Where can I find an HBCU in Maryland?

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Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) were primarily founded in southern states after the American Civil War in order to provide black communities with quality higher education without racial discrimination. There are four HBCUs located within the state of Maryland: Bowie State University, Coppin State University, Morgan State University, and University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Regardless of whether you take classes on campus, online, or in hybrid formats, there are a number of advantages for students who attend a school within their state of residence, including:

  • Affordability, since many public state schools offer great tuition rates for in-state students, regardless of whether they attend campus or not
  • Accessibility, being able to travel to your campus will allow you to meet with other students, professors, and use campus technology, equipment, and resources
  • Opportunity, since colleges and universities have working relationships with local companies and employers, which allows students high-quality internships and job placement

A couple of HBCUs in Maryland have highly regarded online programs with great educational quality and program flexibility, ranking them among the best in the country. All of the HBCUs in the state of Maryland have working relationships with their local communities, and allow their students to find great employment upon graduation. In order to select the HBCU in Maryland that will best meet your academic and professional expectations, have a closer look at what each HBCU has to offer:


  • Bowie State University: Established in 1865, Bowie State is Maryland’s oldest HBCU, and one of the ten oldest HBCUs in the country. Their highly regarded online classes makes them one of the top online HBCU programs for nontraditional students. Tuition for in-state students is $8,748, and 86% of students received some form of financial aid.
  • Morgan State University: Coming in at number 11 on our list, Morgan State University is the largest HBCU in Maryland. Established in 1867 in Baltimore, MD, the university offers more than 45 undergraduate degrees, 32 master’s degrees, and 16 doctoral degrees, as well as 9 fully online programs. Tuition for in-state students is $8,008 per academic year, compared to $18,479 for out-of-state students.
  • Coppin State University: Founded in the year 1900 in Baltimore, MD, Coppin State University offers over 40 different bachelor’s degrees, 11 master’s degrees, and one doctoral degree. Many of their programs are offered in either online or hybrid formats. Tuition for in-state students is $6,904, compared to $13,560 for out-of-state students, though 94% of students received some form of financial aid.
  • University of Maryland Eastern Shore: Founded in 1886, in Princess Anne, MD, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore is a public HBCU that offers over 50 bachelor’s degrees, 15 master’s degrees, and 8 doctoral degrees. Tuition is $8,898 for in-state students.

If any of these HBCUs in the state of Maryland might be the best school to pursue your degree, be sure to visit their website to request more information.