Applicants to Historically Black Colleges and Universities

Abstract

Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) play an important role in the postsecondary education of Black students in the United States. Using data on where 1.2 million Black SAT takers send their SAT scores, we examine which students consider attending HBCUs and the common alternatives to HBCUs. Students with average SAT scores are the most likely to consider HBCUs, and students with the highest SAT scores are the least likely. Students who are relatively interested in HBCUs tend to also consider less selective, in-state, public options. However, that relationship is counteracted when the HBCUs under consideration are relatively more selective.