Dive Brief:

• As selective colleges have increased recruiting for the best black students, historically black colleges such as Howard are struggling.
• The school has seen its credit rating downgraded, its average SAT score drop, and its enrollment fall.
• Wayne A.I. Frederick, the acting president of Howard, is focusing on stronger academic advising to help raise the four-year graduation rate of 42%, as well as the search for new and improved revenue streams, particularly among alumni.

Dive Insight:

Changing demographics are presenting a challenge to historically black universities, too. By 2060, the population under 18 is expected to be 38% Hispanic, 33% white and 15% black. Two historically black colleges in West Virginia are now mostly white and one in Texas is predominantly Hispanic.