HBCU IN TEXAS

If you are looking within the state of Texas for a good college, you should consider the state’s HBCUs. There are nine HBCU colleges in Texas.

After the American Civil War, the Freedmen’s Bureau began implementing educational opportunities for the newly freed slaves. And it was around then that many HBCUs were founded in the southern states, providing African Americans with accredited higher education experiences for over a century. The Black colleges were even designated to provide elementary and high school education at the time. And although this was phased out by the mid-1920s, the HBCUs lived on.

Our editors first published HBCUs in Texas in June 2023. This ranking was updated February 2024.

If you live in Texas, there many advantages to attending a college or university within the state, including:

• In-state tuition: In-state tuition is much more affordable than out-of-state tuition, although some private colleges and universities do not differentiate between in-state and out-of-state tuition.
• Short commute and travel fees: Even if you are taking online classes, it can be helpful to visit campus to meet with professors or take advantage of campus resources and technology.
• Quality field study, internship, or employment opportunities: Many colleges and universities are well connected with companies and businesses in their area.

HBCUs in Texas 

What Is An HBCU?

An HBCU is a historically black college or university established to help African American students achieve a high-quality secondary education. In addition, HBCUs aim to offer students an opportunity to grow and achieve their dreams regardless of race. 

HBCUs exist all around the country, but around 10% of the HBCUs in the United States are in Texas. States like Alabama and Georgia are a couple of other states where HBCUs are common. HBCUs only comprise around three percent of the United States’ total educational institutions but make up more than 25% of all African American students graduating with a college degree. The vast majority of HBCU students are African Americans. However, enrollment is not limited to African Americans. Students of any race can attend, as long as they meet the requirements for admission and are accepted.

What Are The Nine Different Texas HBCU Schools?

There are nine HBCU schools in Texas, and each has its own qualities, programs, student body, and sports teams. Within one of these nine universities, you could find a place that fits you perfectly. In the next section, we will talk about each Texas HBCU individually and let you know about some of the unique and exciting facts about them. If you have further questions about any of the Texas HBCU universities on this list, be sure to contact the school and make an appointment with an admissions counselor. 

Founded in 1875 in Austin, Texas, Huston-Tillotson University is a private HBCU that provides an intimate educational experience with a student to faculty ratio of 16 to 1 and a total enrollment of just over 1,000. 

The average cost of attendance $14,703 a year, which is affordable for many families with financial aid. In addition, Huston-Tillotson is renowned for its music and education departments and accepts most students, on average, with a GPA of 3.07 or higher. 

Some of the unique majors at Huston-Tillotson include Educational Leadership, African American Studies, Religious Studies, and Environmental Studies. 

Pros

• Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
• Adult degree programs with online options (one course at a time)
• SAT/ACT scores not required for admission
• Women’s and men’s athletic teams and sporting community

Cons

• Less majors/minors than most larger universities
• Small student population (1025 students)

Located in Hawkins, Texas, Jarvis Christian University provides educational quality at an affordable tuition rate of $11,720 per year. However, a full 99 percent of students receive financial aid, so most get a break on tuition rates. As a result, JCU is often considered one of the most affordable and competitive colleges in Texas, and not only within the sphere of HBCUs. 

JCU is known for its teacher certifications and its Bachelor of Business Administration program, which features concentrations in accounting and cybersecurity. 

JCU offers prospective students the opportunity to schedule a virtual appointment with an admissions advisor, an excellent idea for those looking to attend. 

Pros

• Generous financial aid awards
• Highly affordable tuition costs
• Low student-to-faculty ratio of 12:1
• Minors and concentrations available

Cons

• Limited number of program offerings
• Low graduation rate (16%)

Texas Southern University (TSU) is one of the biggest and most widely-known Texas HBCUs, with over 8,600 students and more than 100 academic programs and degrees. The average cost for a TSU student (in-state) is just over $9,100 a year. According to the United Negro College Fund, TSU generates $530 million in economic impact on the regional economy.

To get into Texas Southern University, you’ll likely need a GPA of 2.5 or above, an ACT score of 17 or above, and a minimum SAT score of 900. TSU has a student to faculty ratio of 18:1, so each student is assured individual attention.

Texas Southern has a student population of around 60 percent women and 40 percent men, with 80 percent of their total student body being Black. Nearly 85 percent of TSU students are from Texas, but many others choose to come from around the country. Some of the most popular majors at TSU include biology, business, law, and psychology. 

Pros

• Competitive in-state tuition
• Diverse selection of programs and degrees
• High acceptance rate of 97%
• Large career services center with job fairs and workshops
• 138 student organizations and over 4,117 events annually

Cons

• Higher tuition cost for out-of-state students, non-residents of Texas

Wiley College is a private HBCU located in Marshall, Texas. Founded in 1873, the college has a religious affiliation with the Methodist Episcopal Church. Wiley College is one of the oldest HBCUs to the west of the Mississippi River and has a cost of $13,500 a year. The college aims to serve not just Black students, but students from a variety of different cultural and economic backgrounds without limiting their dreams or education. 

Currently, the college is split up into four different divisions: 

• Sciences
• Education
• Business and Technology
• Social Sciences and Humanities 

Another non-degree-granting division handles the college’s general education requirements. Some of the most popular majors at Wiley College include Criminal Justice, Mass Communications, Business Administration, and Biology. 

