation rate of all the HBCU colleges in Georgia, at 59%. According to NCES data, 98% of the student population is Black or African American, the highest percentage of all HBCU colleges in Georgia analyzed in this study. In addition, Morehouse College boasts excellent ACT Composite scores, with its median ACT Composite score being 21 and the top 75th percentile ACT Composite score being 25. As a private, not-for-profit college, Morehouse College has the same tuition and required fees for both in-state and out-of-state students, which total approximately $29,468 per year.
Fort Valley State University
4-year, public institution
Types of degrees:
- Bachelor's degree
- Master's degree
- Post-master's certificate
Founded in 1895, Fort Valley State University is located in Fort Valley, Georgia. Out of the 10 HBCU colleges in Georgia, Fort Valley State University is one of three that is a public university versus a private university. Therefore, the costs of tuition and required fees vary depending on whether the enrolled student lives in-state or is from out-of-state. According to NCES data, the estimated cost of tuition and required fees for an in-state student is $5,832; for out-of-state students, the cost is approximately $16,572. Fort Valley State University has a student population that’s right around the average of all HBCU colleges in Georgia: Its undergraduate student population is an estimated 2,360, with 2,605 students in total.
Fort Valley State University sports the third highest graduation rate, at 46%, out of the nine HBCU colleges in Georgia evaluated in the study. With an admission rate of 43%, Fort Valley State University’s acceptance rate is markedly lower than several of the other HBCU colleges in Georgia. Indeed, its acceptance rate makes it one of the hardest colleges to get into in Georgia. Fort Valley State University has three main colleges under its umbrella: The College of Arts and Sciences, which includes eight different academic departments; the College of Education; and the College of Agriculture, Family Sciences, and Technology, which consists of four academic departments.
Clark Atlanta University
4-year, private not-for-profit institution
Types of degrees:
- Bachelor's degree
- Postbaccalaureate certificate
- Master's degree
- Post-master's certificate
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship
Established in 1865, Clark Atlanta University is the oldest of the HBCU colleges in Georgia and is located, unsurprisingly considering its name, in Atlanta. Clark Atlanta University has a student population that’s greater than the average of all HBCU colleges in Georgia: Its undergraduate student population is an estimated 3,427, while its total student population is 4,000. At the same time, Clark Atlanta University is tied with Fort Valley State for having the third highest graduation rate at 46%.
Moreover, of the nine HBCU colleges in Georgia analyzed in this study, Clark Atlanta University has the second-best ACT scores, with its median ACT Composite score being 18, putting it behind only Morehouse College. Clark Atlanta University also has strong SAT scores. As a private, not-for-profit university, Clark Atlanta University charges the same rates of tuition for an in-state or out-of-state student. According to NCES data, the approximate costs of tuition and required fees are $24,730 per academic year.
Albany State University
4-year, public institution
Types of degrees:
- Less than one year certificate
- One but less than two years certificate
- Associate's degree
- Bachelor's degree
- Postbaccalaureate certificate
- Master's degree
- Post-master's certificate
Founded in 1903, Albany State University is located in Albany, Georgia. Albany State University has an open admission policy and, of the nine HBCU colleges in Georgia evaluated in our study, it has the largest student population: Approximately 5,812 undergraduate students and over 6,300 students in total. In terms of enrollment, 80% of the student population is Black or African American, according to NCES data.
Albany State University also boasts a vast array of degree programs. Last academic year, Albany State awarded 698 associate's degrees and 584 bachelor's degrees. The most popular majors were Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, which earned 92 bachelor's degrees; Education, Other, which earned 91 bachelor's degrees; and Criminal Justice/Safety Studies, which earned 62 bachelor's degrees. As a public institution, Albany State University charges the different rates of tuition and required fees for in-state versus out-of-state students: An estimated $5,934 for in-state students and $16,656 for out-of-state students per academic year, according to the NCES.
Savannah State University
4-year, public institution
Types of degrees:
- Less than one year certificate
- Associate's degree
- Bachelor's degree
- Postbaccalaureate certificate
- Master's degree
Savannah State University is, naturally, located in Savannah, and was founded in 1890. Of the nine HBCU colleges in Georgia considered in our study, in terms of size, Savannah State University is just a bit above average, having a total student population of 2,945, with 2,740 being undergraduate students. Savannah State University is also one of three HBCU colleges in Georgia that has an open admission policy. When it comes to its graduation rate, Savannah State University is tied with Albany State University’s 28%. In terms of its enrolled student population, 86% are Black or African American, according to the NCES.
Savannah State University offers several levels of degrees, from programs that award a less-than-one-year-certificate to ones that award master’s degrees. Savannah State University has a robust academic structure, with four main colleges: The College of Business Administration, the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, the College of Sciences and Technology, and the College of Education. Being a public college, Savannah State University has different costs of tuition and required fees depending on whether the student is in-state and out-of-state. However, its costs of tuition and required fees are the most affordable out of all HBCU colleges in Georgia, with an estimated $5,498 per academic year for in-state students and $16,218 for out-of-state students.
