Historically Black Colleges and Universities in Tennessee: A Legacy of Education and Empowerment

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) hold a unique and vital place in the landscape of higher education in the United States. Dating back to the late 1830s, these institutions were born out of a need to provide educational opportunities to African Americans, who were often legally denied access to education elsewhere. While the term “HBCU” wasn’t formally coined until the Higher Education Act of 1965, which defined them as institutions founded before 1964 with the primary mission of educating African-American students, their legacy stretches back much further. Tennessee is home to a number of these historic institutions, each with its own distinct story and contributions. This article will explore the seven HBCUs in Tennessee, highlighting their unique characteristics, history, and impact.

A Legacy Rooted in Opportunity and Empowerment

HBCUs gave educational opportunities to many African Americans who were once legally denied an education. These institutions not only provided access to higher learning but also fostered a sense of community and cultural identity. They became centers of Black learning and culture in America, shaping generations of leaders, scholars, and professionals.

Tennessee's Historically Black Colleges and Universities

Here, we'll highlight the six Historically Black Colleges and Universities in Tennessee and share some of their most interesting facts. The seventh HBCU in Tennessee-Meharry Medical College-doesn’t offer any undergraduate programs, but bears mentioning.

1. American Baptist College (Nashville, TN)

Founded: 1924
Mascot: N/A
Enrollment: 43 (57, including part-time)
Acceptance Rate: 100%

American Baptist College (ABC) has been educating and developing students for leadership and service for almost a century. The idea of a seminary for the training of Black Baptist ministers grew out of a conversation between National Baptist leaders and Dr. O.L. Hailey. In 1914, the National Baptist Convention and Southern Baptist Convention met together and recommended that the college be established in Memphis, Tennessee. It was later decided to establish the College in Nashville. With the help of National Baptists, American Baptist College's (ABC) present site was purchased in 1921. The original name was the American Baptist Theological Seminary. American Baptist College formally opened its doors for the training of Christian workers under the name of the American Baptist Theological Seminary on September 14, 1924.

A Christian College since its founding in 1924, all of ABC’s degree programs prepare students to become agents of change and advocates of social justice by helping them become critical and moral thinkers and instilling leadership. Now a Historically Black College with a liberal arts emphasis, ABC aims to educate, graduate, and prepare diverse students, regardless of their age, class, ethnicity, gender, or race, for Christian leadership, service, and social justice in the world. ABC offers Associate of Arts degrees in Music and Arts and General Studies as well as three Bachelor of Arts Degrees in Bible & Theology, Behavior Studies and Entrepreneurial Leadership.

Read also: HBCU Legacy in Georgia

Notable Alumni: Rep. John Lewis, C.T. Vivian

2. Fisk University (Nashville, TN)

Founded: 1866
Mascot: Bulldogs
Enrollment: 874 (914, including part-time)
Acceptance Rate: 61%

Founded in 1866, shortly after the end of the Civil War, Fisk University is the oldest institution of higher education in Nashville. In 1865, three men - John Ogden, the Reverend Erastus Milo Cravath, and the Reverend Edward P. Smith - established the Fisk School in Nashville. The school was named in honor of General Clinton B. Fisk of the Tennessee Freedmen's Bureau, who provided the new institution with facilities in former Union Army barracks near what is now Nashville's Union Station. In these facilities, Fisk convened its first classes on January 9, 1866, with students ranging in age from seven to seventy.

Today, Fisk has a reputation for excellence and producing graduates who make an immediate impact in a wide range of fields, from social justice to the sciences. Probably no single institution has played so central a role as Fisk in the shaping of black learning and culture in America. In addition to multiple Bachelor's degrees, Fisk offers Master's degrees as well as a Master's to PhD Bridge Program in conjunction with Vanderbilt University to increase the number of underrepresented students engaged in PhD level STEM research. Fisk is home to the first Historically Black College and University gymnastics team to compete at the NCAA level.

Notable Alumni: W. E. B. Du Bois (author, civil rights activist, historian), Ida B. Wells (journalist, educator, civil rights leader), Rep. John Lewis (congressman, civil rights leader), Marion Barry (politician, long-time DC Mayor), James Weldon Johnson (writer, activist, songwriter), Nikki Giovanni (poet, writer, activist)

3. Knoxville College (Knoxville, TN)

Founded: 1875
Mascot: N/A
Enrollment: 32 (online only)
Acceptance Rate: N/A

Knoxville College was founded in 1875 as part of the missionary effort of the United Presbyterian Church and since there were so few educational opportunities for African Americans, it initially offered classes from first grade through college level. Knoxville College, the only HBCU in East Tennessee, was founded through the United Presbyterian Church to support the freedmen as they sought religion, moral and educational leadership.

Knoxville College once played a prominent role in the education of Knoxville’s Black community-roughly 17% of Knoxville’s population is Black-but has had a rocky road since losing its accreditation in 1997. This HBCU has partnerships with Tennessee College of Applied Technology, University of Tennessee, Morris Brown College and Johnson University to support students. Students can earn their Associate of Arts online. Recently, the Tennessee Higher Education Commission approved two new degree blended programs (online and/or on campus) which include an AS Business Administration and BS Business Administration. President Leonard L. Adams, Jr. has stated , "This is very exciting news as it gives us access and a pathway to the return of on-campus learning for current and potential students."