Pros

• 25% of the student body are athletes
• Recognized for its academic stewardship
• Three degree pathways – residential, adult learner, and online

Cons

• Small student population (less than 700 students)
• No graduate degree programs

Texas College, located in Tyler, Texas, is an HBCU founded in 1894 by a group of ministers. Similar to Wiley, Texas College is also closely affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal Church. The college aims to provide an environment for not only educational development but also social and cultural development. Some of the core values of the school include academic excellence, integrity, social responsibility, and tolerance. 

Texas College offers a 1:17 ratio of faculty to students with 12 degree programs in four divisions, including:

• Business and Social Sciences
• General Studies and Humanities
• Education
• Natural and Computational Science

The college also offers intercollegiate competitive sports teams for football, baseball, basketball, soccer, volleyball, and more. So if you’re looking for a small school with a very tight-knit community and a lot of opportunity for growth, Texas College might be a great choice for you. 

Pros

• Low student-to-faculty ratio of 17:1
• Strong athletics programs
• Tight-knit community

Cons

• Small student body population of less 642 students
• No graduate programs

St. Philip’s College is a historically Black community college located in San Antonio, Texas. Founded in 1898, this school is part of the Alamo Colleges District and has a student body of more than 12,653 who are pursuing more than 70 different degree programs. 

The average cost for students to attend the university (as in-state residents) is just over $6,700 a year. St. Philips is one of the most affordable colleges on this list, so this could be an excellent option for those looking to come out of school with little or no debt. 

Some of the unique majors that students can pursue while at St. Philip’s include Health Information Technology, Advanced Manufacturing Technology, Hotel Management, and Baking and Pastry Arts. Most students attending have a GPA of 2.0 and above, and there are many student apartments in the area to serve your housing needs despite the college not having dorms of their own. 

Pros

• Career readiness programs
• Low cost tuition for in-state and in-district residents
• Low student-to-faculty ratio of 18:1
• Open admission policy (100% acceptance rate)

Cons

• Limited number of bachelor’s degree programs offered (currently only one)
• Higher out-of-state tuition

Founded in 1872, Paul Quinn College is a private HBCU located outside of Dallas, Texas. The school is one of the smallest HBCUs in the country, with an enrollment of 938 students. The college is the oldest HBCU to the west of the Mississippi River and was the first Urban Work college in the nation. PQC is closely affiliated with the African Methodist Church, making it a tightly-knit community of students and faculty. 

As one of the top Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the nation, Paul Quinn College aims to shake up the normal boundaries of college tuition. The school believes that you should not need to take on additional financial burdens just to get an education.

Since the school is based in the Dallas metropolitan area, there are many opportunities for connections and jobs with Fortune 500 companies nearby. In addition, Paul Quinn College focuses on experimental and faith-based education, so if this interests you, you should definitely apply. 

Pros

• Access to internships and career opportunities in the greater Dallas area
• Diverse program offerings
• Generous financial aid offerings and awards
• Tight-knit community

Cons

• Lower acceptance rate than some HBCUs (57%)
• Small student population (938 students)

Founded in 1876, Prairie View A&M University is an of the most well-known Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the U.S. The university offers over 50 baccalaureate degrees, 37 master’s degrees, and four doctoral degrees. The university is located in Prairie View, Texas, and offers competitive tuition rates for in-state students who pay $11,299, compared to out-of-state students who paid $26,874.

Prairie View prides itself on being a place that students can go to be fully, one-hundred-percent themselves. In addition, Prairie View is the second oldest higher education institution in Texas, meaning they have long-standing traditions that go back for decades and even centuries. 

The current student body of the university exceeds 9,000, and while many are from Texas, students come to attend Prairie View from all around the country. Nearly 6,000 degrees have been awarded from the university over the past five years!

Pros

• Affordable in-state tuition for residents of Texas
• Geographically diverse student body
• High research activity (R2 Carnegie Tier)
• Large number of academic programs and offerings
• Low student-to-faculty ratio of 16:1

Cons

• Higher out-of-state tuition costs

Located in Terrell, Texas, Southwestern Christian College was founded in 1948 and is one of the best private Historically Black Colleges and Universities in Texas. The college offers associate’s and bachelor’s degrees that primarily aim to prepare students for full-time ministry. 

It is one of the “younger” schools on this list, with an annual enrollment of about 88 students. While small, the school has popular degree programs, such as their Bachelor of Science in Religious Studies, a degree that prepares students for various careers working in the church. 

The college also prides itself on having a thriving acapella chorus and several athletics teams for students to enrich their on-campus lives. If you have been hunting for a tight-knit, small school environment that will prepare you for a religious career upon graduation, look no further than Southwestern Christian College. 

Pros

• Internship opportunities and career-focused courses
• Specialized degrees for ministry work
• Tight-knit community
• Unique extracurricular activities

Cons

• Limited number of diverse degree offerings
• Very small student population

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Articles:

Are There Any HBCUs in Alabama?

Do any HBCU Colleges Offer 100% Online Degree Programs?

What is the Top HBCU Graduate School?

Top 20 Best Historically Black HBCU Colleges with Online Programs

This concludes our article on the top HBCU Colleges Texas