Morgan State University’s nursing program is now the best in the state. According to a press release, Morgan State University’s Department of Nursing achieved a 100% first-time pass rate for the NCLEX-RN nursing licensure examination for its 2025 bachelor’s in nursing graduates. A 2025–26 NCLEX-RN program report found that the entire cohort of test-takers passed on the first attempt and outperformed state and national averages. The Historically Black College and University’s (HBCU’s) nursing program last achieved a 100% pass rate in 2018, per the release. “This achievement affirms the strength, discipline, and intentionality of a program that has steadily built toward this level of excellence,” said Kim Dobson Sydnor, Ph.D., dean of the School of Community Health and Policy, in the press release. “A 100 percent pass rate is not simply a measure of academic success — it reflects the readiness of our graduates to enter the profession at a critical moment for health care.” As a result...

Harvard University is supporting a new coalition of HBCUs with a $1.05 million grant to strengthen research capacity across 15 institutions. Formally launched April 29, 2026, at Howard University, the Association of Historically Black Colleges and Universities Research Institutions (AHRI) is a coalition that brings together schools working to expand their collective research, innovation, and impact, according to a news release. The funding, awarded through the Harvard & the Legacy of Slavery (H&LS) Initiative, will help build research infrastructure and provide technical support as member institutions work toward achieving R1 status, the highest level of research activity under the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, per the release. “Through this three-year grant to AHRI, the H&LS Initiative is deepening our commitment to developing enduring partnerships with HBCUs,” said Sara Naomi Bleich, Harvard’s vice provost for special projects, The Harvard Gazette...

Southern University and A&M College in Baton Rouge, LA, has made history in esports. Southern University won the 2026 ECAC EA Sports College Football National Championship, becoming the first Historically Black College and University (HBCU) to do so, according to a press release shared with AFROTECH™. Coby Robinson, a computer science major with the gamertag K1NGC0BY, was crowned the ECAC EA Sports College Football 26 Division II national champion, according to Sports Illustrated. Robinson won the best-of-five series, defeating No. 1 seed Bellarmine University 38-29 in the final match to clinch the series 3-2. “I feel great, happy, and accomplished because this has been a dream of mine,” said Robinson in a press release, according to Louisiana Weekly. “To see myself continuing to dominate and make history shows that I belong and that my dream is within reach.” Christopher Turner, director and head coach of Southern University’s Esports and Digital Gaming Ecosystem (EDGE), wrote on...

Saint Augustine’s University has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. As AFROTECH™ previously told you, the Raleigh, NC-based Historically Black College and University (HBCU) faced financial challenges, including difficulties paying staff, vendors, and multiple financial liens. In 2023, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) voted to revoke the HBCU’s accreditation, but that decision was challenged through arbitration , Higher Ed Dive reports. In 2025, the school lost its accreditation and attempted to sue to regain it, but the lawsuit has since been dropped, according to INDY Week. The university’s Board felt that continuing to pursue the lawsuit would be a hindrance to regaining financial security, according to its FAQ page. Very few students remain at the university, and those remaining “will need to finish their degrees at another accredited institution,” according to a separate answer on the FAQ page. “SAU will instead focus on supporting...

Oprah Winfrey established a scholarship program at Morehouse College to empower the next generation of community and global leaders. Oprah Winfrey Endowed Scholars Program Founded in 1989, the Oprah Winfrey Endowed Scholars Program provides financial support, leadership development experiences, and service opportunities to students at the Historically Black College and University (HBCU) who demonstrate academic merit, a commitment to service, and financial need, according to information on Morehouse College’s website. As part of the program, Winfrey also funded the Oprah Winfrey South Africa Leadership Program, which allows students to gain additional service and leadership experiences during the summer months. At the time of this writing, the Endowed Scholars Program requires participants to serve as mentors for middle and high school students and help implement a leadership curriculum at local middle and high schools. Students are also expected to engage in additional service...

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (N.C A&T) was investigated for improperly distributing financial aid to some students. The News & Observer reports that a probe was conducted into N.C. A&T’s Division of Business and Finance for distributing more than $5 million in financial aid from the school’s Administrative Recovery Funds between 2017 and 2025. The Office of the State Auditor found that more than $780,000 of that assistance was given to students “who were university employees, family members of university employees, or had a direct personal or professional connection to N.C. A&T,” according to the outlet. The fund consists of student fees for services like dining, housing, and parking. It was leaders at the Historically Black College and University who flagged the “improper conduct” to the state auditor’s office in fall 2025 after learning that a student related to a university employee had inquired about financial aid that had been promised. The report...

A bill has been proposed to find new ways to support Missouri’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). According to the News Tribune, the Missouri House Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee held a discussion on House Bill 3416 in early April. The legislation proposes funding for Lincoln University and Harris-Stowe State University and would launch the “Strengthening HBCUs Fund,” which would allocate 1% — about $3.3 million — from Missouri’s excursion gambling proceeds and an additional 1% from the Classroom Trust Fund, as well as gifts and donations, to support HBCUs. Democratic Rep. LaKeySha Bosley, who represents Missouri House District 79 in St. Louis, said during the hearing that the bill will allow these universities to prioritize infrastructure. “This is a fair, straightforward and necessary piece of legislation that seeks to correct longstanding inequities while investing in the future of higher education in Missouri,” she said, according to the...

