“All of us have a responsibility, as Americans, to change this, to offer every single child in this country an education that will make them competitive in our knowledge economy. That is our obligation as a nation,” the president said.

Obama said the graduates also must be role models and mentors in their communities. And they must pass the sense of an education's value on to their children as well as the sense of personal responsibility, self-respect and the "intrinsic sense of excellence that made it possible for you to be here today,” he said.

Obama's speech was one in a series by top administration officials at historically Black colleges and universities this year. In all, 11 of the nation's more than 100 “HBCUs” will have an administration official speak at graduation.

First lady Michelle Obama was the commencement speaker Saturday at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, which began as the only state-supported institution of higher education for Blacks in Arkansas.

Obama senior adviser Valerie Jarrett was scheduled to speak at Morgan State University’s commencement ceremony on May 15, followed by Defense Secretary Robert Gates at Morehouse College and U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice at Spelman College, both on May 16.

Earlier this year, Obama named Hampton University President William R. Harvey to be chairman of a presidential advisory board on historically Black colleges and universities.

Obama also received an honorary doctor of laws degree. A graduate of Harvard Law School, he quipped that the honorary degree "is much less expensive than my last law degree."

Obama has two graduation speeches left to deliver this year: at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., on May 22, and at Kalamazoo Central High School in Kalamazoo, Mich., on June 10.