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Declining Enrollment of Black Men at HBCUs

Nov 2, 2024

Enrollment of Black Men at HBCUs: A Declining Trend

Current Statistics

  • The enrollment of Black men at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) is the lowest since 1976.
    • Currently, Black men make up only 26% of students at HBCUs.
    • In 1976, they constituted 38%.
  • Decline noted by the American Institute for Boys and Men via Department of Education data.

Howard University Specifics

  • Calvin Hadley, Assistant Provost for Academic Partnerships and Student Engagement at Howard University, confirms the trend.
  • During Hadley's time as a student (2004-2008), men made up 33-34% of students.
  • Currently, Howard University is 25% male, with Black males around 19%.
  • Male students often find themselves as the only male in their classes.

Impact of Declining Enrollment

  • The diversity of experiences in classrooms is reduced with fewer males.
  • Black males graduate at lower rates than Black females across all colleges.
  • This issue is not limited to HBCUs but is a broader problem in American education.

Factors Influencing Enrollment Trends

  • From 2013-2014 to 2022-2023, Howard saw an increase from 2,990 to 9,700 male applicants.
  • Female applications surged to over 30,000 in the same period.
  • Influential factors include the election of President Donald Trump and the murder of George Floyd, increasing the appeal of HBCUs.
  • Despite the increase in applications, the decline at HBCUs outpaces other trends.

Broader Societal Implications

  • A decrease in Black male college enrollment may lead to stratification from certain societal segments.
  • Potential impact on community balance, family structures, and generational mobility.

Importance of HBCUs

  • HBCUs offer an education beyond academics, instilling a sense of belief and community.
  • They are designed to help students transcend the belief gap often faced in K-12 education.
  • Provides a sense of being "enough" and contributing to society beyond academics.

Encouragement for Future Black Male Students

  • Attending an HBCU is an opportunity for education beyond a degree.
  • Encouragement for young Black men to join HBCUs for sense of community and contribution.

Calvin Hadley emphasizes that the HBCU community needs young Black men to join and contribute, highlighting both the personal and communal benefits of such an education.

Full transcript