One Florida College Stands Out in Forbes’ New HBCU Rankings

Students considering college in Florida may find reassurance in a new national ranking

Forbes released its inaugural ranking of “America’s Top HBCUs” (historically Black colleges and universities) for 2026, which includes one major university in Florida.

Forbes’ methodology considers factors including graduation and retention rates, alumni earnings, student debt and university success in serving Pell Grant recipients, which are low-income students who receive government subsidies to help them pay for college.

In its introduction, Forbes shares that the nation’s 100 HBCUs have experienced a resurgence in popularity.

“After shrinking from 1976 to 2014, the share of Black college students choosing to attend an HBCU has stabilized and even grown, with the 2020 murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police, the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision outlawing affirmative action, and the Trump Administration’s current assault on college diversity programs leading more Black students to seek out HBCUs for a sense of belonging and connection,” the outlet shares.

Which Florida HBCU was highlighted by Forbes?

Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University was been recognized by Forbes as the second public HBCU in the nation this year, which places it behind North Carolina A&T State University in that category. Founded in 1887 as the State Normal College for Colored Students to train teachers, FAMU is the only public HBCU in Florida and one of the largest in the country.

“We are honored that Forbes has recognized Florida A&M University as the No. 2 public institution on its inaugural list of America’s Top HBCUs,” FAMU President Marva Johnson said in a statement. “This ranking affirms what our students and families already know: FAMU delivers a world-class education at exceptional value.”

See Florida A&M University stats, from Forbes

Undergraduate Enrollment: 9,500
Undergraduate Cost of Attendance (In-State): $25,921
Undergraduate Cost of Attendance (Out-of-State): $36,985
6-year graduation rate: 52%
Retention rate: 88%
Early-career Median pay: $60,900
Mid-career Median pay: $99,600

Where is Florida A&M University located?

See famous alumni out of Florida A&M University

Anika Noni Rose – Actress and singer, most known as voice of “Tiana” in Disney’s “Princess and the Frog”
Althea Gibson – Professional tennis player and golfer
Bob “Bullet” Hayes – Only athlete to win both an Olympic gold medal and a Super Bowl ring in history
Rep. Byron Donalds – U.S. representative for Florida’s 19th congressional district and Republican candidate for 2026 Florida governor election
Common – rapper and actor
Ibram X. Kendi – Author, activist and historian
Karamo Brown – Reality television personality, most known for Netflix’s reboot of “Queer Eye”
Pam Oliver – Sportscaster
Roy Wood Jr. – Comedian and actor
Will Packer – Film producer

See Forbes’ top 10 public HBCUs, including Florida A&M University