Choosing a historically Black college or university (HBCU) can allow students to experience a shared culture, form connections in their trade, and surround themselves with positive role models who resemble them. Black accounting majors can receive all of these benefits and more if they study at an HBCU.
There are many universities to consider if one decides to take this route. But the process of finding the best HBCU for accounting can be made simple by assessing a school's background, customs, and qualities. The accounting programs at these schools are simultaneously comfortable and challenging spaces where students discuss topics in ways they can resonate with.
In HBCU accounting programs, students can build connections leading to internships, apprenticeships, and other entry-level roles, as well as network with Black CPAs. Professors at these schools may also have an understanding of personal obligations and a similar relationship to finances.
Learn more about accounting programs at HBCUs, some of which rank within the top in the U.S.
Popular Online Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Top HBCU Accounting Programs
History of Top HBCUs
Historically Black colleges and universities have a rich history, one that has shaped their academic culture. The need to create HBCUs was due to the injustices of segregation, during which Black people were denied access to safe and nurturing learning spaces. These schools allowed students to grow intellectually and build their communities.
Private Black colleges were established by Northern missionaries for the purpose of educating free people of color and newly freed enslaved Africans. The Morrill Acts of 1862 and 1890 established public institutions and further mandated that states either admit Black students or establish separate and equal institutions to educate them.
The first institution of higher education established under the control of Black people, namely the African Methodist Episcopal Church, is Wilberforce University in Ohio, established in 1856 and named after William Wilberforce.
Some well-known HBCUs today are Howard University, Spelman College, and Florida A&M University. These institutions and others like them have helped the Black community and contributed to the success of Black Americans over the course of many generations. In an interview with NPR, Dr. Walter Kimbrough, former President of HBCUs Philander Smith College in Arkansas and Dillard University in Louisiana said, "HBCUs were the critical providers of Black professionals and particularly your teachers, your doctors, your lawyers, your ministers. They came out of that HBCU tradition. So that was very important."
What Counts as an HBCU?
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 pressured the U.S. government to desegregate schools. HBCUs were established with the passing of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and are defined as institutions that were established before 1964 with the key mission of educating Black Americans. The legislation also states the institutions must be accredited by a nationally recognized agency or association determined by the Secretary of Education to be a reliable authority as to the quality of training.
Some of the unifying experiences of attending an HBCU are feeling supported by professors, feeling prepared for life after college, and being given the ability to become financially stable. These advantages go a long way in students' careers, giving them the tools needed to prosper in their respective fields. The absence of stress is likely one of the main factors that make attending historically Black colleges and universities worthwhile. For the purposes of this ranking, we first looked at our top bachelor's degrees in accounting and zeroed in on HBCUs.
Why Seek the Best HBCUs in Accounting?
One benefit of earning an accounting degree at an HBCU is community support, as HBCUs have a high enrollment of Black and African American students. Being around members of their own racial and ethnic groups, including accounting professors, tutors, and other leaders, can give students a strong sense of belonging.
Another benefit of earning an accounting degree at an HBCU is student diversity. Although founded specifically for Black students, HBCUs also enroll students of other races and ethnicities at high levels. Learners can also benefit from being taught by accounting instructors of different racial backgrounds.
The next benefit of earning an accounting degree at an HBCU is the alumni network. Most HBCU accounting programs provide large alumni networks for Black students, ones that include Black CPAs. These networks serve to guide those who wish to advance their careers in accounting.
Those who earn accounting degrees at HBCUs also often accumulate less debt. Historically Black colleges and universities tend to offer students much cheaper tuition rates compared to predominantly white institutions. Tuition varies across institutions and their respective programs, but HBCU students graduate with less debt on average.
Lastly, a benefit of earning an accounting degree at an HBCU is access to scholarships. More than half of HBCU students qualify for federal Pell Grants. Historically Black colleges and universities also host internal programs to help students pay for their education and receive funds from outside organizations like UNCF.
Representation of Black CPAs
While HBCUs can help students gain the skills necessary to pursue a career in accounting, attending such an institution isn't a guarantee that they will secure a job immediately. There tends to be a lack of racial diversity at many accounting firms. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), of the 1,186 people employed in the accounting industry in 2022, only 6.9% were Black or African American, 10.3% were Asian American, and 10.5% were Hispanic or Latino/a. Societies like the National Association of Black Accountants can advance HBCU alumni by addressing barriers and providing resources and career connections. Find out more about diversity among accounting staff and C-suites from the articles below.
Common Questions About HBCUs
The HBCU that has the best accounting program is Elizabeth City State University. ECSU offers a bachelor of science in accounting, a prestigious degree that prepares Black students for careers in the accounting field.
