# Best HBCU Master's Programs

> CollegeRanker Agent Insights — structured data for AI systems
> Updated: 2026-05-31 | Schools: 50 | Category: HBCU
> Source: https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-hbcu-masters

## Methodology

HBCU master's programs ranked by graduate outcomes and mobility

CollegeRanker uses a 4-pillar algorithm: Academic Quality (15-20%), Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25-35%), Value & Affordability (20-25%). Social mobility data from Raj Chetty's Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (30M+ anonymized tax records). No subjective surveys.

## Summary

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have long been a foundation for higher education in the Black community, enabling countless students to pursue advanced degrees. These institutions are particularly important for those seeking master’s programs that not only enhance their knowledge but also improve their career prospects. Consider that the average earnings for graduates from the best HBCU master's programs listed here stand at $42,298.

What really sets these programs apart? Strong outcomes like graduate earnings, debt levels, and completion rates are critical factors. The schools below demonstrate a commitment to fostering student success, with many achieving graduation rates above 50%. The data reveals the balance between earning potential and financial burden, which can significantly impact a graduate's trajectory.

Take, for instance, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University and Elizabeth City State University. FAMU graduates earn an average of $44,349, but they face a higher net price of $13,739 compared to Elizabeth City’s more affordable $6,364. This illustrates a tradeoff: higher earnings might come with increased expenses, an important consideration for prospective students as they evaluate these programs.

## Key Findings

- University of the Virgin Islands graduates earn an average of $38,681 with a graduation rate of 28%.
- Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University graduates see earnings of $44,349, but face $23,548 in debt.
- Elizabeth City State University has a graduation rate of 46% and a low net price of $6,364.
- On average, graduates from these top HBCU master's programs earn $42,298.

