Last Updated on July 24, 2026
HBCUs didn’t just show up to nursing education—they built it, often from scratch, in communities that had nowhere else to turn.
Today, roughly 43 HBCUs offer nursing programs, ranging from associate degrees to full doctoral tracks. If you’re weighing your options, here’s a real look at the ten that stand out for 2026.
How We Ranked These Programs
This list draws on Nurse.org’s 2026 HBCU nursing rankings, which weigh four things: NCLEX pass rates, the range of degree levels offered, program cost, and whether online coursework is available.
We cross-checked every school against its official nursing program page to confirm the details below are current.
The Top 10 HBCU Nursing Programs for 2026
Here’s the full lineup at a glance—then a closer look at what makes each one worth considering.
| Rank | School | Location | Accreditation | Standout Stat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fayetteville State University | Fayetteville, NC | CCNE | 100% job placement rate |
| 2 | Bethune-Cookman University | Daytona Beach, FL | ACEN | 90.5% 3-yr NCLEX pass rate |
| 3 | Albany State University | Albany, GA | ACEN | 93% 3-yr NCLEX pass rate |
| 4 | Grambling State University | Grambling, LA | CCNE, ACEN | 100% NCLEX pass rate (2022 cohort) |
| 5 | Southern University and A&M College | Baton Rouge, LA | CCNE | 2,500+ BSN grads produced |
| 6 | Alcorn State University | Natchez, MS | ACEN | ASN through DNP offered |
| 7 | Lincoln University of Missouri | Jefferson City, MO | ACEN | 88% avg. NCLEX pass rate |
| 8 | Prairie View A&M University | Prairie View, TX | CCNE | 100 years graduating nurses |
| 9 | Hampton University | Hampton, VA | CCNE | First HBCU with a nursing PhD |
| 10 | Howard University | Washington, DC | CCNE | Nursing division est. 1969 |
Meet the Top 10
1. Fayetteville State University — Fayetteville, NC
Fayetteville State’s nursing program has been running since 1992, and it shows: graduates land jobs at a 100% placement rate. Get the full details on Fayetteville State University’s official nursing program page.
You can go the traditional prelicensure route, do an accelerated BSN, or bridge over with RN-to-BSN. There’s also an online MSN in patient safety and quality. Tuition runs $41.67 to $805.75 per credit hour, and most tracks finish in 4 to 5 semesters.
2. Bethune-Cookman University — Daytona Beach, FL
The L. Gale Lemerand School of Nursing leans into Bethune-Cookman’s faith-based mission, pairing academic rigor with a focus on service. Get the full details on Bethune-Cookman University’s official nursing program page.
It’s a 4-year BSN program, ACEN-accredited, with a 3-year average first-time NCLEX pass rate of 90.5%. Tuition is $6,922 per semester, and there’s no online option—this one’s fully in-person.
3. Albany State University — Albany, GA
Albany State’s Department of Nursing offers about as many paths in as any school on this list: traditional, evening, and hybrid ASN; bridge programs for working healthcare pros; online RN-to-BSN; and MSN tracks in Family Nurse Practitioner and Nurse Education. Get the full details on Albany State University’s official nursing program page.
Clinicals happen at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital and other local facilities. Total BSN tuition runs about $27,928, and the 3-year average first-time NCLEX pass rate sits at 93%.
4. Grambling State University — Grambling, LA
Grambling posted a 100% NCLEX-RN pass rate in its most recent reported cohort—along with a 100% job placement rate for both BSN and graduate students. Get the full details on Grambling State University’s official nursing program page.
The program runs pre-nursing through traditional BSN, post-licensure RN-to-BSN, and graduate tracks in Family Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, and Nurse Educator. Tuition is $1,277 to $2,973 per semester, dual-accredited by CCNE and ACEN, with online options available.
5. Southern University and A&M College — Baton Rouge, LA
Southern’s School of Nursing has been producing nurses since 1986 and is one of the largest sources of African American nurses in the country—over 2,500 BSN graduates and counting. Get the full details on Southern University and A&M College’s official nursing program page.
Degree options run the full range: BSN, MSN, PhD, and DNP, plus an online RN-to-BSN. Tuition falls between $4,921 and $8,834 per semester, and the 3-year average first-time NCLEX pass rate is 87%.
