HBCU

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noun

ˌāch-ˌbē-ˌsē-ˈyü 

plural HBCUs

: a college or university in the U.S. established before 1964 for African American students : a historically Black college or university

the state's largest HBCU

Note: The term HBCU was created as a federal designation during the 1986 reauthorization of the Higher Education Act of 1965, which expanded federal funding for colleges and universities.

HBCU

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abbreviation

historically Black colleges and universities

Examples of HBCU in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

That growth was on display Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium, where generations of HBCU supporters gathered for the latest edition of a game with roots stretching back more than nine decades. — Miami Herald, 7 Sep. 2026

Allen returns as an executive producer and Pride showruns the series, which has morphed into a single-camera dramedy that blends nostalgic callbacks with Gen Z storylines about mental health, activism and threats to HBCU funding. — Senior Television, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026

Mississippi Valley State is the fourth HBCU — Historically Black College or University — that Sac State will face in the 73-year history of the program. — Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 3 Sep. 2026

Among a group of fresh titles on the platform is the sequel of A Different World, following beloved characters Whitley and Dwayne’s daughter Deborah at the same fictional HBCU, Hillman College. — Madeleine Janz, PEOPLE, 31 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1980, in the meaning defined above