4. Lane College (Jackson, TN)

Founded: 1882
Mascot: Dragons and Lady Dragons
Enrollment: 988 (1,046 including part-time)
Acceptance Rate: 100%

Lane College was founded in the 1880s by one of the nation’s first Black church denominations, and religion continues to play a key role on the college’s campus today. For $240, Bishop Isaac Lane purchased the first four acres of land for the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church High School, which later was named Lane College.

Spirituality is at the center of the Lane experience, but the college offers much more, including dozens of degrees through its three schools: School of Business, Social Science, and Behavioral Science; School of Liberal Studies and Education; and the School of Natural and Psychical Science. In partnership with IBM, Lane offers students opportunities to earn certification badges for in-demand careers including IBM Cloud, IBM Engineering, Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence.

5. LeMoyne-Owen College (Memphis, TN)

Founded: 1862
Mascot: the Magicians
Enrollment: 529 (613, including part-time)
Acceptance Rate: 98%

LeMoyne-Owen College traces its roots back to the early 1860s and a school for freedmen and runaway slaves known as Lincoln Chapel. LeMoyne began as an elementary school for freedmen and formerly enslaved runaways. It became a 4-year college in 1930. Owen College opened as a junior college in 1954. The two schools merged in 1968 and LeMoyne is the only Historically Black College in Memphis today.

Today, the school provides a four-year liberal arts experience that prepares graduates to become leaders and for successful endeavors post-college. In addition to its six divisions which include Business & Economic Development and Computer Science, LeMoyne-Owens offers an Accelerated Studies for Adults and Professionals program.

6. Tennessee State University (Nashville, TN)

Founded: 1912
Mascot: Aristocat the Tiger
Enrollment: 4,907 (6,375, including part-time)
Acceptance Rate: 100%

The Agricultural and Industrial Normal School, which would go on to become Tennessee State University (TSU), fielded its first class of 247 students in 1912. In 1909, the Tennessee State General Assembly created three normal schools, including the Agricultural and Industrial Normal School. The first 247 students began their academic careers on June 19, 1912, and William Jasper Hale served as head of the school. Students, faculty, and staff worked together as a family to keep the institution operating, whether the activity demanded clearing rocks, harvesting crops, or carrying chairs from class to class.

TSU is one of just eleven HBCUs designated as a “high research activity” institution by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. The school gained the capacity to grant bachelor’s degrees in 1922, reflecting its new status as a four-year teachers’ college. In 1927, “Normal” was dropped from the name of the college. The Tennessee General Assembly of 1941 authorized a substantial upgrade to the educational program of the college formally dropping "Agricultural & Industrial" from the university's name, which became Tennessee State University. When President Hale retired in 1943, one of the institution’s alumni, Walter S. Davis, was selected as his successor. Until his retirement in 1968, Davis led the college through an era of tremendous growth in academics and facilities that led to worldwide recognition. The first master’s degrees were awarded in June 1944.

Read also: Historically Black Colleges

Students interested in music, production, and emerging technology can now learn inside TSU’s SMART Tech Music AI classroom and studio at the Downtown Campus. Tennessee State University continues to make waves in the heart of Music City! Located at Avon Williams Off-Campus Instructional Site, the TSU Smart & Applied A.I. Research Center is your hub for hands-on learning, innovation, and workforce development. From A.I. Tennessee State University alumni continue to exemplify the true meaning of Tiger pride by supporting students through growing financial contributions, mentorship, and nationwide outreach efforts. Tennessee State University is also making moves in athletics; it is the first HBCU to bring hockey to its athletic department; the program will begin at the club level in 2024.

Notable Alumni: Oprah Winfrey, Ed Temple, Wilma Rudolph, Moses Gunn, Xernona Clayton, Ambassador Dr. Bobby Jones, U.L. “Rip” Gooch, Senator Thelma Harper, Young Buck, Chandra Cheeseborough, Richard Dent, Dr. Catana Starks, current president Dr. Glenda Glover.

7. Meharry Medical College (Nashville, TN)

Founded: 1876
Mascot: N/A
Enrollment: 828
Acceptance Rate: Estimated at 3-4%

Meharry Medical College-doesn’t offer any undergraduate programs, but bears mentioning. Meharry Medical College is one of three historically Black medical schools in the United States. Meharry is affiliated with the United Methodist Church and is a top producer of primary care physicians and a leading producer of African Americans with Ph.Ds. in biomedical sciences. Meharry Medical College has the highest percentage of African Americans graduating with PhDs in the biomedical sciences in the country, as well as a leading producer of African American primary care physicians and dentists. Today, the nation’s largest private, historically Black academic health sciences center has trained thousands of health care professionals.

In addition to its medical school, Meharry also hosts a dental school, graduate school, and applied computational sciences school. Meharry has Schools of Dentistry, Medicine, Applied Computational Sciences and Graduate Studies that offers Masters of Public Health, Biomedical Science PhDs and an M.D./PhD. program. Meharry awards more than 15% of African American Biomedical Science PhDs and is ranked ninth nationally by Diversity Issues in Higher Education for this success rate.

Notable Alumni: Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda, Willie Adams Jr., Dr. Donna P. Davis, Edward S. Cooper, John Henry Hale, Corey Hebert, and many others.

Factors Affecting Acceptance into Tennessee HBCUs

A variety of factors contribute to your chances of acceptance at an HBCU in Tennessee-everything from the selectivity of the school to the strength of your profile will play a part in whether you get in or not. CollegeVine can add clarity to the process.

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