There are more black men and women launching into the business world than ever. Many black entrepreneurs seek the solidarity and support of driven, like minded peers, and a historically black college or university, or HBCU, can help set up tomorrow’s black business leaders for success. HBCUs help black business scholars network with their peers and educators, which can lead to investors and partnerships down the line.
Madam C. J. Walker famously said, “I had to make my own living and my own opportunity. But I made it! Don’t sit down and wait for the opportunities to come. Get up and make them.” Walker, a self-made entrepreneur and the first black female millionaire in America, helped pave the way for today’s black entrepreneurs. Black students looking to launch their own entrepreneurial journey at an HBCU should consider one of these three schools with great business programs.
#1: Howard University
In 2021, Howard University’s business school MBA program reached #30 on Fortune Education’s list of top business schools. Over the years, Howard’s programs have consistently ranked highly both in HBCU as well as predominantly-white institutions (PWI). Its location in Washington, D.C., also offers business students access to hundreds of companies and small businesses to pursue internships with
Cheryl McKissack Daniel and Deryl McKissack, twin sisters and Presidents and CEOs of architecture and engineering firms McKissack & McKissack, are alumni of Howard’s business school. The two went on to own and operate their own multi-million dollar firms, building upon their family’s legacy and creating a highly successful brand.
#2: Morehouse College
Morehouse is an all-male HBCU located in Atlanta, Georgia. It is known primarily as a liberal arts school, but it has a robust business program. Morehouse breaks its Business Administration program into four concentrations: accounting, finance, management, and marketing. These focuses can help students explore which aspect of a business career would suit them best.
Walter E. Massey, Morehouse alumni, has served on the boards of numerous multinational corporations, such as McDonalds, Bank of America, Motorola among others. He continues to have a strong career as an executive, educator, and physicist.
#3: North Carolina Central University
NCCU is a public, state-supported HBCU in Durham, North Carolina. Its status as a state school brings the tuition down to roughly $7,000 for in-state students, and $20,000 for out-of-state students, making NCCU one of the more affordable HBCUs. NCCU’s undergraduate business school offers degrees in accounting, business administration, an interdisciplinary degree in IT, and Hospitality and Tourism administration. NCCU also offers business as a minor, and even a few non-degree certifications.
The flexibility of the NCCU’s business school is a nice benefit, but the location of the campus offers major opportunities for those hoping to start a career in business. There has been a huge spike in the number of businesses launching in Durham and the surrounding metropolitan areas: Raleigh, Cary, Morrisville, and Chapel Hill. These areas are not only swimming with opportunity, but are racially and ethnically diverse, and are becoming the home to more and more black-owned businesses every day.
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