Standing on Solid Ground: Investing in the Resiliency of HBCUs

Since the early 1800s, Historically Black Colleges and Universities have served as hubs of education, community development, and economic advancement for students of color. While these institutions make up about 3 percent of the country's colleges and universities, HBCUs produce 20 percent of all African American graduates. HBCUs have proved to be integral contributors to the advancement of people of color, but have also been consistently underinvested. Investing in HBCUs can have an immense impact—A recent McKinsey report shows that a strengthened HBCU network can increase Black worker incomes by around $10 billion in addition to strengthening the economy with $1.2 billion in incremental business profit, creating economic mobility pathways that can also contribute an additional $1 billion in consumer expenditures. This panel examines the significance of HBCUs and explores strategies for supporting their longevity and sustainability.