A recent article in the noted Journal of Blacks in Higher Education (JBHE) cites significant graduation rate increases at several historically black colleges and universities over the period of more than a decade (1998-2011).

According to the report, which draws heavily from NCAA data, Alabama A&M University achieved an 8 percent increase in its graduation rate over the period, improving to a 43 percent rate.  AAMU was eclipsed by Howard, Jackson State and Virginia Union, each with graduation rate improvements in the double digits.

However, some institutions’ graduation rates decreased, most notably the North Carolina public HBCU institutions; both Coppin State and Morgan State of Maryland; Grambling of Louisiana; Lincoln of Pennsylvania; South Carolina State; and Florida A&M.  Among Mississippi HBCUs, Mississippi Valley and Rust College bottomed out the list at -12 percent and -16 percent, respectively.

- Jerome Saintjones