While their counterparts are seeing unprecedented numbers of applications, many historically Black colleges and universities aren’t seeing an increase at all. In addition, they have the burden of knowing those who do apply and get accepted probably won’t be able to afford to enroll this fall.
Since they often serve students with the most financial need, historically Black private schools are concerned whether admitted students can afford to pay tuition.
“We’ve had a double-digit increase in applications for our scholarships, which suggests students want to go to private and public HBCUs, but the question is can they afford it,” says Dr. Michael Lomax, president and CEO of the United Negro College Fund. “We don’t know if we will have the resources to help these students go to school … . A number of our long-standing partners are reducing their level of support so the resources are not clearly identifiably there.”
At a time when many students need financial aid the most, they will find that the money simply isn’t there.
UNCF supports 39 private HBCUs and administers scholarship money to minority students. Applications for UNCF’s largest scholarship program — the Gates Millennium Scholars program — are up by 47 percent compared to where they were last year at this time, according to UNCF spokeswoman Joye Griffin.
But, at the same time, as record numbers of students need tuition assistance, there’s less money available, adds Griffin. “Total gifts, meaning dollar gifts for scholarship programs, were down 10 percent in 2008 compared to 2007. That has an impact on the money we can award right now.”
