Black Ivy League Schools

The term "Black Ivy League" refers to a group of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) with high academic standards and selective admissions. These schools are not affiliated with the sports conference known as the Ivy League.

What Are the Black Ivy League Schools?

Black Ivy League schools are a distinguished group of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), characterized by high academic standards, selective admissions, and attracting high-performing students.

HBCUs were founded to provide Black students a quality higher education. Before the 1960s, all majority-white colleges and universities in the South did not accept people of color. During that time, a handful of elite Black schools — the Black Ivy League — attracted the best African-American students and faculty.

While these institutions originally admitted only Black students, they now welcome individuals of all races.

There are more than 100 HBCUs in the United States. Among these, a distinguished group is often referred to as the Black Ivy League.

The term “Black Ivy League” is not an official one, nor is it affiliated with the sports conference known as the Ivy League. In her 1984 book Blacks in College, Jacqueline Fleming designates the following eight universities as the Black Ivy League.

• Spelman College
• Howard University
• Tuskegee University
• Morehouse College
• Hampton University
• Fisk University
• Dillard University
• Clark Atlanta University

Others have suggested including additional high-caliber HBCUs on the list, such as Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, Morgan State University, and Lincoln University. This article focuses on the above eight institutions from Jacqueline Fleming’s list.

Black Ivy League Schools: Acceptance Rates and Key Features

Below, we’ll go into detail about each of these schools.

1. Spelman College

Spelman College is a historically Black liberal arts college for women in Atlanta, Georgia. It is ranked #1 in HBCUs. It was originally founded in 1881 as the Atlanta Baptist Female Seminary and became a college in 1924.

Spelman offers over 30 majors, with the most popular majors being Psychology, Biology, and Political Science. Spelman’s student-faculty ratio is 11:1, and two-thirds of its classes have less than 20 students. Approximately 2,374 undergraduates are enrolled.

Spelman has one of the most competitive acceptance rates of the Black Ivy League schools, at 24%. Data from the Fall 2024 Admitted Student Profile shows the average SAT score is 1202 and the average ACT score is 26. Students reported an average unweighted GPA of 3.9.

Applications to Spelman can be submitted in Early Decision, Early Action, and Regular Decision rounds. As of 2024, tuition is $48,809 per year for an on-campus student.

Notable Alumni of Spelman College: Marian Wright Edelman (activist), Alice Walker (novelist), Keshia Knight Pulliam (actor), Cassi Davis (actor)

2. Howard University

Founded in 1867 by Civil War hero General Oliver O. Howard, Howard University is ranked #2 in HBCUs. Its 256 acre campus sits in Washington, D.C.

Howard University is the top producer of Black undergraduates who go on to earn PhDs in natural sciences and who go into medical school in the U.S. It also has the highest number of HBCU Rhodes Scholars who go on to study at the University of Oxford.

Howard offers majors in more than 130 areas within 13 schools and colleges. Approximately 9,689 undergraduates are enrolled.

Howard University has an acceptance rate of 35%. Data shows the average SAT score is in a range between 1120–1184, and for the ACT, between 23–24. Students reported an average unweighted GPA of 3.6.

Applications to Howard can be submitted in Early Decision, Early Action, and Regular Decision rounds. As of 2024, tuition is $49,818 per year for an on-campus student.

Notable Alumni of Howard University: Kamala Haris (Vice President of the U.S.), Thurgood Marshall (former U.S. Supreme Court Justice), Toni Morrison (novelist), Zora Neale Hurston

3. Morehouse College

Founded in 1867 and located in Atlanta, Morehouse College is the largest liberal arts college for men in the United States. It is ranked as the #3 HBCU and is a member of the Atlanta University Center consortium along with Spelman College and Clark Atlanta University.

Morehouse College was founded in response to the liberation of enslaved African-Americans and has played a key role in the civil rights movement.

It is the alma mater of Martin Luther King Jr.

Morehouse offers 32 majors, with the most popular majors being Business, Social Sciences, Biology, and Communications. Its student-faculty ratio is 10:1, and half of its classes have less than 20 students. Approximately 2,206 students attend.

Morehouse has an acceptance rate of 33%. Typical admitted Morehouse students scored between 18-25 on ACT, while the average SAT score is around 1060. Students reported an average unweighted GPA of 3.6.

Applications to Howard can be submitted in Early Decision, Early Action, and Regular Decision rounds. As of 2024, tuition is $38,806 for an on-campus student.

