N.C. HBCUs see rise in applications

When the U.S. Supreme Court outlawed race-conscious affirmative action policies in college and university admissions in June, 2023, meaning that predominately-White schools will now be admitting fewer Black and other students of color, many observers then suggested that HBCUs (historically Black colleges and universities) would likely see an influx of African American student applicants as a result.

Now, almost a year later, there are indications that that prediction may be coming true.

Here in North Carolina, according to published reports, more Black students are indeed applying to attend several of the state’s top HBCUs.

Five North Carolina HBCUs – N.C. A&T State University, Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, N.C. Central University and Winston-Salem State University – all report dramatic increases in student applications over this time last year prior to the U.S. High Court ruling.

N.C. A&T has experienced a 12 percent bump in applications.

ECSU boasts a nine percent increase.

FSU notes an 18 percent increase in student applications.

NCCU is enjoying a 27 percent hike in student applications and student interest, the largest of any of the five HBCUs in the UNC System.

WSSU, interestingly, received a three percent decrease in first-time student applications, but a 41 percent increase in possible graduate student applications.

Much of these increases, especially in NCCU’s case, reportedly came from strong recruitment efforts once the Supreme Court decision came down.

N.C. HBCUs also credit “Common Application.”

According to “Diverse,” an online publication, “The Common App is a one-stop application process that allows students to apply to more than 1,000 member institutions by filling out one form, which significantly simplifies the often-daunting process of applying for college.”

The “Diverse” story continued, “When Common App was initially created more than 40 years ago, the majority of its member institutions were private, many highly selective. But in the last decade, the nonprofit has worked to purposefully center more equitable access to postsecondary education by connecting with more Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs). Now, 134 MSIs and 30 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), including NCCU, are members. This deliberate effort has increased not only the diversity of the applicants using the system to apply but the number of applicants connecting with HBCUs.”

Recruiters at N.C. HBCUs say using Common App helps to get their institutions’ name out nationally so that students from across the country can find their schools to consider, and make application.