Paine College
4-year, private not-for-profit institution
Types of degrees:
- Bachelor’s degree
Established in 1882, Paine College is located in Augusta, Georgia. Paine College only offers degrees on the bachelor-level. Since the highest level degree it awards is a bachelor’s degree, Paine College only has undergraduate students, approximately 310, which makes it the smallest of HBCU colleges in Georgia in this regard. Paine College is one of the HBCU colleges in Georgia that does not have an open admission policy. Indeed, Paine College’s admission rate is a solidly competitive 52%, trailing behind Fort Valley State's 43% in terms of selectivity. In addition, a full 81% of its student population are Black or African American.
Paine College has a variety of academic programs, including: The Department of Business Administration; the Department of Humanities; the Department of Mathematics, Science, and Technology; the Department of Media Studies; and the Department of Social Sciences. All of these departments offer different majors and several areas of concentration within these majors, so there's many paths you can take when choosing a major. Being a private, not-for-profit college, Paine College charges the same rate of tuition and required fees for both in-state students and out-of-state students: Approximately $14,596 per academic year, according to NCES data.
Morris Brown College
4-year, private not-for-profit institution
Types of degrees:
- One but less than two years certificate
- Bachelor’s degree
Established in January 1881, Morris Brown College is a private Methodist historically black liberal arts college in Atlanta, Georgia. Morris Brown is notably small, having a total student population of 253, all of them undergraduates. In terms of enrollment, a full 100% of undergraduates are Black or African American, according to NCES data. Throughout its history, Morris Brown College has demonstrated academic rigor, providing students with a challenging yet supportive learning environment. The college's faculty has a long-standing reputation for fostering critical thinking, problem-solving, and leadership skills in their students, contributing to the institution's commitment to produce graduates who are competitive in their chosen fields.
As for its academic programs, Morris Brown College offers a diverse range of degree programs that cater to a variety of interests and career paths. Traditionally, it has been known for its strong programs in Business Administration, Organizational Management and Leadership, Music, and Hospitality Management, among others. In recent years, it has also added new innovative programs to keep up with the changing times, meeting industry demands and evolving societal needs. These programs are designed to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and experience necessary to succeed in a rapidly changing world, reinforcing the institution's commitment to empowering students for leadership and service.
Interdenominational Theological Center
4-year, private not-for-profit institution
Types of degrees:
- Master's degree
- Doctor's degree
Founded in 1958, Interdenominational Theological Center is one of the more recently established HBCU colleges in Georgia. Like so many other HBCU colleges in Georgia, this institution is located in Atlanta. Out of the nine HBCU colleges in Georgia analyzed in our study, the Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC) is one of two institutions that does not offer bachelor’s degrees or lower; it provides only graduate-level programs, such as a master’s degree or doctor’s degree.
Given this fact, it isn’t surprising that its student population is small, being an estimated 193 students total, according to NCES data. The Interdenominational Theological Center provides the following degrees and programs: Master of Divinity (M.Div), which is offered on ITC campus and online; Master of Arts in Liturgical arts and Culture (M.A.L.C.); Master of Arts in Religion and Education (M.A.R.E.); and Doctor of Ministry (D.Min). According to NCES data, the approximate costs of tuition and fees is $16,272 for both in-state and out-of-state students.
Morehouse School of Medicine
4-year, private not-for-profit institution
Types of degrees:
- Master's degree
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship
- Doctor's degree - professional practice
Established in 1975, Morehouse School of Medicine was founded after the Civil Rights Act of 1964, but is considered an HBCU institution because it was originally part of Morehouse College before becoming independent later on. Located in Atlanta, Morehouse School of Medicine has a total student population of just over 890, which is understandable considering this college only offers degrees above the level of a bachelor’s degree. As its name suggests, Morehouse School of Medicine offers master’s degrees and doctoral degrees in medical fields, spread across 13 different, robust academic departments:
- Community Health & Preventive Medicine
- Family Medicine
- Medical Education
- Medicine
- Microbiology, Biochemistry & Immunology
- Neurobiology
- Obstetrics & Gynecology
- Pathology & Anatomy
- Pediatrics
- Pharmacology & Toxicology
- Physiology
- Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences
- Surgery
Being a private, not-for-profit institution, Morehouse School of Medicine charges the same rates of tuition and required fees for both in-state and out-of-state students. According to NCES data, the costs of tuition and required fees are an estimated $28,567 per academic year.
The Bottom Line on the Best HBCU Colleges in Georgia
All of these HBCU colleges in Georgia boast multiple academic divisions, offering a comprehensive range of fields to study. For example, Spelman College alone offers 34 majors, 36 minors, and 8 specialized and research programs. The larger, public HBCU colleges in Georgia tend to have even more departments and programs, in addition to more affordable rates of tuition compared to the HBCUs that are private, not-for-profit institutions.
Most of these HBCU colleges in Georgia accept scholarships or provide their own scholarship programs. Therefore, it makes sense to browse BrokeScholar’s library of scholarships and grants if any of these HBCU colleges in Georgia pique your interest.
