Issue Primers

Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs) are mainly public two-year institutions that serve 6.8% of the entire Black postsecondary student population in the U.S. Since receiving federal recognition in 2008, these institutions have qualified for formula and competitive grants to achieve the mission of serving student populations that have historically been disenfranchised from the U.S. higher education system.

In 2008, Congress formally recognized PBIs as an important subset of the U.S. higher education system when it authorized a program of support for these institutions. It defined PBIs as having:

• At least 1,000 undergraduate students;
• An undergraduate enrollment that is at least 50% low-income or first-generation;
• An undergraduate enrollment that is at least 50% degree-seeking;
• A low expenditure per full-time undergraduate student in comparison with other institutions offering similar instruction; and
• At least 40% of enrolled students identifying as Black Americans.

To be eligible to receive a grant, a PBI must submit data that allows the U.S. Department of Education (ED) to designate it as such. Currently, there is no independent designation of PBIs. Only those institutions awarded grants or that apply to be recognized under the eligibility criteria are included on the official PBI list.

In FY 2022, a total of 71 PBIs were recognized as meeting the general PBI eligibility requirements, meeting the 2022 Title III PBI definition, and/or currently holding an open PBI grant. Of the 71 PBIs, 45 met all three criteria, 22 met at least two, and four met only one eligibility requirement (e.g., the University of Baltimore did not meet general eligibility or Title III PBI definition requirements in 2022, but does currently have an open PBI grant).