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Four HBCUs Ranked Among the Top Research Universities in the Nation

Last Updated on May 22, 2017

Four HBCUs were ranked as top research universities in a report published by the Center for Measuring University Performance . The Morehouse School of Medicine, Howard University, Florida A&M University and Jackson State University were listed among the top 200 institutions in the center’s Top American Research Universities report . The Center for Measuring University Performance is a joint venture of Arizona State University and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and it tracks research productivity among American colleges and universities.

Various factors were considered in compiling the list. According to the Center’s website, they “combined institutions that share a common administrative context and whose main campus and medical center fall within reasonable geographic proximity.” Ultimately, the report examined how the institutions contribute to the creation of knowledge and the impact of the colleges and universities on their respective communities.

The Center ranked research institutions in other areas, as well. Broken out reports ranked schools according to endowment assets, annual giving, faculty, doctorates awarded and SAT scores in addition to other areas.

More about the HBCUs that made the list of 200 top research universities:

Morehouse school of medicine.

RANK:  169

The Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM), located in Atlanta, was founded in 1975 as the Medical Education Program at Morehouse College. In 1981, MSM became an independently chartered institution; and is now among the nation’s leading educators of primary care physicians. The school was recently recognized as the top institution among U.S. medical schools for its social mission. The faculty and alumni are noted in their fields for excellence in teaching, research, and public policy.

The Morehouse School of Medicine is home to world-renowned centers and institutes:  the Cardiovascular Research Institute, the Center of Excellence on Health Disparities, the National Center for Primary Care, the Neuroscience Institute, the Prevention Research Center, the Research Core Facility, and the Satcher Health Leadership Institute. MSM’s research stature and reputation have grown exponentially over the last decade, fueled in large part by significant investments in research infrastructure with funding from the National Institute of Health, Health Resources and Services Administration, the Georgia Cancer Coalition, and others.

Howard University

RANK:  172

Howard is one of the country's top-ranked HBCUs; and is one of the leading comprehensive research-oriented, private universities in the nation. The main campus, located in Washington, D.C., has a legacy of extraordinary research, faculty, principal investigators, and students. The components that support research administration are committed to an ongoing effort aimed at improving research and compliance at Howard while setting an agenda for cutting-edge research that is both national and international in scope.

Florida A&M University

RANK:  188

Founded in 1887, FAMU is the only public, land-grant HBCU in the State University System of Florida. Essence and Money magazines rank FAMU fifth among all national universities and colleges on the 2016 “50 Best Colleges for African-Americans” list. Additionally, the list identifies FAMU as the top-ranked HBCU in the nation.

The National Science Foundation lists FAMU as the number one HBCU in the nation for research and development expenditures. U.S. News & World Report  has named FAMU among the best national universities, and Forbes  lists the university as one of 2016’s “America’s Top Colleges” as well as one of its “Best in the South,” “Best Public Colleges,” and “Best Research Universities.” The Princeton Review named FAMU among its “2016 Best Colleges: Region-by-Region,” ranking FAMU as one of the “Best Southeastern” colleges and universities in the nation.

Jackson State University

RANK:  195

Jackson State is a diverse, technologically advanced four-year university steeped in history and committed to preparing its students to become global leaders. The university boasts a reputation for providing a caring, nurturing environment which challenges students academically and socially. Designated as a high research activity university, Jackson State seeks to enhance the state, nation, and world through comprehensive economic development, healthcare, and technological and educational initiatives. Jackson State is led by Interim President Dr. Rod Paige, an alumnus of the university and the first African American secretary of the U.S. Department of Education.

Sources: Center for Measuring University Performance, Howard University, Florida A&M University and Jackson State University.

Eddie Francis is the HBCU Lifestyle Podcast host and Greek life contributor. He is also a speaker, award-winning media veteran, and talent acquisition professional. Eddie is a regular contributor to “The HBCU Nation Radio Show” and award-winning “Sunday Journal” talk shows; and he has written for The Huffington Post, The Ladders, Great Black Speakers, LinkedIn, Social-Hire, Write to Bear Alms, Greek Ladders, and Careers in Government. He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and you can learn more about him at EddieFrancis.com .

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Center for Security and Emerging Technology

Good news in the progress toward top-tier research status for hbcus.

Jaret C. Riddick

The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education is making changes to drastically simplify the criteria that determine its highly coveted R1 top-tier research classification. Last year, CSET Senior Fellow, Jaret Riddick, wrote about a new law from Congress, Section 223 of the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act, intended to leverage existing Carnegie classification criteria to increase defense research capacity for historically Black colleges and universities. Now, research is needed to understand how the changes proposed for 2025 classification criteria impact U.S. Department of Defense goals for eligible HBCU partners.

The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education (CCIHE) is making changes to drastically simplify the criteria that determine its highly coveted R1 (“very high research activity”) top-tier research classification. Since 2015, Carnegie Classification analysts have used a set of calculations based upon criteria such as research expenditures, doctoral degrees conferred in science and engineering, as well as arts and humanities, and number of PhD research staff. According to The Chronicle of Higher Education, starting in 2025 the threshold for achieving R1 will be simply spending $50 million on research and development, and awarding 70 doctoral degrees in any research field—including non-STEM fields—all within a year.

Last August, I wrote about a new law from Congress, Section 223 of the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act. A key strategic aim of the law is to increase defense research capacity among eligible historically Black colleges and universities. Under the current Carnegie classifications, 11 HBCUs are classified as R2 (“high research activity”), meaning they “confer at least 20 research doctorates and report at least $5 million in total research expenditures.” But no HBCU is among the nation’s 146 R1 universities. The Section 223 law authorizes the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD)  to use existing CCIHE criteria for R1 classification to develop “measurable outcomes” for eligible HBCUs and other minority institutions to show progress toward R1 status. 

The 11 R2 HBCUs are as follows: Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA; Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL; Howard University, Washington, D.C.; Jackson State University, Jackson, MS; Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD; North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC; Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, TX; Southern University and A&M College, Baton Rouge, LA; Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN; Texas Southern University, Houston, TX; University of Maryland – Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, MD.

Changes Coming for 2025?

In the article from The Chronicle, Carnegie classification leadership acknowledges the influence R1 classification plays in college leaders’ decisions about planning budgets, infrastructure, and academic offerings. Their hope is that simplification of the “complicated and opaque” classification method will provide stability in developing programs, strategies, and roadmaps for university leaders pursuing R1 classification. Research is needed to understand how the changes proposed for 2025 impact the current Section 223 law.

The Chronicle also points out that if the changes coming in 2025 were enacted today, at least one of the 11 HBCU R2s, Howard University in Washington, D.C., would achieve R1 status. Interestingly, Howard University held R1 status from 1987 until shifts in the Carnegie classification criteria in 2005 . The obvious question: Of the remaining 10 R2 HBCUs, who’s next?

2025: One HBCU R1? Who’s Next?

CSET is currently conducting a study of historical data for R2 HBCUs, focused on yearly R&D expenditures along with yearly PhD production . The full study expected later this year will offer more in-depth analysis, however, an early look at the trends in this data offers the following clues about “who’s next”: 

• Analysis indicated that for a single institution among the 11 R2 HBCUs, yearly data for 2022 and 2021 does indeed eclipse the proposed 2025 thresholds for both R&D expenditure and PhDs awarded; confirming the assertion of the article in The Chronicle: “if the list were redone today, Howard University…would make it.”
• Analysis of the historical data indicates that the majority of the remaining R2 HBCUs would have to double either R&D expenditure, research PhDs awarded, or both to achieve and maintain R1 status.
• One clear exception exists among the remaining R2 institutions: North Carolina A&T State University (NC A&T) in Greensboro, NC. The analysis of historical data for NC A&T showed a trend ending with both 2022 R&D expenditure and PhD production within percentage points of the 2025 threshold. At the current pace, it is foreseeable that NC A&T will be the next HBCU R1 institution in the 2025-26 timeframe, or soon after. 

The simplified criteria for R1 designation proposed for Carnegie classification beginning in 2025 has implications for the goals of the recently enacted Section 223 law. One clear strategic goal of the law is increasing the defense research capacity of eligible HBCUs by encouraging them to achieve top-tier Carnegie research classification. More research is needed now in order for the DOD, Congress, and HBCU leadership to validate requirements to achieve this key strategic goal of the law, but under the new criteria for 2025. 

The preliminary observations highlighted here indicate that under the criteria proposed for 2025, pathways to R1 status can be imagined for R2 HBCUs that fit certain profiles in the available historical data. A more comprehensive research effort is underway at CSET to examine this data. This research will detail the challenges, strategies, and incentives among eligible institutions to achieve and sustain R1 status under the new criteria proposed by Carnegie for 2025. The Section 223 law gives DOD motivation to partner with Congress and HBCU leadership to focus capacity building and research investment to address technology areas that are critical to future DOD capabilities. Acting now would allow efforts already underway to fulfill the intent of the law, and enhance the value of HBCU defense research capacity as a strategic asset for the DOD science and technology enterprise.

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Historically Black Colleges and Universities

These historically Black colleges and universities were compared only with one another for these rankings. To be on the list, a school must be currently designated by the U.S. Department of Education as an HBCU. To qualify for the U.S. News rankings, an HBCU also must be an undergraduate baccalaureate-granting institution that enrolls primarily first-year, first-time students and must be a school that is part of the 2024 Best Colleges rankings. Read the methodology »

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Spelman College

Atlanta, GA

• #1 in Historically Black Colleges and Universities

Founded in 1881 as the Atlanta Baptist Female Seminary, Spelman College is the oldest historically Black college for women in America. Located just five minutes outside of downtown Atlanta, Spelman is part of the Atlanta University Center Consortium, the largest association of historically Black institutions of higher learning in the world. First- and second-year students are required to live on campus. There are more than 60 organizations for students to choose from, including Greek life, which constitutes the largest group of students on campus. Spelman College does not compete in intercollegiate athletics; instead, it offers a wellness program for all students.

(fall 2022)

SAT, GPA and More

Howard University

Washington, DC

• #2 in Historically Black Colleges and Universities

Howard University is a historically black college located in Washington, D.C. Despite its urban setting, students are permitted to bring cars to campus – though freshmen may not apply for on-campus parking.

Florida A&M University

Tallahassee, FL

• #3 in Historically Black Colleges and Universities

Located in Tallahassee, Florida A&M University is a historically black institution that offers a range of degrees to students of all races. The university, more commonly known as FAMU, offers more than 100 student organizations and several fraternities and sororities to join.

(out-of-state)

Tuskegee University

Tuskegee, AL

• #4 in Historically Black Colleges and Universities

Tuskegee University is a historically black university located in the city of Tuskegee, Alabama. Students admitted to the university have the opportunity to join more than 100 groups and organizations as well as a very popular Greek life on campus. The university was the first to create a nursing baccalaureate program in the state of Alabama. Freshmen and sophomores at Tuskegee University are required to live on campus and can then elect to live off campus during their junior and senior years. The Tuskegee University Golden Tigers compete in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in the NCAA Division II.

Morehouse College

• #5 in Historically Black Colleges and Universities

Morehouse College is the only four-year liberal arts institution that’s historically Black and all male. It has a reputation for providing an academic foundation for Black men. The university attracts well-known achievers in politics and the arts to speak at college events. Former President Barack Obama, Rep. John Lewis and political commentator Marc Lamont Hill have all addressed the campus community or led a class. The school is located three miles from downtown Atlanta and is a member of the Atlanta University Center Consortium, an academic partnership between Morehouse, Clark Atlanta University and Spelman College. Morehouse has a National Fellowships and Awards Committee to help students apply for scholarships and fellowships, and the college houses a research institute, entrepreneurship center and the Morehouse School of Medicine.

Xavier University of Louisiana

New Orleans, LA

• #6 in Historically Black Colleges and Universities

Founded in 1925, Xavier University of Louisiana is a private institution. Xavier University of Louisiana offers a Greek system, where 1 percent of the student body is involved in a sorority and 5% is involved in a fraternity.

Hampton University

Hampton, VA

• #7 in Historically Black Colleges and Universities  (tie)

Graduates of Hampton University, a private, historically Black institution in Virginia, include Alberta Williams King, mother of Martin Luther King Jr., and Booker T. Washington, influential African American educator.

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University

Greensboro, NC

North Carolina A&T State University is a historically black school in Greensboro. The Aggies sports teams compete in the NCAA Division I Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. 

Claflin University

Orangeburg, SC

• #9 in Historically Black Colleges and Universities  (tie)

Founded in 1869, Claflin University is a private institution.

Delaware State University

Founded in 1891, Delaware State University is a public institution.