Charitable giving and grantmaking to historically black colleges and universities increased by more than 19 percent in 2015, and accompanied a four-year low in the raw total of enrollment losses over the same period.
Data released by the Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics shows that HBCUs received more than $316.8 million in private gifts and grants during the 2014-15 academic year, the highest amount of non-public funding coming to the sector since it grossed $351.5 million in 2012.
The increase represents just .55 percent of the total $57 billion given to higher education in 2015 according to Giving USA, but reversed a year-to-year annual average decrease of $43 million over the three previous years.
Private Gifts & Grants to HBCUs (In Millions)
2011-12 – $351,507
2012-13 – $304,709
2013-14 – $265,232
2014-15 – $316,884
HBCU sector total enrollment declined for the fifth consecutive year since an all-time high of more than 326,000 students in 2010, but the decrease of 928 students was a dramatic improvement against the 9,021 year-to-year average attrition between 2011 and 2013.
Total HBCU Enrollment
2011-12 – 312,438
2012-13 – 303,167
2013-14 – 294,316
2014-15 – 293,388
While the data reflects gains made two years ago, it mirrors improvements showcased at HBCUs this fall. North Carolina A&T State University has claimed total enrollment over 10,000 students for the last three years, and underscores record first-year student gains at Central State University, Kentucky State University, Virginia State University and others.
Freshman Enrollment Surges at Several HBCUs
While North Carolina A&T State University has broken its own enrollment mark as the nation’s largest historically black college or university, several HBCUs are posting record enrollment for first-year students and total headcount. Kentucky State University this week reported a first-year student increase of more than 160 percent from its confirmed student post of 194 students at the beginning of the summer.
In giving, an increase in institutional support among young alumni figures to be an extension of the 2015 report. Hampton University’s successful day of giving yielded more than $1.2 million in 24 hours, while North Carolina Central University’s targeted fundraising campaign helped to break records in philanthropy and newly cultivated donors.
Hampton ‘Day of Giving’ Raises $1.28 Million in 24 Hours
More than 2,000 students, faculty, staff, alumni and supporters set a new single-day philanthropic record for Hampton University last week, raising nearly $1.3 million dollars as a part of its fourth annual ‘Day of Giving.’ The campaign, driven by extensive social media outreach, on-site solicitation, and digital and traditional mail contributions raised an average of $600 among 2002 total donors.
