About HBCU-UP

Historically Black Colleges and Universities – Undergraduate Program (HBCU-UP)

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have awarded a large share of bachelor’s degrees to African American students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), and HBCUs are the baccalaureate origins of one-quarter to one-third of black science and engineering (S&E) doctorate recipients. To meet the Nation’s accelerating demands for STEM talent, more rapid gains in achievement, success and degree production in STEM for underrepresented minority populations are needed.

In 2000, the National Science Foundation (NSF) established the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Under Graduate Program (HBCU-UP) to assist HBCUs in their effort to strengthen science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education and research capacity as a means to broaden participation in the Nation’s STEM workforce.

HBCU-UP provides awards to develop, implement, and study innovative models and approaches for making dramatic improvements in the preparation and success of underrepresented minority students so that they may participate in STEM graduate programs and the workforce. Support is available for Implementation Projects (including Achieving Competitive Excellence), Broadening Participation Research Projects, Targeted Infusion Projects, Planning Grants, Research Initiation Awards, and other funding opportunities.

For complete information about HBCU-UP, please visit the NSF website.