The Biden-Harris Administration has made unprecedented financial commitments to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), exceeding $16 billion in federal funding and investments from Fiscal Years 2021 to 2024. This historic investment is part of a broader initiative to advance racial equity, economic opportunity, and educational excellence.

The funding includes significant allocations across various sectors:

1. American Rescue Plan and COVID Relief: Nearly $4 billion was invested to help HBCUs address the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, supporting students’ basic needs, campus operations, and educational programs.
2. Department of Education: $2.6 billion was directed towards building institutional capacity, enhancing human, technological, and physical infrastructure, and fostering sustainable fund development.
3. Federal Grants and Cooperative Agreements: Over $1.6 billion was allocated to support academic programs, community-based initiatives, and research in critical areas such as public health, climate science, and emerging technologies.
4. Research Capacity and Infrastructure: Nearly $950 million was used to bolster research capabilities and infrastructure, positioning HBCUs to compete more effectively for federal R&D funding.
5. STEM Education: Close to $719 million was granted to expand STEM academic programs and other high-demand fields like nursing and allied health.
6. Federal Contracting Opportunities: Over $150 million in federal contracts were awarded to HBCUs to support research and educational programs in STEM and other fields.
7. Debt Relief: $1.6 billion in capital finance debt relief was provided to 45 HBCUs, enabling them to focus resources on supporting their students and faculty.
8. High Performance Computing Capacity: Funding Appropriated. HBCU HPC Facility TBD

Additionally, the administration has invested over $4 billion to support HBCU students through need-based grants, including Pell Grants, Federal Work-Study, and programs for veterans through the GI Bill.

Several notable programs and initiatives have been launched under this funding umbrella:

• University Affiliated Research Center (UARC): The Department of Defense established the first-ever HBCU-led UARC at Howard University, focusing on autonomous technologies for Air Force missions.
• Connecting-Minority-Communities Program: The Department of Commerce funded 43 HBCUs to bridge the digital divide by improving broadband access and IT infrastructure.
• HBCU CHIPS Network: A collaboration with Georgia Tech to develop workforce skills for the semiconductor industry.
• USDA NextGen Program: A $262.5 million investment to train the next generation of diverse agricultural professionals.
• HBCU Clean Energy Education Prize: A $7.75 million competition supporting clean energy education at HBCUs.
• HBCU High Performance Capacity for Research:

These investments reflect the administration’s commitment to supporting HBCUs as vital engines of upward economic mobility and educational excellence, recognizing their historic and ongoing contributions to the nation’s leadership and innovation in various fields​ (The White House)​​ (HBCU Buzz)​​ (Black Enterprise)​​ (Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder)​​(HBCU News)​.