Historically Black Nursing Schools

Historically black colleges and Universities (HBCUs) were established to offer higher learning to minority groups living in the United States of America during the era of racial segregation. During this time, Americans of African, Indian, Mexican, Latin, Asian and Hispanic origins were discriminated against and were not allowed in some institutions of higher learning.

The HBCU were specifically started to allow access of higher education to those considered to be of minority groups or multiracial origins. The schools feature highly competitive and high performance 4-year and 2-year colleges and universities. While they were initially meant for minority groups only, today, the schools admit both minority and Native American students. However, the minority group of students is always higher at any one such historically black college or university.

Advantages of Attending Historically Black Nursing Schools

With about 105 HBCUs in the United States, only about 36 offer nursing programs. The schools have devised comprehensive nursing curriculums that offer diplomas, bachelor degrees and PhD level nursing degrees. Such schools also offer professional nursing programs like LPN and CNA programs.

The advantage of studying at HBCU is that students have great financial aid opportunities as compared to non-HBCUs. HBCUs also offer nursing degree programs at a tiny fraction of fees as compared to non-HBCUs. Students of other non-native American origins also find a good learning atmosphere when their culture is instilled in the learning process.

It also becomes easier for blacks to interact well and freely with their black counter parts at an environment that feels like home. Cultural interests and ethnic orientation also flourish well in the HBCUs. Students also have a great opportunity of facing their challenges and helping to build a better future outlook for black nurses.

List of Top Historically Black Nursing Schools in the USA

There are few HBCUs amongst the 50 states that offer nursing programs. Below is a list of HBCUs with these programs:

Southern Atlantic Region- Home to Above 50% of HBCUs

This region boosts home to over half of all HBCUs in the country.  Nursing majors are available at the following HBCUs:

School State Status
Norfolk University VA public
Virginia State University VA public
Hampton  University VA private
Florida A&M university Florida Public
Bethune-Cookman University Florida Private
Dillard university Louisiana Private
Grambling State University Louisiana Public
University of the District of Columbia District of Columbia Public
Howard University District of Columbia Private
Coppin State University Maryland Public
Bowie state University Maryland Public
North Carolina central university North Carolina Public
Winston Salem state university North Carolina Public
SC State university South Carolina public
Delaware State university Delaware Public
University of Arkansas at pine bluff Arkansas public
Albany state university Georgia Public
Bluefield State college West Virginia Public
Tuskegee university Alabama Private
Tennessee state university Tennessee public
Prairie View A&M university Texas public
Alcorn State University Mississippi public

 

The Advancing Education in Nursing HBCUs

With the increased need of advanced nursing schools, historically black nursing schools have started offering accredited graduate nursing programs. The level of training and the curriculum for the graduate nursing programs are no different with graduate nursing programs from other universities and colleges. At the forefront of introducing graduate nursing programs, Hampton University in VA, introduced its masters program in 1976 followed by a doctorate in nursing program in 1999.

Prairie View A&M and Southern university A&M are the other two HBCUs that had introduced doctoral programs recently. Masters programs are quite popular in nursing HBCUs and by the end of last year, there were nine universities offering masters level degrees in nursing. Students who still prefer to attend HBCUs for their graduate nursing degrees have a lot more choices than it was ten years ago.

Future of Historically Black Nursing Schools

With America encouraging multiculturalism, some HBCUs have recorded high numbers of nursing students from the majority group. In fact, Prairie View University is on the highest verge with over 50% of the nursing school class being Native Americans and international students.

On the other hand, minority students are also freely eligible to study in majority institutions ranging from Ivy League institutions to white-dominated community colleges.