# Best HBCUs for Health Professions

> CollegeRanker Agent Insights — structured data for AI systems
> Updated: 2026-05-31 | Schools: 44 | Category: HBCU
> Source: https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-hbcu-nursing

## Methodology

HBCUs ranked by outcomes and program concentration in Health Professions

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

Health professions remain a popular field for many students, especially those considering Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). These institutions are not only crucial for providing quality education but also play a vital role in enhancing diversity in healthcare. With increasing demand for health professionals, families are exploring the best options available. 

The schools on this list excel in key outcomes that matter most for health programs, including earnings potential, graduation rates, debt levels, and overall mobility. For instance, the average earnings of graduates from these top HBCUs reach $41,765, while the average graduation rate stands at 37%. These numbers give insight into how well these schools prepare students for the workforce. 

Take the University of the Virgin Islands and Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. The Virgin Islands school has average earnings of $38,681 but a lower graduation rate at 28%. In contrast, FAMU graduates earn significantly more at $44,349 with a much higher completion rate of 53%. The trade-offs in debt and net price also highlight different financial paths for students, making it essential to dig deeper into each option.

## Key Findings

- The average earnings for graduates from these HBCUs is $41,765.
- The highest graduation rate among the top five schools is 53% at Florida A&M University.
- Bluefield State University has a graduation rate of only 36%, yet graduates earn $38,217.
- Coppin State University boasts the lowest net price at $9,977, despite a graduation rate of only 26%.

## Rankings

| Rank | School | Location | Graduation | Earnings (10yr) | Net Price | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|------|--------|----------|------------|-----------------|-----------|-------------|---------------|
| 1 | [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 |
| 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 | [Lincoln University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/lincoln-university-pa) | Lincoln University, PA | 48% | $43,167 | $14,977 | $28,250 | 0.65x |
| 6 | [Tuskegee University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/tuskegee-university) | Tuskegee, AL | 56% | $49,641 | $35,013 | $27,000 | 0.54x |
| 7 | [Albany State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/albany-state-university) | Albany, GA | 27% | $40,674 | $11,898 | $25,024 | 0.62x |
| 8 | [Tennessee State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/tennessee-state-university) | Nashville, TN | 33% | $42,730 | $15,796 | $27,000 | 0.63x |
| 9 | [Coppin State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/coppin-state-university) | Baltimore, MD | 26% | $46,490 | $9,977 | $25,000 | 0.54x |
| 10 | [West Virginia State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/west-virginia-state-university) | Institute, WV | 36% | $40,492 | $11,139 | $23,338 | 0.58x |
| 11 | [Bluefield State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/bluefield-state-university) | Bluefield, WV | 36% | $38,217 | $13,684 | $18,250 | 0.48x |
| 12 | [Langston University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/langston-university) | Langston, OK | 17% | $33,261 | $11,504 | $26,000 | 0.78x |
| 13 | [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 |
| 14 | [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 |
| 15 | [Dillard University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/dillard-university) | New Orleans, LA | 44% | $39,196 | $22,094 | $31,000 | 0.79x |
| 16 | [Kentucky State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/kentucky-state-university) | Frankfort, KY | 30% | $36,382 | $8,040 | $25,938 | 0.71x |
| 17 | [Hampton University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/hampton-university) | Hampton, VA | 56% | $59,159 | $25,319 | $25,442 | 0.43x |
| 18 | [Norfolk State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/norfolk-state-university) | Norfolk, VA | 36% | $44,666 | $15,282 | $29,000 | 0.65x |
| 19 | [Howard University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/howard-university) | Washington, DC | 69% | $63,066 | $50,539 | $24,500 | 0.39x |
| 20 | [North Carolina Central University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/north-carolina-central-university) | Durham, NC | 44% | $42,968 | $15,359 | $28,250 | 0.66x |
| 21 | [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 |
| 22 | [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 |
| 23 | [Texas Southern University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/texas-southern-university) | Houston, TX | 21% | $38,924 | $16,590 | $29,000 | 0.75x |
| 24 | [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 |
| 25 | [Claflin University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/claflin-university) | Orangeburg, SC | 50% | $40,304 | $17,800 | $29,000 | 0.72x |
| 26 | [Southern University and A & M College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/southern-university-and-a-m-college) | Baton Rouge, LA | 28% | $43,371 | $20,077 | $29,251 | 0.67x |
| 27 | [South Carolina State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/south-carolina-state-university) | Orangeburg, SC | 33% | $38,262 | $18,097 | $31,000 | 0.81x |
| 28 | [Delaware State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/delaware-state-university) | Dover, DE | 39% | $49,307 | $13,910 | $26,000 | 0.53x |
| 29 | [Jackson State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/jackson-state-university) | Jackson, MS | 41% | $39,060 | $23,836 | $30,470 | 0.78x |
| 30 | [Oakwood University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/oakwood-university) | Huntsville, AL | 47% | $42,488 | $25,669 | $27,000 | 0.64x |
| 31 | [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 |
| 32 | [Morgan State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/morgan-state-university) | Baltimore, MD | 41% | $50,698 | $14,985 | $27,250 | 0.54x |
| 33 | [Florida Memorial University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/florida-memorial-university) | Miami Gardens, FL | 31% | $36,624 | $23,238 | $30,063 | 0.82x |
| 34 | [Alcorn State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/alcorn-state-university) | Alcorn State, MS | 51% | $36,421 | $13,265 | $27,000 | 0.74x |
| 35 | [Bowie State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/bowie-state-university) | Bowie, MD | 38% | $54,537 | $19,298 | $22,985 | 0.42x |
| 36 | [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 |
| 37 | [Paul Quinn College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/paul-quinn-college) | Dallas, TX | 33% | $29,288 | $12,709 | $23,373 | 0.8x |
| 38 | [Lincoln University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/lincoln-university-mo) | Jefferson City, MO | 22% | $39,463 | $19,092 | $28,875 | 0.73x |
| 39 | [Johnson C Smith University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/johnson-c-smith-university) | Charlotte, NC | 34% | $42,680 | $20,894 | $30,000 | 0.7x |
| 40 | [Alabama State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/alabama-state-university) | Montgomery, AL | 30% | $34,502 | $20,435 | $31,000 | 0.9x |
| 41 | [Voorhees University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/voorhees-university) | Denmark, SC | 40% | $35,339 | $13,335 | $26,700 | 0.76x |
| 42 | [Benedict College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/benedict-college) | Columbia, SC | 23% | $31,902 | $18,250 | $32,500 | 1.02x |
| 43 | [Lawson State Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/lawson-state-community-college) | Birmingham, AL | 26% | $31,701 | $6,275 | N/A | N/A |
| 44 | [Morris College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/morris-college) | Sumter, SC | 19% | $30,614 | $20,555 | $31,400 | 1.03x |

## 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 HBCUs for Health Professions." CollegeRanker.com, 2026-05-31. https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-hbcu-nursing

## 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/.