Black Colleges Are Building More Dorms Amid Enrollment Growth

Housing has long been a strain on Black colleges, but this summer, several HBCUs flipped that narrative. They are breaking ground on new dorms and announcing housing developments just as enrollment climbs. 

HBCUs make up just 3% of U.S. higher education institutions, yet they educate more than 10% of Black Americans with college degrees, according to UNCF. 

In the weeks leading up to the fall semester, Howard and Tuskegee universities made headlines regarding affordability and enrollment issues, sparking conversations about whether Black colleges really have the resources to support growing enrollment.

North Carolina A&T State University

This summer, the HBCU in Greensboro, North Carolina, held a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the university’s 16th on-campus dorm, Bluford Residence Hall. 

The opening comes as the university celebrates its 12th consecutive year as one of the largest HBCUs in the country. Enrollment for the upcoming fall semester topped 16,000 students, according to the university, with more than 6,000 of those students living on campus. 

The University of North Carolina Board of Governors issued about $59 million in bonds on behalf of North Carolina A&T in 2023 to pay for construction, which totaled $64 million, the college said in a press release.

Southern University and A&M College 

Southern University and A&M College in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is just beginning its residential expansion project. In July, the college broke ground on the first phase of a two-part housing development, according to the institution. This first phase will add 500 beds and is expected to be completed in less than a year. All told, the project is expected to add 800 beds when completed.

Across its four campuses, including the Southern University Law Center, the system saw a 4% increase during the fall semester, with a 15% increase in first-time freshman enrollment. 

The last addition to on-campus housing was Ulysses S. Jones Hall, an all-men’s hall built in 2008 that houses more than 370 students. 

Xavier University of Louisiana 

Xavier recently announced a new $80 million housing plan to add more than 850 student beds for the fall 2027 semester. This comes as the New Orleans HBCU’s enrollment continues to increase sharply, particularly among out-of-state students. In the 2025-2026 academic year, more than 70% of its undergraduate students were from out of state. 

Curtis Wright, vice president of student affairs at Xavier, told Axios that a decade ago, the majority of students at the university were from Louisiana.

In the past, the university has partnered with the University of New Orleans to house their students. 

Xavier’s current undergraduate enrollment is about 2,600 students. 

Spelman College and Morehouse College 

Spelman and Morehouse have announced plans for a $144 million housing development. Construction is already underway across from Morehouse’s B.T. Harvey Stadium in West End Atlanta. The project is expected to offer more than 300 apartment-style units, supporting more than 700 student beds. 

Read More:

• Hundreds of Howard Students Reinstated After Mass Unenrolling
• Tuskegee Students Say the Dress Code Debate Misses the Real Issues

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