Written By: Editorial Staff @ NursingProcess.org
Historically Black Nursing Schools were predominantly established before the Civil Rights Act of 1965. The main mission behind starting these schools was to provide black students with a comfortable and secure educational environment as most other colleges before the Act prohibited or limited the attendance of black students. Today, however, diversity at any educational institution is celebrated and the same goes for the over 100 HBCUs that exist in the United States. Although the black student enrollment at HBCUs over the years has declined, its relevance continues to remain as most minority communities, particularly African Americans still feel at home when enrolled at an HBCU.
Ranking Methodology Behind the Best HBCU Nursing Schools
We gathered a list of all historically black colleges and universities offering nursing programs and then ranked the 10 Best in the nation based on the following five factors:
•Enrollment Rate
•Graduation Rate
•Retention Rate
•Affordability
•Reputation of the School
Known for a great value on investment, our 10 highest-ranked historically black nursing schools provide students with rigorous employable nurse training at affordable tuition costs. The data required for our rankings was gathered from IPEDs, U.S. News & World Report, Niche, Grad Reports, Rate My Professors and the official college websites.
10 Best Historically Black Nursing Schools in the Nation for the Year 2024
1.Winston-Salem State University - Winston-Salem, NC Visit Program Page
Winston-Salem State University is highly regarded in the nation for producing black nursing graduates who are known for earning some of the highest salaries in the state of North Carolina. The college celebrates diversity and offers its students, nursing education that is rooted in evidence-based knowledge and culture relevance. It focuses on social justice and health improvement of the underserved population through its nursing degrees at the baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral levels. To take this goal further, the college actively engages in community health programs with the help of its nationally recognized Center of Excellence that works towards reducing health disparities. As a student of nursing, this platform can prove to be a rich learning experience and an opportunity to get involved in community service.
2.Howard University - Washington, DC Visit Program Page
A top-ranking historically black college, Howard University is acclaimed for its nursing education that has been an offering since 1969. Nursing graduates are known for their job preparedness and evidently, so, today, they are playing impactful roles in the nursing field across the globe. Through its undergraduate, graduate and post master’s degree programs, the college aims to promote holistic nursing care. The college endeavors towards improved care of the homeless and aged by laying emphasis on these issues in its curriculum. It values diversity and therefore includes international clinical learning experiences with partner clinics in Haiti, South Africa, and Cuba, where students learn to offer culture-sensitive nursing care to a diverse population.
3.North Carolina A&T State University - Greensboro, NC Visit Program Page
Established way back in 1891, North Carolina A&T State University is distinguished for being the first college in the state of North Carolina for people of color. This historically black nursing school offers top-class nursing education that caters to the needs of aspiring students who are keen to join the nursing workforce, soon after graduation. You can enter its nursing program, either as a non-nursing student in the traditional BSN track or as a registered nurse, in the RN to BSN program. Alternatively, career changers can opt for an accelerated BSN track and become an entry-level nurse in a shorter period of time. Regardless of the pathway you take, the college designs its curriculum to prepare you with the skills and knowledge that are required to offer patient-centric nursing care in the ever-evolving healthcare field.
4.Bowie State University - Bowie, MD Visit Program Page
One of the ten oldest black universities in the nation, Bowie State University is also the oldest in Maryland. Black nursing students can feel at home with the college’s nursing education that is grounded in African American traditions. The college offers BSN and MSN degree options; the master’s comes with the Family Nurse Practitioner and Nurse Educator specialization options. On the other hand, the BSN is offered as a traditional, accelerated, and RN to BSN track. To prepare students with employable skills, the college supplements its didactic coursework with extensive experiential learning experiences at its state-of-art simulation lab and at varied reputed clinical sites, where students apply theoretical knowledge to practice.
5.Prairie View A&M University - Prairie View, TX Visit Program Page
Established primarily to serve the African American population, today Prairie View A&M University stands tall as the second oldest public institution in Texas for higher education. In its 100 years since inception, the college has been synonymous with transforming patient care across the nation by producing quality nurses who are committed to the improvement of healthcare. PVAMU offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees in nursing. You can choose to complete the program that matches your career aspirations. The BSN is offered as a traditional track and RN to BSN & LVN to BSN bridge programs. While the MSN comes with the FNP, Nurse Education and Nurse Administration specialty options, the DNP focuses on nursing leadership, health policy development, and evidence-based nursing.
6.Southern University and A&M College-Baton Rouge, LA Visit Program Page
The largest HBCU nursing college in Louisiana, Southern University and A&M College is also a flagship institution of the Southern University System. What’s more, the school prides itself on the fact that it is the largest producer of African American nurses in the nation. To help its diverse student population reach their career goals, the school offers a BSN, MSN, Ph.D. and DNP degree. Depending on the program you enter, the coursework provides you with in depth-professional expertise, covering every aspect of nursing that influences patient care, be it political, social, economic, cultural or social. This well-rounded learning is supported by clinical experiences at various partner healthcare agencies. While MSN students can choose from two specialty tracks to further their career, the Ph.D. and DNP prepare you for advanced leadership and research in healthcare.
7.North Carolina Central University - Durham, NC Visit Program Page
North Carolina Central University is a historically black nursing college that trains students in the art and science of nursing through its undergraduate programs. If a BSN degree is what you are keen on achieving to either, enter the field of nursing or strengthen your position as a registered nurse, then the college offers a traditional and an RN to BSN pathway. Alternatively, if you have completed a four-year degree in a non-nursing field and are looking at a career switch, the ABSN track allows you to earn a BSN in just 14 to 15 months. A conducive learning environment that combines well-designed didactic coursework with experiential learning at healthcare facilities in Durham, Wake, Orange, Chatham, Person, Vance-Granville and Franklin counties, help you acquire vital skills in leadership, communication, and critical thinking.
8.Hampton University - Hampton, VA Visit Program Page
Hampton University school of nursing is recognized as the first HBCU nursing school in the nation to initiate a master’s and a Ph.D. degree in nursing. It trains graduates at the baccalaureate, graduate and doctoral levels, with several pathways and concentration options. Eligible students can pursue BSN as a traditional, accelerated or RN to BSN track. The master’s and doctoral tracks prepare you for advanced leadership positions in family health, nursing education and nursing research. While some programs are offered on the main campus, most courses can be taken online, allowing considerable flexibility for working students. Additionally, the college also offers a baccalaureate degree in health sciences with two concentration options in community health promotion and policy & administration, so you can opt for the track that aligns with your career goals.
9.Delaware State University - Dover, DE Visit Program Page
Delaware State University, a college, historically for colored students, today caters to a diverse student population. It stands out as being the only HBCU campus that follows a complete tobacco-free policy. The college offers a bachelor’s and master’s degree to aspiring patient caregivers who either, want to make an entry into this promising field or advance their nursing careers. While the BSN is an on-campus program, the MSN coursework can be taken completely online. Both programs are facilitated by an accomplished faculty that brings their years of experience to the classroom. Moreover, with undergraduate education laying the ground for entry-level nursing, you enjoy close interaction with the faculty in smart classes, where you gain valuable hands-on learning of various digital tools used in nursing.
9.Tuskegee University - Tuskegee, AL Visit Program Page
Tuskegee University is a historically black private school that trains graduates to be competent and compassionate caregivers. Given, the nursing school’s experience of over 118 years, its large pool of alumni is working as nurse leaders, actively serving communities across the world. Through its BSN degree in the traditional and RN to BSN pathways, the college strengthens concepts in liberal arts, humanities, sciences, and nursing. The program combines didactic nursing courses in mental health, adult health, and pediatrics, with clinical experiences at local hospitals, clinics, and community healthcare centers, where students hone clinical reasoning and communication skills. Upon graduation, you will be adept with the use of healthcare informatics and evidence-based nursing knowledge to provide nursing care for patients across the lifespan.
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