how many hbcus are there

There are 99 accredited HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) in the United States as of the most recent national data, based on 2022 enrollment figures, and that number is still what major education and research orgs are using in 2024–2026.

Quick Scoop: How Many HBCUs Are There?

• As of fall 2022, there were 99 HBCUs nationwide.

• They are spread across 19 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

• The mix is roughly half public and half private nonprofit institutions (50 public, 49 private in 2022).

• Alabama currently has the most HBCUs of any state , with around 13–14 campuses depending on how branch campuses are counted.

In other words, when people today ask “how many HBCUs are there,” the working answer across government stats and major research outlets is ninety‑nine —a number that’s been stable in recent years even as enrollments and programs change.

A bit of context (mini‑sections)

Why 99 and not more?
HBCUs are defined in federal law as institutions established before 1964 with the principal mission of educating Black Americans, so new schools generally can’t be newly classified as HBCUs , even if they serve similar communities.

Enrollment snapshot:
In 2022, HBCUs collectively enrolled just under 290,000 students , and Black students made up the clear majority of enrollment at most of these institutions.

Where they’re concentrated:
Most HBCUs are in the South , with states like Alabama, North Carolina, Georgia, Texas, South Carolina, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee hosting the largest clusters.

Simple HTML table: HBCU count highlight

html

<table>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>Metric</th>
      <th>Latest Figure</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>Total number of HBCUs in the U.S.</td>
      <td>99 institutions (as of 2022 data, still used in 2024–2026)</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Institution types</td>
      <td>50 public, 49 private nonprofit</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Geographic spread</td>
      <td>19 states + D.C. + U.S. Virgin Islands</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>State with the most HBCUs</td>
      <td>Alabama (about 13–14 HBCUs, depending on counting)</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Approximate total enrollment (2022)</td>
      <td>Just under 290,000 students</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

TL;DR

• How many HBCUs are there?
  → 99 in the U.S. by the standard federal and research counts used today.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.