Attending a historically Black college or university (HBCU) has always been more than a degree. It is about legacy and identity. But for many families, the question isn’t really where to attend but how to afford it.
A new wave of college planning tools, scholarship databases, and student strategies is helping more young people reduce or even eliminate the financial burden of attending an HBCU.
Understanding the real cost
Jennifer Ledwith, founder of Scholar Ready, opened her recent webinar, “How to Go to College for Free,” with a simple exercise: Calculate the estimated net price using a school’s Net Price Calculator. If a school is not listed, they can search for it by name and use the calculator directly from its website.
For example, she found that a four-year education at the University of Oklahoma, the 2025–2026 estimated annual cost of attendance for non-resident undergrads living on campus is $57,119 and $38,999 for resident undergrads. Four years at that published annual estimate exceeds $200,000. However, by entering hours of dual credit and AP exams, the cost could drop significantly.
“For most students, the largest source of their scholarships will come from their college or university,” Ledwith said.
The key, Ledwith emphasized, is to identify your financial “gap,” the difference between total cost and available aid, and fill it strategically through scholarships, test-based awards, and local funding sources.
Scholarships that add up
Many HBCUs offer automatic scholarships based on GPA and standardized test scores. According to a list compiled by Scholar Ready, schools like Prairie View A&M University and Texas Southern University outline clear criteria for institutional awards, often renewable for four years with consistent academic performance.
These merit-based awards can drastically reduce tuition, especially when combined with federal Pell Grants and external funding.
Ledwith’s resource list also included dozens of outside scholarships, from the $2,500 No Sweat Scholarship to the $25,000 Humanity Scholarship, which can be layered with institutional aid. Other programs, such as the Alpha Kappa Alpha’s community-based scholarships, help broaden access to students from diverse backgrounds.
Leveraging local and school-based awards
Ledwith urged families to look beyond national databases but start with the school counselor’s page.
In Houston, for example, a student at Clear Creek ISD could find college readiness guides from the school district, while Pasadena or Pearland ISDs rely on their own scholarships.
Why students choose HBCUs
Prairie View A&M agriculture major Harry LaChappelle shared why he chose an HBCU over predominantly white institutions. He had attended public and private schools that were not predominantly Black, but grew up in predominantly Black areas and neighborhoods.
“When I got to Prairie View, on the other hand, there’s a diversification of expression. I’ve seen every type of Black person in the book. It feels like it’s for you, by you.”
Harry LaChappelle, Prairie View A&M agriculture major
“I would go to school and in one environment and go home in a whole different world, so I didn’t fit in necessarily all the way in either place,” he said. “In high school and in my middle school, I felt like I was just another number. When I got to Prairie View, on the other hand, there’s a diversification of expression. I’ve seen every type of Black person in the book. It feels like it’s for you, by you. We complain that financial aid may take a little bit too long or that these people are not getting back to me quickly enough, but at the end of the day, these people make it clear on a daily basis, ‘We are here for you.’ Faculty and staff, my mentors and the student leaders made it clear you are important here, you matter.”
La Chappelle added that his degree choice, agribusiness, came after learning that agriculture majors often secure high-paying, stable careers.
For parents like Houston native Renee Lewis, a Prairie View alumna whose daughter attended Howard University, attending an HBCU represents both pride and practicality.
She advised parents and students to start filling out scholarship forms early.
Ledwith’s own journey reflects the power of preparation. As a student from Houston, she applied for over 30 scholarships between high school and college, ultimately graduating from the University of Oklahoma with just $1,000 in debt.
“I wish I could tell you it was for academic pursuits or career pursuits, but it was not. It’s because I wanted to buy a plane ticket to see a boyfriend,” she said. “My parents didn’t pay for me to go to school. We couldn’t qualify for need-based aid. It was through my scholarships. I worked part-time throughout college, and that helped me.”
Her advice to families is to practice persistence, strong writing skills, and good test prep, which can open doors.While college costs continue to rise nationally, HBCUs remain a powerful value proposition. Many schools maintain lower tuition rates than their peer institutions and their focus on community-based support helps students thrive academically and socially.
