The 10 largest HBCUs by student enrollment are a mix of public universities and one private institution spread across the South, Mid-Atlantic, and Texas. North Carolina A&T State University holds the top spot among public HBCUs, with enrollment surpassing 15,000 students in fall 2025, while Howard University is the largest private HBCU. Here’s a closer look at each school, ranked by total student population.
1. North Carolina A&T State University
Located in Greensboro, North Carolina, NC A&T is the largest public HBCU in the nation and has held that distinction for 12 consecutive years. Enrollment crested over 15,000 in fall 2025, according to the Journal of Blacks in Higher Education. The university is known for its engineering, business, and agricultural science programs. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,813 per year, while out-of-state students pay roughly $20,673.
2. Howard University
Howard, in Washington, D.C., is the largest private HBCU with approximately 14,890 students. As a private institution, it charges a single tuition rate of about $35,810 regardless of where you live. Howard is one of only a few HBCUs classified as a research university and is widely known for its law school, medical school, and programs in communications and political science. Its location in the nation’s capital gives students access to internships and careers in government, media, and policy.
3. Morgan State University
Morgan State in Baltimore, Maryland, enrolls roughly 10,700 students. It’s a public doctoral research institution with strong programs in engineering, business, and social work. In-state tuition sits around $8,229, with out-of-state students paying approximately $19,124.
4. Prairie View A&M University
Part of the Texas A&M University System, Prairie View A&M serves close to 10,000 students about 45 miles northwest of Houston. The university offers more than 50 academic programs, with nursing, engineering, and criminal justice among the most popular. In-state tuition and fees are approximately $11,299, while out-of-state tuition is about $26,874, making it one of the pricier public HBCUs on this list.
5. Florida A&M University
Florida A&M (FAMU) in Tallahassee enrolls over 9,300 students. It consistently ranks as one of the top HBCUs for producing graduates in STEM fields, and its pharmacy and journalism programs draw students from across the country. In-state students pay about $5,785 in tuition and fees, one of the lowest rates on this list. Out-of-state tuition is roughly $17,725.
6. North Carolina Central University
NCCU, located in Durham, crossed the 9,000-student mark for the first time in its 115-year history in fall 2025, with enrollment jumping 6.8 percent from the prior year. The university is known for its law school, education programs, and growing nursing school. In-state tuition and fees are about $6,699, with out-of-state students paying around $19,735.
7. Texas Southern University
Texas Southern, situated in Houston’s Third Ward, serves approximately 8,700 students. The university houses one of the nation’s largest law schools at an HBCU and offers programs in pharmacy, public affairs, and technology. In-state tuition runs about $8,637, while out-of-state students pay roughly $21,473.
8. Southern University and A&M College
Southern University’s flagship campus in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, enrolls around 8,300 students. It anchors the Southern University System, the only HBCU system in the country. Nursing, engineering technology, and criminal justice are among its largest programs. In-state tuition and fees are approximately $9,922, with out-of-state tuition at about $17,272.
9. Alabama A&M University
Alabama A&M in Huntsville has roughly 7,300 students and set a record for first-year enrollment in fall 2025 with over 2,150 incoming freshmen. The university’s location in Huntsville, a major hub for aerospace and defense work, gives students in engineering and technology fields direct access to employers. In-state tuition is about $10,024, with out-of-state tuition at approximately $18,634.
10. Jackson State University or Tennessee State University
The tenth spot shifts depending on the data source and enrollment cycle. Jackson State University in Jackson, Mississippi, and Tennessee State University in Nashville both typically enroll between 7,000 and 8,000 students. Jackson State is known for its urban planning, public health, and education programs, while Tennessee State has strong offerings in business, health sciences, and engineering. Both are public universities with in-state tuition in the range of $7,000 to $10,000.
Why HBCU Enrollment Is Growing
Several of the schools on this list are hitting record enrollment numbers. NC A&T has grown steadily for over a decade. NCCU posted a 6.8 percent single-year jump. Alabama A&M brought in a record freshman class. These aren’t isolated cases. Schools like Fayetteville State University (which set an all-time high of 7,628 students in fall 2025) and Delaware State University (which has broken new student enrollment records in four of the last five years) are also growing fast, even if they haven’t yet cracked the top 10.
Much of this growth reflects increased visibility for HBCUs, expanded graduate and online program offerings, and competitive tuition rates. Most of the public HBCUs on this list charge in-state tuition under $11,000, and several fall below $7,000, making them significantly more affordable than many flagship state universities.
What Sets These Schools Apart
All 10 of these institutions are comprehensive universities offering bachelor’s, master’s, and in most cases doctoral degrees. Several, including Howard, Morgan State, and NC A&T, hold the Carnegie R1 or R2 research classification, meaning they produce significant amounts of scholarly research alongside their teaching mission.
Beyond academics, these campuses offer the cultural traditions HBCUs are known for: homecoming celebrations, Greek life rooted in the “Divine Nine” historically Black fraternities and sororities, and marching band programs that draw national attention. For many students, that campus culture is as much a draw as the degree programs themselves.