After a short stint as interim, Dwayne Tucker was named the permanent president at TSU in August 2025.
- Tennessee State University and Fisk University were both listed among the top historically Black colleges and universities, or HBCUs, in the nation by Forbes.
- Tennessee State University was on the top 10 list for public HBCUs, while Fisk University was listed among the top 10 for private HBCUs.
Forbes has released a new ranking of the top historically Black colleges and universities, or HBCUs, in the United States. Two Nashville schools made the list.
Fisk University was listed among the nation’s top 10 private HBCUs, while Tennessee State University made the top 10 public HBCUs list. The rankings, released Aug. 1, come after Howard University, which topped the private rankings, recently disenrolled around 500 incoming students just days before move-in, USA TODAY reported. The students were told they missed a tuition deadline, despite some saying their financial aid and scholarship funding was still pending. The school’s president later said more than 200 of those students were re-enrolled, according to The Washington Post.
“The Howard episode dramatically illustrates two seemingly contradictory facts about the 10 private and 10 public schools honored on Forbes‘ first-ever ranking of America’s Top HBCUs,” the Forbes article reads. “Their popularity is growing, even as their longstanding financial problems (and those of their students) are worsening.”
Here’s a look at what Forbes and the two Nashville schools said about the rankings.
Fisk University listed among Forbes top 10 private HBCUs
Fisk University, which is Nashville’s oldest institution of higher learning, was founded in 1866. It ranked No. 7 on the list of the 10 best private HBCUs. The school is known for the Fisk Jubilee Singers, along with influential graduates, including civil rights leaders the late U.S. Rep. John Lewis and W.E.B. Du Bois.
In an emailed statement on Aug. 5, Fisk University President Agenia Walker Clark said the school is honored to be recognized on the inaugural Forbes list.
“Since 1866, Fisk has pursued a single, unwavering mission: to provide a transformative education to all who seek it,” part of Clark’s statement read. “For 160 years, Fisk has cultivated world-renowned leaders, educated some of the brightest minds, driven groundbreaking research and advanced social justice all while navigating systemic challenges with enduring resilience.”
Tennessee State University makes Forbes top 10 for public HBCUs
Tennessee State University is ranked No. 6 on the list of the top 10 public HBCUs. It was founded in 1912 and is the only public university and land-grant institution in Nashville. Among its notable alumni are media leader and philanthropist Oprah Winfrey, Olympic sprinter Wilma Rudolph and “Roots” actor Moses Gunn, among others.
“Being recognized by Forbes as one of the nation’s top public HBCUs is a tremendous honor and a reflection of the outstanding work taking place across Tennessee State University every day,” TSU President Dwayne Tucker said in an Aug. 4 news release. “This distinction affirms our commitment to academic excellence, student success, and preparing graduates to lead in their careers and communities.”
