The Best HBCU Nursing Programs

Historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) have the power to diversify nursing and fill the nursing gap. HBCU grads can benefit from the supportive learning environment —mentoring services, clubs, and hands-on professors — to become leaders in nursing. Under the mission of educating Black people, HBCUs began during segregation and now educate people of all racial backgrounds. This guide details more about the top HBCU nursing programs.

Discover how to apply and find out what careers await graduates of HBCU online nursing programs.

We use a data-driven methodology to rank the best HBCU nursing programs, making it easier for you to find a program that works for you. Our methodology is based on metrics that we believe matter most to students, including academic quality, affordability, reputation, and program offerings.

If you want to attend an HBCU nursing program, how do you decide on the best? What school you attend is a personal decision. That said, key factors make programs more accessible, affordable, flexible, and can ensure your success as a nurse.

Colleges do not need accreditation, but they voluntarily undergo peer evaluations to show that they provide a quality education. Separate accrediting associations review a college to verify that it meets quality standards. This process protects your financial investment and makes sure that employers and other colleges recognize your degree and credits.

Every HBCU nursing program included in this guide is accredited. You want an accredited degree because:

Find out more about why nursing school accreditation is important.

There are more than 106 HBCUs and about 40 of those institutions have nursing programs. HBCUs began to promote the education of Black students, but today, HBCU nursing programs admit students from all racial backgrounds. Students who were not Black comprised 24% of enrollment at HBCUs as of 2020, according to the National Center of Education Statistics.

Students choose HBCU nursing programs for the lower tuition and a learning environment that confronts issues that matter to people of color (POC), especially first-generation college students.

Admission requirements vary by HBCU nursing program.

College students want a financial return to their education. No college can guarantee your career success. However, HBCU nursing programs offer an affordable education, about 30% lower than non-HBCUs. This can make it easier for parents or guardians and students.

Even so, you may have difficulty paying for your nursing degree if you cannot establish residency and must pay for out-of-state tuition. Not being able to work while you study also makes the financial burden heavier.

Thanks to generous financial aid for nurses, including institutional, state, and federal aid, HBCU students graduate with less debt than students at non-HBCUs. Nursing students also have access to federal and state loans and grants, as well as nursing scholarships and grants.

Nursing lacks diversity, but graduates of HBCU nursing programs can change that, as well as help fix the national nursing shortage. According to a 2020 study from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, minority nurses make up only 19.4% of RNs.

Students at HBCU nursing programs study a curriculum that includes minority voices, equipping them to tackle healthcare obstacles. It also helps them to develop a patient-centered practice that considers the unique challenges that POC face.

HBCU nursing programs prepare undergraduates to earn an associate degree in nursing or a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degree. Graduates can sit for the NCLEX exam to become an RN, a position that makes a mean annual salary of $82,750 as of May 2021, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Master of nursing degrees and doctorates prepare graduates to become licensed advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) specializing in specific areas of nursing. They work in acute care, neonatal units, pediatrics, psychiatric mental health, and women’s health. Nurse practitioners, one type of APRN, have a mean annual wage of $118,040, as the BLS reports.

HBCU nursing programs offer many advantages to Black students, POC, and non-minority students. Firstly, your education at an HBCU often costs less than at a non-HBCU college. Students also discover that HBCU nursing programs foster a sense of community with diverse campusesand lessons that include minority perspectives.

Earning a degree through an online HBCU nursing program offers the opportunity to serve diverse patient populations.

Students attending HBCU nursing programs have the opportunity to access federal financial aid and also scholarships reserved for Black students and POC. The United Negro College Fund offers 60,000 scholarships each year to help students attend HBCUs.

Yes, online HBCU nursing programs provide virtual classroom experiences that offer flexibility and convenience, especially for people balancing work and family lives. Online HBCU nursing programs function virtually, but students still need to complete clinical rotations in person.

HBCUs have campuses across the United States, but mostly in the South. Students can pick from HBCUs in Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, the Virgin Islands, and Virginia.

Page last reviewed December 1, 2022. Note: The ranking list and school descriptions on this page were created and reviewed independently by our Rankings Team.