Historically Black Colleges in Tennessee
Here, we'll highlight the six Historically Black Colleges and Universities in Tennessee and share some of their most interesting facts.
American Baptist College - Nashville, TN
Mascot: N/A
Enrollment: 43 (57, including part-time)
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Founded: 1924
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. 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.
Fisk University - Nashville, TN
Mascot: Bulldogs
Enrollment: 874 (914, including part-time)
Acceptance Rate: 61%
Founded: 1865
Fisk 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 the present site of Nashville's Union Station. 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.
Knoxville College - Knoxville, TN
Mascot: N/A
Enrollment: 32 (online only)
Acceptance Rate: N/A
Founded: 1875
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. 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."
Lane College - Jackson, TN
Mascot: Dragons and Lady Dragons
Enrollment: 988 (1,046 including part-time)
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Founded: 1882
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. 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.
LeMoyne-Owen College - Memphis, TN
Mascot: the Magicians
Enrollment: 529 (613, including part-time)
Acceptance Rate: 98%
Founded: 1862
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. 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.
Meharry Medical College - Nashville, TN
Mascot: N/A
Enrollment: 828
Acceptance Rate: Estimated at 3-4%
Founded: 1876
Meharry is "the nation's largest private historically Black academic health center". 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.
Tennessee State University - Nashville, TN
Mascot: Aristocat the Tiger
Enrollment: 4,907 (6,375, including part-time)
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Founded: 1912
TSU began as an agricultural and industrial normal school. In 1922, it became a four-year teachers' college and underwent an official name change in 1968. Today, the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education has designated TSU as a "high research" institution. 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.