Morris Brown College reinstates accreditation until 2031
Morris Brown College has regained its accreditation from the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools, which will allow students to gain access to financial aid, transfer college credits and make their degrees employer verifiable. The post Morris Brown College reinstates accreditation until 2031 appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.
Black News 
By Ariyana Griffin
Morris Brown College, located in Atlanta, Georgia, has announced that its reaccreditation status has been reinstated until 2031.
In 2002, the historically Black college lost its accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) due to over $20 million in debt and financial mismanagement; however, the college never closed its doors. Enrollment significantly decreased from about 2,000 students to 30-50 during the years without accreditation. This led the college to remain in a state of uncertainty until 2022, when it gained accreditation from the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS), a Virginia-based accreditation agency, under the leadership of the college’s president, Dr. Kevin James.
The college stated they were awarded an “accredited status as a Category II institution by the TRACS Accreditation Commission on April 26, 2022. This status is effective for a period of up to five years. TRACS is recognized by the United States Department of Education (ED), the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), and the International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE).”
The college regaining and maintaining its accreditation allows students to gain access to financial aid, transfer college credits and makes the degrees and certificates employer verifiable.
Kadeem Deleon Hill, a graduating music major with a concentration in music production from Lucedale, Mississippi, expressed his gratitude to Morris Brown College.
“As a first-generation college student, earning my degree from such an illustrious HBCU is a meaningful milestone. Being part of this institution has allowed me to contribute to its rich legacy while also helping to carry it forward. Morris Brown has changed my life in ways I could not have imagined, giving me a second chance to pursue my education,” Hill told the AFRO. “Through that opportunity, I overcame adversity and developed into a better person grounded in integrity, strengthened by knowledge, and committed to professionalism. I take great pride in knowing that my journey is both a personal achievement and a continuation of the enduring tradition that defines Morris Brown College.”
Hill, who is serving as the 2025-2026 Mr. Senior on Morris Brown College’s royal court, expressed the accomplishment ensures his “degree holds recognized value with employers, graduate schools, and other institutions, while also providing access to federal financial aid to make my education more attainable.” He shared that it also “reflects the college’s stability, growth, and commitment to maintaining high standards – it demonstrates how Morris Brown has fought through significant hardships with resilience and determination, reclaiming its place as a respected institution.”
Morris Brown College has a rich history and is the first and only college in the state of Georgia to be completely founded, owned, and operated by African Americans. The HBCU continues that legacy by providing and maintaining opportunities for future students.
The college has received various funding opportunities, including $1.5 million in federal funding for its hospitality management program, the first of its kind at an HBCU.
Rainah Smith from Omaha, Nebraska selected to attend Morris Brown College this year on decision day.
“I chose Morris Brown College because of its strong sense of community, culture, family, and history as an HBCU,” Smith told the AFRO. “The accreditation makes me feel more confident and secure in my decision. It shows that the college is growing and moving in the right direction, and it reassures me that my education will be recognized and valuable after I graduate.”
Former student, Lazaro Nightingale from Panama City, expressed that Morris Brown College works hard to meet its students where they are and provide a family-inspired environment.
“They [ faculty and staff] don’t see us as a number, they actually know us by name,” said Nightingale. “Morris Brown getting their accreditation back feels like a winning streak. Now that they have their accreditation back, they can do more stuff and bring in more students.”
On May 16, 2026, the college will celebrate its largest graduating class in the last 23 years, with 92 graduates, during its 145th anniversary.
The post Morris Brown College reinstates accreditation until 2031 appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.
