The 2027 U.S. News HBCU rankings were released Tuesday, with Spelman College holding the No. 1 position for the 20th straight year. The result extends the Atlanta institution’s run at the top of the rankings and places its long-standing position at the center of this year’s announcement.
The rankings also brought a change among public historically Black colleges and universities. North Carolina A&T ended Florida A&M’s seven-year reign as the top public HBCU, marking a shift in that portion of the rankings.
Together, the results highlight two different developments in the 2027 list: Spelman’s continued hold on the overall No. 1 spot and North Carolina A&T’s rise to the top among public HBCUs. Florida A&M’s seven-year run in that category has come to an end.
Rankings can shape how institutions are discussed by prospective students, alumni and the broader HBCU community. In this case, the announcement places Spelman’s 20-year run alongside a change in the public HBCU ranking, giving readers two notable outcomes to consider from the latest U.S. News release.
Spelman’s position remains unchanged at No. 1, while North Carolina A&T takes the top public HBCU spot from Florida A&M. The summary does not provide additional details about the criteria behind the rankings or the institutions’ individual results beyond those placements and streaks.
The 2027 rankings therefore offer a snapshot of continuity and change within the HBCU landscape. Spelman’s extended run represents continuity at the top, while North Carolina A&T’s new standing among public HBCUs represents a change from the previous seven-year period.
Why this matters: The rankings bring visibility to HBCU institutions and their positions in a national list. Spelman’s continued No. 1 standing and North Carolina A&T’s new position as the top public HBCU give the HBCU community two developments to follow while recognizing the end of Florida A&M’s seven-year reign in that category.