Reflecting on HBCU Solutions: The Answers Start Within

Higher education stands at a pivotal juncture. While college is still perceived as a gateway to financial advancement, it has, for many — particularly Black students — turned into a cycle of debt without degrees. Approximately 17% of all college students accrue loans yet do not graduate; among borrowers, this figure escalates to 40%. This predicament is painfully evident at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Despite chronic underfunding, HBCUs have played an indispensable role, producing 80% of Black judges, 50% of Black lawyers, and nearly half of Black engineers and educators. As President and CEO of the Student Freedom Initiative, I firmly believe the solution lies within us. Our aim is to empower students, unfettered by systemic limitations. By bridging the resource gap through innovative funding solutions and enhancing institutional capacity via affordable housing and workforce programs, we can transcend past challenges. True change necessitates sustained investment and collaboration from all sectors, uniting to uplift HBCUs and their communities. Now is our moment to act decisively.