Top 5 HBCUs for Engineering

Established in 1876, Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) is a public, historically Black institution based in Prairie View, Texas. Among the school's roster of academic programs is the renowned Roy G. Perry College of Engineering, which offers degrees in civil, chemical, computer, electrical, and mechanical engineering. PVAMU serves upwards of 10,000 students and boasts an 18-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio. 

This historic HBCU offers a five-year BS/MS program that allows degree-seekers to expedite their pathway toward a graduate degree in engineering. The school also has corporate relationships with groups like Boeing, Microsoft, and Lockheed Martin, which offer extensive internship opportunities. The school also offers summer camps to high school students with an interest in STEM.

Morgan State University is a Baltimore-based HBCU that dates back to 1867. This public institution is home to a standout engineering school, the Clarence M. Mitchell, Jr. School of Engineering. The school offers undergraduate and graduate programs in civil, electrical, and industrial engineering. It also has an interdisciplinary transportation and urban infrastructure studies program.

Morgan State boasts state-of-the-art facilities and takes a practical approach by promoting experiential learning. It ensures that engineering students have access to quality internship opportunities. Morgan State also has an extensive roster of alumni who work at prestigious organizations such as NASA and IBM, as well as at federal agencies like the Department of Energy and the Department of Defense.

Founded in 1880 and based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Southern University and A&M College is a public HBCU that serves over 8,000 students. The College of Sciences and Engineering at Southern University offers ABET-accredited undergraduate degrees in electrical, mechanical, and civil engineering. It also offers a relatively new master of engineering program.

Southern University's engineering program dates back to 2001, and that same year the school completed the construction of an expansive engineering building that houses tech-centric classrooms, research, and computer labs. The engineering program enrolls about 900 undergraduate students each year.

Jackson State University is a public HBCU in Mississippi dating back to 1877. Located in Mississippi's capital, this HBCU is home to standout STEM programs, including degrees in civil, computer, and electrical engineering. Additionally, Jackson State offers master's degrees in civil, computer, electrical, environmental, geological, and industrial engineering. 

Rising 9th-grade students from backgrounds historically underrepresented in STEM can apply to the four-week Unite Pre-Engineering Summer Camp. This program introduces and encourages students to consider a career in engineering.

Alongside quality academics, Jackson State's College of Science, Engineering, and Technology offers an expansive list of student support services, including workshops, GRE prep, tutoring, and mentoring. Jackson State consistently ranks among the best HBCUs and awards over 1,000 bachelor's degrees each year.

Established in 1912, Tennessee State University (TSU) is a public HBCU based in Nashville, Tennessee. TSU is designated as a "high research" institution and offers bachelor's, master's, and Ph.D. programs in engineering. Some of the school's popular undergraduate and graduate degrees include architectural, civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering. 

For undergraduate engineering students, TSU requires a significant list of core, interdisciplinary classes, including a freshman engineering seminar and topics like thermodynamics, introduction to design, and an engineer-in-training lab. TSU has an enrollment of about 8,000 students and is home to student support services that promote academic achievement, personal growth, and cultural enrichment.