The Alabama Office of Minority Affairs (AOMA) established the Alabama HBCU Initiative to ensure that a continuous line of communication exists between Alabama’s HBCUs and the State of Alabama.
With a total of fourteen institutions, the State of Alabama has the largest number of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the nation. Not only do these HBCUs represent a historical and economic significance in the State, they continue to serve the unique purpose of providing access to top educational opportunities for a disproportionately large number of African American students.
HBCUs are well known for preparing the highest number of African-American students for STEM fields, and a number of Alabama’s HBCUs have been recognized for their top performing STEM departments and programs.
Through its HBCU Initiative, AOMA will focus on policies and programs to maximize the economic impact of these institutions on the State of Alabama, and in turn ensure the viability and sustainability of HBCUs in the State.
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FACTS
- More than 20% of African-American college graduates receive their degree from an HBCU.
- 40% of African-American members of Congress, 50% of African-American lawyers, and 80% of African-American judges graduated from an HBCU.
- The average graduation rate at a four-year HBCU hovered around 59% in 2015, higher than that national average for African American students at non-HBCUs.