Dr. Denise Jones Gregory has transitioned into a permanent role at Jackson State University. Since May 2025, she has served as the Historically Black College and University’s (HBCU’s) interim president after previously serving as provost and vice president of academic affairs, according to her LinkedIn profile. Now, she becomes the school’s 14th president. She was appointed by the Mississippi Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning and selected after a thorough review process that included a pool of 79 candidates and multiple rounds of interviews, HBCU Gameday reports.   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Jackson State University (@jacksonstateu) Gregory brings a hopeful outlook to the university, which has had various presidents since 2016, including William Bynum, Thomas Hudson, and Marcus Thompson, according to The Grio. “The Board of Trustees put a tremendous amount of time and energy into this search process, and we are confident in Dr. Gregory’s...

Howard University has received a donation to support future engineers. According to a press release shared with AFROTECH™, the Historically Black College and University (HBCU) received a $1.95 million unrestricted donation from Autodesk to support its construction engineering and management program. The program is set to provide students with the education to be leaders of advanced construction projects through the entire lifecycle, anchored by engineering expertise, design thinking, and digital construction skills. Autodesk’s donation, which supported equipment, technology, and educational programming, coincided with the grand opening of the school’s 3,400-square-foot CEA (College of Engineering and Architecture) Makerspace. In 2024, Autodesk donated a historic $5 million toward the space, which now features a digital fabrication and advanced manufacturing area, a computer and design lab, and a collaboration zone, according to the press release. The makerspace will provide students...

Black male enrollment at the Historically Black College and University (HBCU), Benedict College, is on the rise. This counters overall data indicating that Black men’s enrollment at HBCUs has decreased. According to research from the American Institute for Boys and Men, 26% of Black men were enrolled in an HBCU in 2024, down from 38% in 1976. However, Benedict College reports Black male enrollment between 42% and 48% over the last decade, and saw a 7% uptick in fall 2024 from its previous year, according to a statement from university President, Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis, via the United College Negro Fund (UNCF). These outcomes are attributed to expanded STEM academic programming, the campus culture of empowerment and mentorship, and programming such as Barber Shop Talks, which introduces male students to mentorship from older male adults. The school also has partnerships with organizations such as 100 Black Men of America, which provide scholarships and mentorships. Additionally, on...

MacKenzie Scott has donated a substantial amount to HBCUs. Scott is the ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and received a nearly 4% stake in the company after they divorced in 2019, according to Bloomberg. Forbes estimates Scott’s net worth today to be $29.8 billion , and she has been committed to giving away at least half her fortune, as evidenced by the Giving Pledge she signed on May 25, 2019, as AFROTECH™ previously reported. One of Scott’s philanthropic areas of focus has been Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). In March, Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) received a $42 million donation from her. According to a press release, this was the largest dollar-per-student-enrolled gift for any HBCU and nearly tripled a previous donation from Scott in 2020. “I want to express our deepest gratitude to MacKenzie Scott for this remarkable act of generosity and for her recognition of the critical role that HBCUs play in expanding opportunity and strengthening...

Howard University is launching a course on Cardi B’s influence. USA Today reports that the Historically Black College and University will introduce a three-credit course that centers on her second album called “ The Cardi B: Am I The Drama? The Art, Production, Marketing, and Cultural Impact of Hip-Hop. ” The album was released on Sept. 19, 2025, and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, according to Billboard. It sold 200,000 equivalent album units earned in the U.S. for the week ending on Sept. 25 . “Cardi B is a household name at this point, a phenomenon. And we’re going to talk about her rise, and what makes her this amazing, global, iconic person in the music business,” said Professor Jasmine Young, per USA Today. Young is the director of Howard University’s Warner Music/Blavatnik Music Business Center and will be teaching the course in partnership with Dr. Msia Kibona Clark, associate professor in the Department of African Studies and director of the school’s hip-hop...

Morgan State University has received a grant to support an energy research project. According to a press release, the university’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) has been awarded a $2.4 million grant by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, to lead Rads to Watts, a project that will convert nuclear radiation into electrical energy. Morgan State University becomes the first historically Black college and university (HBCU) to lead a project from the DARPA. “This award reflects the strength of our research and our ability to lead high-impact federally funded projects that address complex national challenges,” said Oscar Barton Jr., dean of the Clarence M. Mitchell Jr. School of Engineering, in a press release. “It also highlights Morgan’s continued growth as a leader in advanced engineering research and innovation.” Dr. Michael Spencer, a professor of electrical and computer Engineering, leads the Rads to Watts project. “We are excited to...

Olandria Carthen has been working intentionally to build a lasting empire. Before her fame, Carthen was already setting a new standard within her family. The Decatur, AL, native became the first to graduate from high school and college. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, she earned her bachelor’s degree in logistics, materials, and supply chain management from Tuskegee University in 2022.   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Olandria (@olandria) It was her mother’s work ethic that was her inspiration to reach the finish line. Her mother, Felicia, gave birth to her first child at 15. She went on to have more children, and to support them, she put her own studies on hold and worked at places such as McDonald’s. “I always admired her work ethic as we were growing up. Imagine three kids, a single parent, one paycheck … We never went without … Even with me with the college thing, having to figure out how I’m gonna get my education … I had to get creative. I started sending out...

Benedict College’s four-year graduation rate has skyrocketed. According to a news release, the Historically Black University (HBCU), which serves a student population that is 85% Pell-eligible, first-generation, and primarily from low-wealth backgrounds, and is led by President Roslyn Clark Artis, has achieved a 104% increase in its four-year graduation rate, compared with its historical average. “Our entire campus celebrates the increase in our graduation rate as an indication of the strategic initiatives and professional development for our faculty and the wrap-around services that we provide for our students to promote retention and success,” Dr. Janeen P. Witty, vice president of academic affairs, commented in the news release. From 2007 to 2017, Benedict’s average four-year graduation rate was 13.7%, notes the release. The 2021–2025 cohort alone posted a 24% rate, which the university stated reflects a 75% increase despite disruptions in the wake of COVID-19. The college’s...