SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
Federal Title III funds remain a critical lifeline for Alabama’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), but recent budget debates in Washington have raised concerns about the future of these programs.
Title III of the Higher Education Act provides grants under several categories, including the Strengthening HBCUs program (Part B) and Historically Black Graduate Institutions (HBGI). According to the U.S. Department of Education, the Strengthening HBCUs program received $400.9 million nationwide in Fiscal Year 2025, with an additional $240.5 million in mandatory funds through the FUTURE Act.
According to the U.S. Department of Education’s FY 2024 HBGI award slate, three Alabama institutions received the following grants:
• Alabama A&M University — $3,123,215
• Alabama State University — $1,933,376
• Tuskegee University (College of Veterinary Medicine) — $3,103,639
(U.S. Department of Education, FY 2024 HBGI Awards)
Both Alabama A&M and Alabama State note that their Title III funds are used to “improve student success through technology and information tools, support faculty and staff development, enhance educational environments, and strengthen physical infrastructure.”
Nationally, advocates warn that reductions to discretionary funds could threaten progress in academic growth, research capacity, and student support. For Alabama’s HBCUs, the stakes are especially high. With smaller endowments than larger universities, these institutions rely on Title III support to remain competitive, expand opportunities, and continue their historic mission of educating generations of Black leaders.
