The HBCU Tradition Began At Cheyney University in Pennsylvania

Thanks to Deion Sanders and generations of graduates, Historically Black Colleges and Universities are having a moment.

The doors of the first HBCUs opened in Pennsylvania and Ohio before the Civil War started. Racial discrimination prevented free Blacks from attending established institutions of higher learning. 

The Institute for Colored Youth (named the African Institute for a short time) began on a farm near Philadelphia in 1837. Today it is Cheyney University of Pennsylvania. 

In October the University reported a 10% increase in its enrollment over the previous year. The Pennsylvania-owned university is considered a blueprint for struggling colleges. Several years ago there was talk of shuttering the historic university because of declining enrollment and a reported $19 million deficit.

But in 2017 former corporate executive Aaron Walter was hired as president and a successful turnaround began.