The Trump administration is reinvesting in HBCUs.
The administration will distribute $174 million to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), according to a press release. The commitment will be added to the $406 million approved by Congress and signed by President Donald Trump. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon announced it during the White House Initiative on HBCUs Summit.
The initiative targets research, innovation, campus modernization, and private-sector partnerships and is designed to equip students for careers in growing sectors, according to a White House press release. It also notes that with this, HBCUs will have received $612 million in additional funding across fiscal years 2025 and 2026, exceeding the amount approved by Congress for each year.
“Under my leadership, we will continue to honor the proud history of our country’s HBCUs and ensure they remain strong and capable to educate the next generation of Black Americans,” Trump said in a press release.
United Negro College Fund (UNCF) President and CEO Dr. Michael L. Lomax commends Trump and McMahon for “prioritizing” HBCUs. He said first-year, one-time funding is not sufficient.
“The needs on HBCU campuses are too severe; but this investment will surely yield a great return. Our grateful community is appreciative, and we look forward to investing the funds well into our campuses, programs, and most importantly, our students,” Lomax said in the press release.
Rodriguez Murray, UNCF senior vice president, public policy and government affairs, commented:
“HBCUs have long deserved this kind of investment, and it is high time an administration took note to make it happen. HBCUs are the most excellent institutions in the country in terms of educating students from lower socio-economic backgrounds and getting them to and through college. HBCUs infuse about $16 billion into our economy annually, and hire and fire, collectively, like a Fortune 50 company. A class of HBCU graduates will earn $146 billion over their lifetime. In short, HBCUs more than deserve the additional funding.”