6. Alcorn State University — Natchez, MS
The Cora S. Balmat School of Nursing, on Alcorn’s Natchez campus, has been training nurses since 1977 and covers nearly every degree level: ASN, BSN, MSN, and DNP. Get the full details on Alcorn State University’s official nursing program page.
Tuition is $7,766 per semester, the program is ACEN-accredited, and online coursework is available depending on the track.
7. Lincoln University of Missouri — Jefferson City, MO
Founded in 1971, Lincoln’s School of Nursing offers an AAS, BSN, and RN-to-BSN, with a job placement rate of 100% for BSN grads over the last two years. Get the full details on Lincoln University of Missouri’s official nursing program page.
Tuition runs $256 to $657 per credit hour. The average first-time NCLEX pass rate is 88%, and online options are available for select tracks.
8. Prairie View A&M University — Prairie View, TX
Prairie View’s College of Nursing has been graduating nurses for a full century. That kind of track record shows in the numbers: an 88% average first-time NCLEX pass rate. Get the full details on Prairie View A&M University’s official nursing program page.
You can go the traditional BSN route (a 4.5-year program built on prerequisite coursework), bridge over with an online RN-to-BSN, or go graduate with an MSN in Family Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Administration, or Nurse Education, up through DNP. Tuition ranges from $5,650 to $13,437 per semester.
9. Hampton University — Hampton, VA
Hampton holds a distinction no other HBCU can claim: it was the first to launch a nursing PhD program. Get the full details on Hampton University’s official nursing program page.
Options include a traditional in-person BSN, an online accelerated RN-to-BSN, and MSN tracks in Family Nurse Practitioner or administration/education. Tuition runs about $26,198 per year, and the program is CCNE-accredited.
10. Howard University — Washington, D.C.
Howard’s Division of Nursing dates back to 1969, and it’s consistently ranked among the top nursing programs in the nation, HBCU or otherwise. Get the full details on Howard University’s official nursing program page.
The program spans lower and upper division BSN, LPN-to-BSN, a fully online RN-to-BSN, and graduate tracks for Family Nurse Practitioner or Nurse Educator. Tuition runs $32,878 to $37,328 per semester, and it’s CCNE-accredited.
What Makes an HBCU Nursing Education Different
HBCU nursing programs weren’t a recent addition to higher ed history—they’re a direct response to it. The first HBCU, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, opened in 1837, decades before the Civil War, to educate Black students who were barred from nearly every other college in the country.
Most HBCUs followed between 1865 and 1900, founded by Black churches, the Freedmen’s Bureau, and northern missionary societies rebuilding educational access from the ground up. The U.S. Higher Education Act of 1965 later codified the term, defining an HBCU as any accredited institution established before 1964 with a mission centered on educating Black Americans.
That history shapes how these nursing programs teach today. Cultural competence isn’t a single unit—it’s woven through the curriculum, alongside hands-on clinical training and a community-care mindset that carries into how graduates practice.
Many HBCU-trained nurses go on to work in the same kinds of underserved communities their schools were built to serve, which is part of why these programs keep showing up at the top of national diversity-in-healthcare conversations.
HBCU Nursing Programs FAQS
What are the best HBCU nursing programs?
For 2026, the top-ranked HBCU nursing programs are Fayetteville State University, Bethune-Cookman University, Albany State University, Grambling State University, Southern University and A&M College, Alcorn State University, Lincoln University of Missouri, Prairie View A&M University, Hampton University, and Howard University.
How many HBCUs offer nursing programs?
Roughly 43 HBCUs across the U.S. offer nursing programs, ranging from associate degrees to full doctoral tracks, according to Nurse.org’s 2026 rankings.
Do HBCU nursing programs offer online options?
Most do, especially for RN-to-BSN and graduate-level MSN tracks. Prelicensure BSN programs typically still require in-person clinical hours, since hands-on patient care can’t be taught remotely.
Which HBCU has the highest NCLEX pass rate?
Grambling State University reported a 100% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate in its most recent cohort. Albany State University (93%) and Bethune-Cookman University (90.5%) also post strong 3-year averages.
Which HBCU was first to offer a nursing PhD?
Hampton University was the first HBCU to launch a Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing program.
How old are HBCUs, really?
HBCUs are a post-slavery, distinctly American development—not an old tradition dating back centuries. The first HBCU, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, was founded in 1837, and most others were established between 1865 and 1900, after the Civil War.
