Howard University disenrolled 502 inbound students – roughly 20% of the incoming class – just days before the 11 August move-in date due to missed tuition payments. Dozens were readmitted on 27 July, but hundreds remain uncertain about their dreams of attending the renowned historically Black college.
Disconnection Risks for Black Youth
Young Black Americans already face the highest rates of disconnection among races, with nearly 30% of rural Black young adults and one in five in urban areas classified as Neets (not in education, employment or training). These individuals are at heightened risk for housing insecurity, substance abuse, interpersonal violence, and depression. Tuition hikes, the end of affirmative action, and federal financial aid restrictions further threaten Black college hopefuls.
HBCUs as Engines of Success
HBCUs, born during the abolition movement, serve as social contracts with Black communities. Though accounting for only 3% of higher education institutions and 10% of Black undergraduates, they confer 35% of Black bachelor’s degrees, 75% of Black PhDs, 40% of Black engineers, 50% of Black attorneys and physicians, and 80% of Black judges. Their graduates' upward mobility rate is double the national average, and 88% report their education helped support themselves and families.
Mental Health and Belonging
At HBCUs, 45% of students report flourishing mental health, compared to 36% nationally and 38% at predominantly white institutions. The sense of institutional belonging felt by 83% of HBCU attendees is key. Riana Elyse Anderson, a psychologist at Columbia University, said: “Racial discrimination typically leads to worsened mental health outcomes like depression and anxiety for Black college students. Yet seeking out and having an affirming racial identity helps to thwart those negative outcomes. What’s more, HBCUs offer a unique space for that flourishing beyond what a Black student may find in an affinity group or on their own at a PWI.” She called such communities “critical for [student] wellbeing, particularly in this contentious political and social environment, and even without the robust financial or material resources at other institutions.”
Safe Havens for Authentic Selves
Black colleges provide a respite from the “mask” Black people often wear in white spaces, allowing students to safely express their authentic selves. After the tragic death of Nolan Wells, many Black teens and parents doubt safety when outnumbered by white peers. HBCUs offer safety in numbers and cultural attunement, from curricula to mentors. The disenrolled Howard students now face not only loss of opportunity but elevated risks for disconnection and depression, underscoring that HBCUs invest in Black students’ wellbeing as foundational to America’s future.