## Rankings

| Rank | School | Location | Graduation | Earnings (10yr) | Net Price | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|------|--------|----------|------------|-----------------|-----------|-------------|---------------|
| 1 | [Elizabeth City State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/elizabeth-city-state-university) | Elizabeth City, NC | 46% | $40,026 | $6,364 | $21,463 | 0.54x |
| 2 | [Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/florida-agricultural-and-mechanical-university) | Tallahassee, FL | 53% | $44,349 | $13,739 | $23,548 | 0.53x |
| 3 | [Fayetteville State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/fayetteville-state-university) | Fayetteville, NC | 37% | $40,144 | $7,892 | $22,987 | 0.57x |
| 4 | [Xavier University of Louisiana](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/xavier-university-of-louisiana) | New Orleans, LA | 49% | $52,184 | $17,127 | $24,053 | 0.46x |
| 5 | [West Virginia State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/west-virginia-state-university) | Institute, WV | 36% | $40,492 | $11,139 | $23,338 | 0.58x |
| 6 | [North Carolina A & T State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/north-carolina-a-t-state-university) | Greensboro, NC | 56% | $44,440 | $10,846 | $27,000 | 0.61x |
| 7 | [Virginia State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/virginia-state-university) | Petersburg, VA | 40% | $45,543 | $15,840 | $26,500 | 0.58x |
| 8 | [Winston-Salem State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/winston-salem-state-university) | Winston-Salem, NC | 48% | $45,344 | $13,479 | $25,000 | 0.55x |
| 9 | [Lincoln University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/lincoln-university-pa) | Lincoln University, PA | 48% | $43,167 | $14,977 | $28,250 | 0.65x |
| 10 | [Hampton University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/hampton-university) | Hampton, VA | 56% | $59,159 | $25,319 | $25,442 | 0.43x |
| 11 | [University of the Virgin Islands](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-the-virgin-islands) | Charlotte Amalie, VI | 28% | $38,681 | $7,469 | $16,800 | 0.43x |
| 12 | [Spelman College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/spelman-college) | Atlanta, GA | 77% | $59,993 | $38,967 | $25,000 | 0.42x |
| 13 | [North Carolina Central University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/north-carolina-central-university) | Durham, NC | 44% | $42,968 | $15,359 | $28,250 | 0.66x |
| 14 | [Kentucky State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/kentucky-state-university) | Frankfort, KY | 30% | $36,382 | $8,040 | $25,938 | 0.71x |
| 15 | [University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-arkansas-at-pine-bluff) | Pine Bluff, AR | 40% | $35,550 | $12,653 | $24,202 | 0.68x |
| 16 | [Norfolk State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/norfolk-state-university) | Norfolk, VA | 36% | $44,666 | $15,282 | $29,000 | 0.65x |
| 17 | [Fort Valley State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/fort-valley-state-university) | Fort Valley, GA | 43% | $36,666 | $10,338 | $31,000 | 0.85x |
| 18 | [University of the District of Columbia](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-the-district-of-columbia) | Washington, DC | 30% | $44,236 | $10,648 | $24,872 | 0.56x |
| 19 | [Tennessee State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/tennessee-state-university) | Nashville, TN | 33% | $42,730 | $15,796 | $27,000 | 0.63x |
| 20 | [Philander Smith University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/philander-smith-university) | Little Rock, AR | 31% | $38,427 | $14,224 | $24,736 | 0.64x |
| 21 | [Tuskegee University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/tuskegee-university) | Tuskegee, AL | 56% | $49,641 | $35,013 | $27,000 | 0.54x |
| 22 | [Albany State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/albany-state-university) | Albany, GA | 27% | $40,674 | $11,898 | $25,024 | 0.62x |
| 23 | [Cheyney University of Pennsylvania](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cheyney-university-of-pennsylvania) | Cheyney, PA | 24% | $37,837 | $14,265 | $21,785 | 0.58x |
| 24 | [Howard University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/howard-university) | Washington, DC | 69% | $63,066 | $50,539 | $24,500 | 0.39x |
| 25 | [Central State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/central-state-university) | Wilberforce, OH | 24% | $33,267 | $13,096 | $30,739 | 0.92x |
| 26 | [Prairie View A & M University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/prairie-view-a-m-university) | Prairie View, TX | 43% | $45,411 | $13,570 | $27,000 | 0.59x |
| 27 | [Claflin University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/claflin-university) | Orangeburg, SC | 50% | $40,304 | $17,800 | $29,000 | 0.72x |
| 28 | [Savannah State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/savannah-state-university) | Savannah, GA | 27% | $37,981 | $8,172 | $28,000 | 0.74x |
| 29 | [Dillard University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/dillard-university) | New Orleans, LA | 44% | $39,196 | $22,094 | $31,000 | 0.79x |
| 30 | [Delaware State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/delaware-state-university) | Dover, DE | 39% | $49,307 | $13,910 | $26,000 | 0.53x |
| 31 | [Texas Southern University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/texas-southern-university) | Houston, TX | 21% | $38,924 | $16,590 | $29,000 | 0.75x |
| 32 | [Mississippi Valley State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/mississippi-valley-state-university) | Itta Bena, MS | 24% | $31,919 | $9,686 | $28,413 | 0.89x |
| 33 | [Morehouse College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/morehouse-college) | Atlanta, GA | 56% | $52,889 | $39,013 | $25,000 | 0.47x |
| 34 | [South Carolina State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/south-carolina-state-university) | Orangeburg, SC | 33% | $38,262 | $18,097 | $31,000 | 0.81x |
| 35 | [Morgan State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/morgan-state-university) | Baltimore, MD | 41% | $50,698 | $14,985 | $27,250 | 0.54x |
| 36 | [Coppin State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/coppin-state-university) | Baltimore, MD | 26% | $46,490 | $9,977 | $25,000 | 0.54x |
| 37 | [Bowie State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/bowie-state-university) | Bowie, MD | 38% | $54,537 | $19,298 | $22,985 | 0.42x |
| 38 | [Virginia Union University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/virginia-union-university) | Richmond, VA | 39% | $38,275 | $13,235 | $29,000 | 0.76x |
| 39 | [Rust College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/rust-college) | Holly Springs, MS | 17% | $32,275 | $12,587 | $26,159 | 0.81x |
| 40 | [Langston University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/langston-university) | Langston, OK | 17% | $33,261 | $11,504 | $26,000 | 0.78x |
| 41 | [Clark Atlanta University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/clark-atlanta-university) | Atlanta, GA | 48% | $42,712 | $37,702 | $27,000 | 0.63x |
| 42 | [Southern University at New Orleans](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/southern-university-at-new-orleans) | New Orleans, LA | 16% | $34,042 | $14,810 | $31,000 | 0.91x |
| 43 | [University of Maryland Eastern Shore](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-maryland-eastern-shore) | Princess Anne, MD | 35% | $47,697 | $13,338 | $27,000 | 0.57x |
| 44 | [Bluefield State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/bluefield-state-university) | Bluefield, WV | 36% | $38,217 | $13,684 | $18,250 | 0.48x |
| 45 | [Stillman College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/stillman-college) | Tuscaloosa, AL | 32% | $35,421 | $15,258 | $29,067 | 0.82x |
| 46 | [Grambling State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/grambling-state-university) | Grambling, LA | 34% | $41,109 | $19,809 | $36,500 | 0.89x |
| 47 | [Jackson State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/jackson-state-university) | Jackson, MS | 41% | $39,060 | $23,836 | $30,470 | 0.78x |
| 48 | [Bethune-Cookman University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/bethune-cookman-university) | Daytona Beach, FL | 29% | $38,518 | $12,030 | $31,000 | 0.8x |
| 49 | [Shaw University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/shaw-university) | Raleigh, NC | 21% | $34,409 | $16,512 | $32,500 | 0.94x |
| 50 | [Florida Memorial University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/florida-memorial-university) | Miami Gardens, FL | 31% | $36,624 | $23,238 | $30,063 | 0.82x |

## Data Sources

- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (https://collegescorecard.ed.gov)
- Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (https://opportunityinsights.org/data)
- Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
- Times Higher Education World University Rankings
- NCES IPEDS

## Citation

CollegeRanker. "Best HBCU Master's Programs." CollegeRanker.com, 2026-05-31. https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-hbcu-masters

## License

This data summary is provided for informational purposes. Underlying data from federal sources (College Scorecard, IPEDS) is public domain. Opportunity Insights data is available under their data use agreement at https://opportunityinsights.org/data/.