N.C. A&T Is Largest HBCU in the Nation for Sixth Consecutive Year

N.C. A&T Is Largest HBCU in the Nation for Sixth Consecutive Year

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (Sept. 9, 2019) – With a fall enrollment of more than 12,500 students, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University continues its reign as the largest historically black university (HBCU) in the United States, a position it has held since fall 2014.

Following an official count from the University of North Carolina System, N.C. A&T begins the 2019-20 academic year with an enrollment of 12,556, an increase of 3.4 percent over 2018-19. That includes 11,039 undergraduate students – up 410 from the previous year – and 1,517 graduate students.

Much of the growth can be attributed to the 79.3 percent rate of retention (up from 77 percent last year) and the addition of more than 3,000 first-year undergraduate and new transfer students. Since 2014, enrollment has increased by 1,831 students or 17 percent.  

“The continued, strategic growth of our Aggie family is a testament to the outstanding work of our faculty, staff and students,” said Chancellor Harold L. Martin Sr. “As a high-activity research university and a land grant institution, the high-quality educational experience that our university stands for in combination with the extraordinary opportunities our students find in the workplace upon graduation add up to a brand promise that is tremendously attractive to prospective students and families .”

This intentional, steady growth in the university’s enrollment is a direct result of the university’s strategic plan, A&T Preeminence: Taking the Momentum to 2023. This plan projects a student body of 14,000 students by its conclusion and includes key performance indicators around student success, affordability, diversity and more.

A major part of ensuring student success at the university has been attracting talented, high-achieving students. This year’s entering freshman class is no different. Of this cohort, 19 students were valedictorians, 17 percent entered with a high school GPA of 4.0-4.5, while more than 30 percent entered with college credits. Nearly 22 percent of first-year students entered as sophomores and another 9.6 entered as juniors.

While many HBCUs have experienced growth over the past several years, A&T’s national recognition for excellence in STEM education plus a focused effort on growing enrollment in specific areas has helped the university expand at a faster rate. The university drew nearly 25,000 applications for admission this school year – a record for A&T and a 6,000-application increase over last year.

A Gallup survey of UNC System alumni released earlier this year found that A&T alumni have a stronger affinity for their alma mater than those of any other campus in the system. Ninety-six percent indicated they would complete their degree at A&T again, if given the chance.