Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are among the most enduring institutions in American history. Founded during some of the most challenging periods for Black Americans, these schools became beacons of hope, education, and community. Here are the 10 oldest HBCUs, listed by their founding year, based on verified historical records.

1. Cheyney University of Pennsylvania — Founded 1837

Located in Cheyney, Pennsylvania, Cheyney University is the oldest HBCU in the United States. It was established as the African Institute by Quaker philanthropist Richard Humphreys and later became a state university. It has been educating Black students for nearly two centuries.

2. Lincoln University (Pennsylvania) — Founded 1854

Founded in Oxford, Pennsylvania, Lincoln University was the first degree-granting HBCU in the United States. It was originally called Ashmun Institute and was renamed Lincoln University in 1866 in honor of President Abraham Lincoln. Notable alumni include Langston Hughes and Thurgood Marshall.

3. Wilberforce University — Founded 1856

Located in Wilberforce, Ohio, Wilberforce University was the first private HBCU in the United States. It was co-founded by the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church and the Methodist Episcopal Church. The university is named after British abolitionist William Wilberforce.

4. Harris-Stowe State University — Founded 1857

Based in St. Louis, Missouri, Harris-Stowe State University traces its roots to 1857 when it was established as a teacher training institution for Black educators. It is one of the few HBCUs located in the Midwest.

5. Avery College — Founded 1849 (closed 1985)

Note: While Avery College in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (founded 1849) was one of the earliest institutions for Black higher education, it closed in 1985. It is included here for historical completeness.

5. Bowie State University — Founded 1865

Located in Bowie, Maryland, Bowie State University was founded in 1865 by the Baltimore Association for the Moral and Educational Improvement of the Colored People. It is one of the oldest HBCUs in the state of Maryland and part of the University System of Maryland.

6. Shaw University — Founded 1865

Founded in Raleigh, North Carolina, Shaw University is the oldest HBCU in the South. It was established by Henry Martin Tupper, a Union Army chaplain, just months after the end of the Civil War. Shaw was also the birthplace of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) in 1960.

7. Fisk University — Founded 1866

Located in Nashville, Tennessee, Fisk University was founded in 1866 by the American Missionary Association. It is renowned for its academic excellence, its Jubilee Singers (who helped save the university through fundraising tours), and its rich tradition in the arts and sciences.

8. Lincoln University (Missouri) — Founded 1866

Founded in Jefferson City, Missouri, by Black Civil War veterans of the 62nd and 65th United States Colored Infantry regiments, Lincoln University of Missouri has a unique military heritage and has served the Black community of Missouri for over 150 years.

9. Rust College — Founded 1866

Located in Holly Springs, Mississippi, Rust College was founded in 1866 by the Freedmen's Aid Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church. It is one of the oldest continuously operating HBCUs in the Deep South.

10. Howard University — Founded 1867

Perhaps the most well-known HBCU in the world, Howard University was founded in Washington, D.C. in 1867. Named after General Oliver Otis Howard, Commissioner of the Freedmen's Bureau, Howard has produced some of the most influential Black leaders, scholars, and professionals in American history — including Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall and Vice President Kamala Harris.

A Legacy Worth Wearing

These institutions are more than schools — they are monuments to resilience, brilliance, and community. For members of Black Greek-letter organizations, HBCUs are sacred ground where lifelong bonds are formed and legacies are carried forward. Whether you pledged on the yard or honor your HBCU from afar, your letters tell a story rooted in this rich history.

Celebrate your HBCU legacy with our collection of fraternity and sorority rings, pins, and pendants — crafted to honor the journey.