HBCU Nursing Programs

Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) play an outsized role in diversifying nursing and easing the workforce shortage. They offer a supportive environment with mentoring, student organizations, and accessible faculty. Founded during segregation to educate Black students, HBCUs today admit students of all backgrounds. This guide covers leading HBCU nursing programs, how to apply, and what graduates can do with the degree.

Program Profiles

Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU). Offers a traditional pre-licensure BSN and an online fast-track RN-to-BSN, plus MSN programs. Both undergraduate tracks include onsite clinical rotations and coursework in evidence-based practice, population health, and nursing leadership and management.

• Programs: BSN; RN-to-BSN
• Campus: Tallahassee, Florida (public)
• Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
• Tuition: Traditional BSN $2,277 per semester (Florida residents), $8,250 (out of state); RN-to-BSN $152 per credit (residents), $550 (out of state)
• Admission: Pre-licensure BSN, 3.1 GPA in pre-nursing coursework plus TEAS scores; RN-to-BSN, ADN and RN license
• Time: 3-5 semesters; on campus
• Median earnings two years out: $58,919 (College Scorecard)

Oakwood University. A Seventh-day Adventist institution offering a pre-licensure BSN and an RN-to-BSN, with an emphasis on bio-psychosocial and spiritual care across the lifespan. Coursework includes community health, gerontological nursing, professional nursing transitions, and pathophysiology.

• Programs: BSN; RN-to-BSN
• Campus: Huntsville, Alabama (private)
• Accreditation: Alabama Board of Nursing
• Tuition: $9,487 per year
• Admission: Traditional BSN, 3.0 GPA plus ACT or SAT and HESI 2 scores; RN-to-BSN, ADN and RN license
• Time: 24 months; on campus
• NCLEX-RN pass rate (2021): 50% first-time

Delaware State University (DSU). The Wesley College of Health and Behavioral Sciences offers a BSN with an emphasis on high-technology tools and community involvement, plus MSN tracks. The first two years cover general education and pre-nursing work; the final two cover health assessment, nurse leadership, professional transitions, and care across populations.

• Programs: BSN
• Campus: Dover, Delaware (public)
• Accreditation: ACEN
• Tuition: $7,038 per year (Delaware residents), $16,960 (out of state)
• Admission: 3.0 GPA plus TEAS scores
• Time: 48 months; on campus
• NCLEX-RN pass rate (2022): 76.1% first-time
• Median earnings two years out: $72,022 (College Scorecard)

Howard University. Three tracks: pre-licensure BSN, LPN-to-BSN, and RN-to-BSN, with a focus on homelessness and care of older adults, plus graduate programs. Upper-division coursework includes nursing fundamentals, ethics for health professions, health policy and economics, and a summer clinical elective.

• Programs: BSN; LPN-to-BSN; RN-to-BSN
• Campus: Washington, D.C. (private)
• Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
• Tuition: $30,584 per year
• Admission: Basic, high school diploma or transfer credits, TEAS scores, 3.0 GPA; LPN-to-BSN, TEAS scores, 3.0 GPA, LPN license; RN-to-BSN, ADN, 2.8 GPA, RN license
• Time: 12-24 months; on campus
• NCLEX-RN pass rate (2020-2021): 91.3% first-time
• Median earnings two years out: $69,547 (College Scorecard)

Winston-Salem State University (WSSU). Focuses on health inequities, with traditional pre-licensure BSN, accelerated BSN for non-nursing degree holders, and RN-to-BSN tracks, plus a DNP, an MSN, and bridge programs for paramedics and LPNs. Clinical rotations take place in Winston-Salem, including the downtown Innovation Quarter.

• Programs: BSN; accelerated BSN; RN-to-BSN
• Campus: Winston-Salem, North Carolina (public)
• Accreditation: CCNE
• Tuition: $142 per credit (North Carolina residents), $586 (out of state)
• Admission: Traditional and accelerated BSN, 2.6-2.8 GPA plus SAT or ACT and TEAS scores; RN-to-BSN, RN license and 51 transferable non-nursing credits
• Time: 13 months; on campus
• NCLEX-RN pass rate (2022): 85.7% first-time
• Median earnings two years out: $62,067 (College Scorecard)

Dillard University. An RN-to-BSN hybrid program for RNs, plus a traditional BSN open to first-year students, transfers, and LPNs. Core courses include adult health, psychiatric mental health, care for childbearing families, and nursing informatics, with one-on-one mentoring. Seniors submit a comprehensive portfolio to graduate.

