Historically Black Colleges and Universities

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have a long-standing record of academic excellence and student success. Although only about 17% of Black American undergraduates attend an HBCU, these institutions award more than 28% of all bachelor’s degrees earned by Black students nationwide and are leaders in preparing graduates for high-demand fields such as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, and engineering.

HBCUs were established to address barriers to higher education following the Civil War, particularly in response to the Morrill Acts of 1862 and 1890, which led to the creation of land-grant institutions for students who were historically excluded from many colleges. Today, there are more than 100 HBCUs, primarily located in the South and on the East Coast. While rooted in serving the Black American community, HBCUs are open to students of all backgrounds and offer a wide range of undergraduate and graduate degree programs.

Minimum Transfer Requirements

California community college transfer students with a GPA of 2.0 or higher are guaranteed admission to HBCU partner schools using either of the following two options:

1.Complete a minimum of 30 UC or CSU transferrable units

2.Complete a transfer level-associate degree (ADT) using the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC or CAL-GETC), the California State University General Education Breadth pattern.

Note: The Requirements listed above are for HBCU Partnership schools. Some HBCU institutions will require a higher GPA.

California HBCU Grant

The California HBCU Grant provides up to $5,000 to eligible California Community College students who transfer to an approved Historically Black College or University (HBCU).

To be eligible, students must:

Be a California community college student earning an Associates Degree for Transfer (ADT)
Be a California resident who intends to return to California after completing their degree

Students must also meet standard Cal Grant eligibility requirements, including FAFSA or CA Dream Act submission.

Learn how to apply here!