Can anybody share their experiences with student debt at HBCUs?

I’m trying to be realistic about college expenses and I’ve heard some things about student debt being different at HBCUs. Does anyone have personal experiences or stats on student debt that they can share for HBCUs specifically?

I totally understand your concerns about student debt, as it’s become a significant part of the college conversation. I have a child currently in college, and we did a fair amount of research into HBCUs when exploring options. Generally, HBCUs can be less expensive than some of the private schools out there, which can be a factor in lessening the potential student debt burden.

However, we noticed that financial aid packages can vary quite a bit from one HBCU to another, so the debt one could graduate with is also quite individual. For example, at some HBCUs, there may be solid scholarship opportunities for high-achieving students, which make a huge difference. But we also found that some graduates could potentially leave with higher debt, especially if they did not have as much access to scholarships or did not qualify for larger federal grants. The key is to apply to a range of HBCUs and carefully compare the financial aid offers they provide, ensuring you understand the breakdown between grants (which don’t have to be repaid) and loans.

Also, look beyond tuition and fees – consider room and board, books, and other living expenses as these can add up. We were very lucky because my child was able to secure a combination of scholarships and work-study to offset costs, aiming to keep debt to a minimum. It’s essential to reach out to the financial aid offices at the HBCUs in question; they can provide figures and possibly even connect you with current students or alumni who can speak about their own experiences with managing debt after graduation.