• Programs: BSN; RN-to-BSN
• Campus: New Orleans, Louisiana (private)
• Accreditation: ACEN
• Tuition: $18,280 per year
• Admission: BSN, 2.7 GPA (2.8 in sciences), HESI scores, LPN license if applicable; RN-to-BSN, RN license, 2.0 GPA
• Time: Three semesters; on campus
• NCLEX-RN pass rate (2021): 100% first-time
• Median earnings two years out: $59,253 (College Scorecard)

Claflin University. A 30-credit online RN-to-BSN, full- or part-time, with credit available for experiential learning and RN work. The program emphasizes health equity and research to reduce disparities, with coursework in health promotion across the lifespan, healthy communities, and multicultural care. MSN tracks are also offered.

• Programs: RN-to-BSN
• Campus: Orangeburg, South Carolina (private)
• Accreditation: CCNE
• Tuition: $459 per credit
• Admission: ADN, "C" or higher GPA, RN license
• Time: Five semesters; online

Hampton University. A four-year pre-professional BSN on campus plus an online one- or two-year RN-to-BSN, with doctoral and master's options. The first two years cover general education and topics like medical terminology and pharmacotherapeutics; years three and four cover upper-level nursing courses and practicums.

• Programs: BSN; RN-to-BSN
• Campus: Hampton, Virginia (private)
• Accreditation: CCNE
• Tuition: $26,198 per year full-time; $665 per credit part-time
• Admission: 3.0 GPA plus TEAS scores; RN license for the RN-to-BSN track
• Time: 12-24 months; on campus
• NCLEX-RN pass rate (2022): 90% first-time
• Median earnings two years out: $61,859 (College Scorecard)

Coahoma Community College. An LPN-to-ADN program for licensed practical nurses, with a year of general education, a year of nursing courses, and clinical experience that includes direct patient care, virtual learning, and simulation. Topics include family health, client care management, LPN/RN transitions, and NCLEX review.

• Programs: ADN (LPN-to-ADN)
• Campus: Clarksdale, Mississippi (public)
• Accreditation: ACEN
• Tuition: $1,800 per semester (fall and spring), $450 (summer)
• Admission: 2.5 GPA, ACT score of 18, LPN license, 6-9 months of continuous nursing practice
• Time: 24 months; on campus
• NCLEX-RN pass rate (2021): 95% first-time
• Median earnings two years out: $58,673 (College Scorecard)

University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB). Two BSN options: an on-campus pre-licensure generic track and a web-based or hybrid RN-to-BSN completion program. Both start with liberal arts and science foundations, then move to nursing courses and practicums covering nursing theory, professional development, community and population care, informatics, and healthcare economics.

• Programs: BSN; RN-to-BSN
• Campus: Pine Bluff, Arkansas (public)
• Accreditation: CCNE
• Tuition: On campus, $188 per credit (Arkansas residents), $427 (out of state); web-based, $206 per credit (residents), $479 (out of state)
• Admission: Generic, 2.5 GPA and ACT score of 19; RN-to-BSN, ADN or diploma and RN license
• Time: 48 months; on campus
• NCLEX-RN pass rate (2022): 56.2% first-time

What to Look For in an HBCU Nursing Program

Choosing a program is a personal decision, but a few factors determine how accessible, affordable, and effective it will be.

Admission requirements. Every program sets eligibility rules, so read them before you get attached to a school. You won't know whether you can apply until you do.

Specializations and tracks. The specialties a program offers shape where you can work after graduation, from critical care to family nurse practitioner to nurse-midwife. Look for tracks that match your interests.

Clinical experience. Hands-on training with patients is required, and some schools make it easier with evening or weekend rotations. Length varies by program.

