Alabama A&M University has seen a significant increase in applications and admissions for first-time students.
According to the university’s website, it admitted nearly 10,000 students for the fall semester of 2023, breaking a school record. In 2019, Alabama A&M enrolled 9,039 students. That year, the university received over 15,000 applications for undergraduate programs, an increase of 30 percent and admitting 9,757 first-time students.
“This growth is no coincidence,” says Dr. Braque Talley, Vice President of Student Affairs, said. “A&M appeals to students from all backgrounds and offers a rich living and learning experience. I am proud that we are taking this message to more students and families.”
The university follows a long line of Black education resistance. The Morrill Act of 1862—named for Vermont Senator Justin S. Morrill—allowed educators to establish learning spaces through land grants for agricultural and mechanical education. Despite the provision of financial resources, it is widely believed that many progressive whites wanted blacks to work with their hands. For this reason, most of the historically black colleges in the South are A&M colleges.
Alabama A&M opened in 1875 as the Huntsville Normal School. The school began with two teachers and 61 students, with ex-slave William Hooper Councill serving as principal. The university went through two more name changes before becoming Alabama A&M University in 1969.
Alongside the record-breaking first-time freshmanthe university has also seen an increase in transfer students.
“These numbers demonstrate the strength of our programs and the value students see in earning an education here on the Hill,” said Dwayne Green, Director of Admissions.
In other news about historically black colleges and universities, there was a shortage of men at HBCUs. The Washington Post reported that only 1 in 3 undergraduate students are men. For example, Howard University has enlisted more than 3,000 students since 2016, but only 1 in 6 were men, according to The Washington Post.
RELATED CONTENT: Fisk University records record enrollment for the new school year