Notable Alumni of Morehouse College: Martin Luther King Jr. (activist), Samuel L. Jackson, (actor) Spike Lee (filmmaker), Maynard Jackson (attorney and politician)

4. Tuskegee University

Located in Tuskegee, Alabama, Tuskegee University was founded in 1881. It is ranked #4 in HBCUs and is the only HBCU designated as a National Historic Site. The university has been home to numerous important African-American figures, including founder and first principal Booker T. Washington, scientist George Washington Carver, and World War II's Tuskegee Airmen.

Tuskegee University offers over 60 degree programs. Approximately 2,400 undergraduates are enrolled.

Its notable distinctions include:

• Number one producer of Black aerospace science engineers in the nation.
• A leading producer of Black engineering graduates in chemical, electrical and mechanical engineering.
• The top producer of Black Ph.D. holders in Materials Science and Engineering in the U.S.
• Produced more Black general officers in the military than any other institution, including the service academies.

Tuskegee University has an acceptance rate of 30%. Preferred applicants will have earned a 21–23 ACT Composite Score, or a 1050 or higher SAT Score, and an unweighted ~3.0 cumulative high-school grade point average.

You can apply to Tuskegee for either fall admission or spring admission. For the 2024-2025 school year, tuition is $36,534 for an on-campus student.

Notable Alumni of Tuskegee University: Lionel Richie (musician), Daniel James Jr. (four-star general in the U.S. Air Force), Ralph Ellison (writer), Alice Coachman (Olympic gold medalist)

5. Florida A&M University

Florida A&M University is a public historically Black university located in Tallahassee, Florida. Founded in 1887, it is consistently ranked among the top HBCUs in the nation.

FAMU offers more than 50 undergraduate majors across its colleges and schools, with popular programs including Business Administration, Health Sciences, Journalism, and Engineering (offered jointly through the FAMU–FSU College of Engineering).

The university’s student-faculty ratio is 14:1, and roughly 9,200 undergraduate students are enrolled.

FAMU’s acceptance rate is about 23%, making it one of the more selective public HBCUs.

According to the most recent Common Data Set (Fall 2024), the average SAT score is 1130 and the average ACT score is 23. The middle 50% GPA range for admitted students typically falls between 3.4 and 4.0.

Applicants can apply through the Common Application or the FAMU online portal under Early Action or Regular Decision rounds. As of 2024–2025, in-state tuition is approximately $5,785 per year, while out-of-state tuition is about $17,725 per year.

Notable Alumni of Florida A&M University:
Common (artist and actor), Anika Noni Rose (actor and singer), Pam Oliver (sports broadcaster), Andrew Gillum (politician), Will Packer (film producer)

6. Xavier University

Xavier University is a private, historically Black Catholic university located in New Orleans, Louisiana. Founded in 1925 by St. Katharine Drexel and the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, it remains the only historically Black Catholic university in the United States.

Xavier offers more than 50 undergraduate majors across disciplines in the arts, sciences, and health professions. Its most popular programs include Biology, Chemistry, and Psychology, reflecting the university’s national reputation for preparing students for medical and health-related careers. Xavier consistently produces more African American graduates who go on to medical school than any other U.S. university.

The student-faculty ratio is 13:1, and total undergraduate enrollment is about 2,400 students.

Xavier’s acceptance rate is around 74%. The average SAT score for admitted students is approximately 1130, and the average ACT score is 23. The average unweighted GPA is around 3.5.

Applications are accepted through the Common Application or the Xavier application portal under Early Action and Regular Decision options. As of 2024–2025, annual tuition is approximately $27,000, with generous scholarship and need-based aid opportunities available.

Notable Alumni of Xavier University of Louisiana:
Regina Benjamin (former U.S. Surgeon General), Norman Francis (longtime Xavier president and civil rights leader), Khalil J. Osiris (author and educator), and LaToya Cantrell (Mayor of New Orleans)

7. Hampton University

Hampton University is a prestigious private college in Hampton, Virginia. It was founded during the Civil War in 1868 on the grounds of a former plantation. It is ranked #7 in HBCUs.

Hampton offers 133 programs and has a student-to-faculty ratio of 15:1. There are 3,728 students enrolled. Top majors include Journalism, Psychology, Liberal Arts, and Political Science.

