For the second consecutive year, Florida A&M University (FAMU) has been ranked the No. 1 Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in the nation by Niche in its 2027 Best HBCU Schools in America rankings.
FAMU earned the highest ranking among 73 HBCUs evaluated by Niche, receiving an overall grade of A-. Niche’s rankings are based on an analysis of academic, admissions, financial and student life data from the U.S. Department of Education, as well as millions of reviews and survey responses from students and alumni. The platform evaluates more than 1,000 colleges and universities nationwide.
“Being named the nation’s No. 1 public HBCU by Niche for the second consecutive year affirms what we have always known: FAMU is distinctive,” said President Marva B. Johnson, J.D. “This ranking carries particular weight for us because Niche’s methodology is built on the voices of students themselves – and that is exactly where FAMU places its focus, first and always. Our students experience a university where academic excellence, opportunity, tradition, and community converge – not by accident, but by design.”
According to Niche’s student surveys, FAMU is recognized for its vibrant and supportive campus community, strong sense of pride and tradition, and rich cultural heritage. Students also highlighted the university’s family-like environment, where mentorship, leadership development and social consciousness complement academic rigor.
FAMU’s A- overall grade reflects strong performance across several key categories:
- Student Life: A — Recognizing a vibrant and engaging campus culture, including student organizations, athletics and campus safety initiatives.
- Academics: A- — Reflecting factors including acceptance rates, professor quality and student and alumni assessments of academics.
- Professors: A- — Based on faculty recognition, student-faculty ratios and student assessments of professor quality.
- Housing: B — Improving from a B- last year, reflecting recent residence hall construction and expansion efforts.
“The students have spoken, and this recognition affirms the strength of the FAMU experience from their perspective,” said Vice President for Student Affairs William Hudson, Jr., Ph.D. “We are proud to be recognized as the nation’s No. 1 HBCU, but we see this distinction as both an honor and a responsibility. We will continue listening to our students, investing in their experience and working every day to exceed their expectations. Their success and satisfaction remain at the heart of everything we do.”