Accreditation. An accredited school has been reviewed by an independent body and found to meet quality standards. That protects your investment, lets you transfer credits to other accredited institutions and toward a graduate degree, and carries weight with employers.

NCLEX pass rate. A program's first-time NCLEX pass rate signals how well it prepares graduates and how much academic support, tutoring, and mentoring it provides.

Graduation rate. A low graduation rate tells you something about your odds of finishing on time and the support services available.

Online format. Programs structure online learning differently. Asynchronous courses let you work on deadlines without live sessions; synchronous courses require live attendance but add interaction with classmates and instructors. Most HBCU online nursing programs combine virtual lessons with in-person labs and clinical rotations.

Why Accreditation Matters

Colleges aren't required to be accredited, but they undergo peer review voluntarily to show they meet quality standards. The process protects your financial investment and ensures employers and other schools recognize your degree and credits. Every program in this guide is accredited, which matters because:

• You may not qualify for RN licensure from an unapproved program.
• Accreditation provides ongoing quality review.
• Employers may not recognize unaccredited degrees.
• Credits from unaccredited programs may not transfer.
• Unaccredited institutions may not qualify for federal financial aid.

Applying to an HBCU Nursing Program

There are more than 100 HBCUs, and about 40 have nursing programs. Founded to educate Black students, they now admit students of all backgrounds; non-Black students made up 24% of HBCU enrollment as of 2022, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Students choose HBCU nursing programs for lower tuition and a learning environment that addresses issues affecting people of color, especially first-generation college students.

Requirements vary by program. Undergraduate programs commonly require a high school diploma or GED and prerequisites such as chemistry, statistics, psychology, and human development with a minimum C (sometimes B). Graduate programs typically require a BSN and an active RN license. Application materials usually include a career goal statement and transcripts, plus a background check before clinical rotations. Most programs want at least a 3.0 GPA, and more competitive ones prefer 3.2.

Paying for an HBCU Nursing Program

No college can guarantee a return on your education, but HBCU nursing programs cost about 30% less than non-HBCUs, which eases the burden on students and families. Out-of-state tuition can raise costs if you can't establish residency, and not being able to work while you study adds to the strain. Even so, HBCU students graduate with less debt than peers at non-HBCUs, thanks to institutional, state, and federal aid, plus nursing scholarships and grants.

What You Can Do With the Degree

Nursing still lacks diversity. Minority nurses make up only 19.4% of RNs, according to a 2020 study from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, and HBCU graduates help close that gap and address the national shortage. A curriculum that includes minority perspectives prepares them to deliver patient-centered care that accounts for the challenges people of color face.

HBCU programs prepare students for an ADN or BSN and the NCLEX-RN. RNs earn a median of $93,600 a year as of May 2024, according to the BLS. Master's degrees and doctorates prepare graduates to become advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) in fields like acute care, neonatal, pediatrics, psychiatric mental health, and women's health. Nurse practitioners, one type of APRN, earn a median of $129,210 a year, according to the BLS.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the advantages of an HBCU nursing program? HBCU programs typically cost less than non-HBCUs, offer a strong sense of community on diverse campuses, and build coursework around minority perspectives. Many also provide close mentoring and accessible faculty.

Can non-Black students attend HBCU nursing programs? Yes. Founded to educate Black students, HBCUs today admit students of all backgrounds. Non-Black students made up 24% of HBCU enrollment as of 2022, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

Are HBCU online nursing programs fully online? No. Most combine online or hybrid coursework with in-person labs and clinical rotations, since licensure requires hands-on clinical hours completed at an approved site.

How do I pay for an HBCU nursing program? Students can use federal financial aid plus scholarships reserved for Black students and people of color. The United Negro College Fund awards scholarships each year to help students attend HBCUs. Filing the FAFSA is the starting point for federal aid.

What can I earn after an HBCU nursing degree? HBCU programs prepare you for the NCLEX-RN. RNs earn a median of $93,600 a year (BLS, May 2024), and nurse practitioners earn a median of $129,210 with a graduate degree.

Where are HBCUs located? HBCUs have campuses across the country, mostly in the South, including Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, the Virgin Islands, and Virginia.