Hampton University’s acceptance rate is 62% as of 2024. Students with an unweighted GPA of at least 3.30 or who rank in the top 10% of their class can choose whether to submit standardized test scores. To be considered for merit-based scholarships, you must submit SAT or ACT scores.

You can apply to Hampton during the non-binding Early Action round or the Regular Round. As of 2023, tuition is $42,148 — which includes room, board, and fees as well.

Notable Alumni of Hampton University: Booker T. Washington (author, orator, and educator), Wanda Sykes (comedian), Spencer Christian (TV broadcaster)

8. North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University

Ranked #8 in HBCUs, NC A&T is a public, land-grant historically Black university located in Greensboro, North Carolina and has grown to become the largest HBCU in the United States by total enrollment with about 13,500 students and a student-faculty ratio of 18:1.

NC A&T offers more than 50 majors, with Engineering, Business Administration, and Psychology being among the more popular ones.

NC A&T’s acceptance rate is approximately 56%, and the average SAT score for admitted students is around 1070, vs. around 21 for the ACT.

Admitted students typically report a GPA between 3.4 and 3.9.

Applications can be submitted through the Common Application or the NC A&T application portal, with Early Action and Regular Decision options available. In-state tuition is approximately $6,733 per year, while out-of-state tuition is about $20,243 per year.

Notable Alumni of North Carolina A&T State University: Jesse Jackson (civil rights leader), Terrence J (actor and host), Ronald McNair (NASA astronaut), Taraji P. Henson (actor), and Alma Adams (U.S. Congresswoman)

9. Morgan State University

Founded in 1867 as the Centenary Biblical Institute, it became Morgan College in 1890 and achieved university status in 1975, becoming Morgan State University as it's known today. As Maryland’s preeminent public urban research university, Morgan is one of the nation’s leading producers of Black engineers, educators, and business professionals

Morgan State offers more than 60 undergraduate majors. Its most popular programs include Civil Engineering, Business Administration, and Psychology.

The university has a student-faculty ratio of 14:1 and an undergraduate enrollment of approximately 10,740 students.

Morgan’s acceptance rate is about 82%, highlighting a high level of accessibility.

The average SAT score for admitted students is around 1040, and around 20 for the ACT. The middle 50% of admitted students typically report a GPA between 3.0 and 3.3.

Applications can be submitted through the Common Application or the Morgan State University portal, with Early Action and Regular Decision rounds available. In-state tuition is approximately $8,008 per year, and out-of-state tuition is about $18,480 per year.

Notable Alumni of Morgan State University: April D. Ryan (White House correspondent), Mo'Nique (comedian and actor), Earl G. Graves Sr. (founder of Black Enterprise magazine), Kevin Liles (music executive), and Congressman Kweisi Mfume

10. Delaware State University

Delaware State University is located in Dover, Delaware. Founded in 1891 as the State College for Colored Students, DSU has evolved into a comprehensive research institution with strong programs in STEM and Business.

Delaware State offers more than 40 undergraduate majors, with most popular majors including Criminal Justice, Biology, Business Administration, and Psychology.

The university maintains a student-faculty ratio of 15:1 and an undergraduate enrollment of 5,526 students.

DSU’s acceptance rate is about 47%, and the average admitted student has an SAT score around 990, an ACT score near 19, and an unweighted GPA between 2.9 and 3.5.

DSU is growing its prestige by adding partnerships with NASA, and with Apple’s HBCU Innovation Initiative, and by expanding its aviation and renewable energy programs.

Applications are accepted through the Common Application or the Delaware State University portal under Early Action or Regular Decision.

In-state tuition is approximately $8,358 per year, and out-of-state tuition is around $18,280 per year.

Notable Alumni of Delaware State University: Clifford Brown (jazz trumpeter), Dr. Reatha Clark King (chemist and business leader), Jamaal Jackson (NFL player), and Wayne Gilchrest (former U.S. Congressman)

Final Thoughts

From Spelman and Howard to FAMU and Hampton, the nation’s top HBCUs — often called the “Black Ivy League” — continue to set the standard for academic excellence, leadership, and cultural influence.

These universities have deep roots in American educational and social history and in recent years have been experiencing a notable resurgence, with growing prestige and growing enrollment.

Navigating all the choices and potential opportunities just these 10 all-star HBUCs offer can in itself get overwhelming. Fortunately, our team of knowledgeable counselors can guide you through every step of admissions planning and strategy, including the entire college search process — with a personalized approach that centers on your goals, qualifications, and personal interests.

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