New Research by UNCF and Healthy Minds Network Shows Strong Mental Health Outcomes Among HBCU Students

The “HBCU Effect” on mental health is significant

UNCF announced the release of groundbreaking research today showing students at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) demonstrate significantly stronger mental health outcomes compared to their peers nationally, despite facing greater financial stressors and barriers to mental health services.

The comprehensive report, “Flourishing: Bolstering the Mental Health of Students at HBCUs and PBIs,” examined mental health indicators among 2,504 students across 16 HBCUs and two predominantly Black institutions (PBIs) during the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 academic years.

“This research confirms what we’ve long understood about the unique power of HBCUs to nurture not just academic achievement, but holistic well-being among HBCU students,” said Dr. Michael L. Lomax, UNCF president and CEO. “Even with fewer resources than our peers, these institutions create environments where students are affirmed and celebrated, fostering remarkable mental resilience despite significant socioeconomic challenges.”

The study was conducted in partnership with UNCF’s Institute for Capacity Building, the Healthy Minds Network and The Steve Fund. Its findings support what UNCF researchers call “The HBCU Effect” on mental health:

Higher flourishing rates:45% of HBCU students report “flourishing” mental health compared to 36% in national samples and 38% among Black students at predominantly white institutions (PWIs)

Stronger sense of belonging:83% of HBCU students report feeling part of their campus community versus 73% nationally and 72% for Black students at PWIs

Lower anxiety and substance use: HBCU students report significantly lower rates of anxiety, substance use disorders, and eating disorders than the national average

More open about emotions: HBCU students are significantly less likely to keep negative feelings to themselves when feeling sad (74%) compared to Black students at PWIs (86%)

Greater institutional trust: More HBCU students believe their institutions prioritize mental well-being (78%) compared to Black students at PWIs (73%)

Despite these positive outcomes, the research identified notable mental health challenges for HBCU students:

Financial stress impacts mental health: 51% of HBCU students report their financial situation as “always” or “often” stressful, with 78% of financially stressed students experiencing one or more mental health problems

Unmet treatment needs: 54% of HBCU students with moderate to severe symptoms reported receiving no mental health treatment, higher than both the national average (41%) and Black students at PWIs (47%)

Stigma remains a barrier: HBCU students report higher rates of perceived stigma around mental health treatment (52%) compared to national averages (41%).

These findings demand attention from policymakers and higher education leaders. HBCUs are achieving remarkable outcomes with limited resources, but their students still face significant barriers to receiving mental health support. With targeted investment and policy changes, we could dramatically improve outcomes for these resilient students.

UNCF will host two public webinars to discuss the findings: