Despite widespread teacher knowledge of historically Black colleges and universities, most high school students remain unfamiliar with HBCUs and rarely receive counselor guidance about attending them, according to a new study released by the United Negro College Fund, (UNCF).
The disconnect becomes more pronounced when examining counselor interactions with students. More than half of surveyed students—53%—reported that their school counselors never or rarely suggested attending an HBCU, while 54% said counselors never or rarely provided resources about HBCU attendance.
"The pivotal role of K-12 schools in shaping students' college aspirations and preparedness cannot be overstated," said Dr. Meredith B.L. Anderson, co-author and director of K-12 Research and Advocacy at UNCF. "Teachers and school counselors carry considerable influence in guiding students through the college application process."
The study revealed particularly low HBCU awareness among Hispanic and white students, with 83% and 80% respectively reporting little to no familiarity. Approximately half of both Black and multiracial students shared similar levels of unfamiliarity.
Among students who expressed reasons for not planning to attend an HBCU, 58% cited simply not knowing much about these institutions. In contrast, only 14% of students planning to attend an HBCU said they were encouraged to do so by a school counselor or teacher.
The research also uncovered concerning evidence of teacher bias regarding minority students' post-secondary pathways. Some educators expressed deficit-based views about students of color, questioning their motivation, academic ability, or financial capacity for college.
