A List of Historically Black Colleges and Universities That Have Closed
There are many HBCUs that have played a pivotal part in educating black students and paving the way for the 101 institutions that are still in existence. To honor these institutions, we have listed the historically black colleges and universities that are no longer in existence.
Avery College
Though the records are scant, it appears that Avery College suspended operations in 1873, the year of a great nationwide financial panic. Trustees considered selling the school property to the marker University of Western Pennsylvania (University of Pittsburgh), which had reluctantly accepted Avery's donation to assist in educating a handful of African-American students. Nothing came of the negotiations, however, and Avery College never reopened. As late as 1908, the trustees were debating whether to establish a manual training school or a hospital and nursing school facility on the property. Years later the original three-story building was demolished to make way for a new highway project.
Bishop College
Bishop College was founded in Marshall, Texas and later moved to Dallas. It closed its doors in 1988.
Booker T Washington Junior College
Booker T Washington Junior college was the first of twelve black junior colleges created in Florida. It closed in 1965 and merged with Pensacola Junior College.
JT Campbell College
JT Campbell College was located across the street from Jackson College, now Jackson State University. JT Campbell College famously admitted students expelled from Jackson State for participating in the Civil Rights Movement. Then, amidst a failed plan to relocate to Mound Bayou, Mississippi, a black town, it collapsed financially in 1965.
Carver Junior College
Carver Junior College was one of eleven black junior colleges founded in Florida after the Brown vs The Board of Education decision, in an attempt to show that separate but equal higher education facilities existed in Florida. All were abruptly closed after passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
Collier-Blocker Junior College
Collier-Blocker Junior College was a junior college in Palatka, Florida. It opened in 1960 and closed in 1964.
Concordia College - Alabama
Concordia College was a private HBCU in Selma, Alabama that opened in 1922. It was known as "Alabama Lutheran Academy and Junior College" until 1981. It was the only HBCU among the ten colleges and universities in the Concordia University System. The college ceased operations at the completion of the Spring 2018 semester, citing years of financial distress and declining enrollment.
Daniel Payne College
Daniel Payne College was a private HBCU founded in 1889 in Birmingham, Alabama. It closed in 1979.
Friendship College
Friendship College was a private, Baptist HBCU founded in Rock Hill, South Carolina in 1891. It closed in 1981.
George R Smith College
George R Smith College was an HBCU founded in Sedalia, Missouri in 1894. It burned down April 26, 1925. In 1933 its assets were merged with Philander Smith College.
Gibbs Junior College
Gibbs Junior College was founded in 1957. It was founded to show that separate but equal educational institutions for African Americans were viable, and that racial integration, mandated by Brown v. Board of Education, was unnecessary. Gibbs closed shortly after the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It merged with St Petersburg Junior College. Today its St Petersburg College.
Guadalupe College
Guadalupe College was a private HBCU in Seguin, Texas founded in 1884. It ceased operations after a fire destroyed the main building in 1936.
Hampton Junior College
Hampton Junior College was an HBCU founded in Ocala, Florida in 1958. It closed in 1966.
Jackson Junior College
Jackson Junior College was an HBCU founded in Marianna, Florida in 1961. It closed its doors in 1966.
Johnson Junior College
Johnson Junior College was an HBCU founded in 1960 in Leesburg, Florida. It closed in 1966.
Kittrell College
Kittrell College was a private HBCU in Kittrell, North Carolina. It opened in 1886 and closed in 1975.
Leland University
Leland University was a private HBCU in New Orleans, Louisiana. It was founded in 1870 as a grade school. It was a Baker, Louisiana-based Baptist University when it closed in 1960.
Lewis College Of Business
Lewis College of Business was a private HBCU founded as Lewis Business College in 1928 in Detroit, Michigan. It closed in 2013.
Lincoln Junior College
Lincoln Junior College was an HBCU founded in 1966 in Fort Pierce, Florida. It ceased operations in 1966.
Mary Holmes College
Mary Holmes College was a private HBCU founded in 1892 in West Point, Mississippi. It closed in 2005.
Mississippi Industrial College
Mississippi Industrial College was a private HBCU founded in 1905 in Holly Springs, Mississippi. It ceased operations in 1982.
Morristown College
Morristown College was a private HBCU founded in 1881 in Morristown, Tennessee. It was founded as a seminary and normal school. It became Knoxville College's satellite campus in 1989, and closed for good in 1994.
Mount Hermon Female Seminary
Mount Hermon Female Seminary was a private HBCU founded in 1875 in Clinton, Mississippi. It closed in 1924.
Natchez College
Natchez College was a private HBCU founded in Natchez, Mississippi in 1885. It closed in 1993.
Payne College
Payne College was founded in 1879 in Cuthbert, Georgia. On June 5, 1912, it became a part of Morris Brown College.
Roger Williams University
Roger Williams University was a private HBCU founded in 1864 in Nashville, Tennessee. Two suspicious fires destroyed its main building in 1905. It combined with other institutions in 1929 to form Lemoyne-Owen College.
Roosevelt Junior College
Roosevelt Junior College was founded in 1958 in West Palm Beach, Florida. It closed in 1965.
Rosenwald Junior College
Rosenwald Junior College was an HBCU founded in 1958 in Panama City, Florida. It ceased operation in 1966.
Saint Paul’s College
Saint Paul’s College was a private HBCU founded in 1888 in Lawrenceville, Virginia. It was founded as Saint Paul Normal and Industrial School. It closed in June 2013.
Saints College
Saints College originated as Saints Junior College and Academy in Lexington, Mississippi. It closed in 2006.
Southern Christian Institute
Southern Christian Institute was founded in 1908 in Edwards, Mississippi. It merged into Tougaloo College. For a time thereafter its campus, renamed Mt. Beulah, was used by the Delta Ministry, CDGM, and other civil rights organizations
Storer College
Storer College was a private HBCU founded in 1865 in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia in 1865. Its endowment was transferred to Virginia Union, where its alumni have been recognized, and its physical assets were given to Alderson-Broaddus College to create scholarships for black students. Its former campus is now part of the Harpers-Ferry National Historical Park.
Suwannee River Junior College
Suwannee River Junior College was a public HBCU founded in 1959 in Madison, Florida. It ceased operations in 1966.
Volusia County Junior College
Volusia County Junior College was a public junior college founded in 1958 and closed in 1965 in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Western University - Kansas
Western University was a private HBCU in Quindaro, Kansas founded in 1865 and closed in 1943. It was affiliated with the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
