UNCF is the nation’s largest and most effective minority education organization. We support 60,000+ students & 37 HBCUs. "A mind is a terrible thing to waste."®UNCF empowers more students more than 50,000 students to get to and through college each year.

Core values

- **Economic Impact**: HBCUs generate $16.5 billion in direct economic impact nationally and create over 136,000 jobs[2][5].
- **Social Mobility**: HBCUs are powerful engines of social mobility, with more than twice as many HBCU students moving from low-income backgrounds to the middle class or higher compared to the national average of four-year institutions[4].
- **Community Benefits**: HBCUs are located in areas where the median wage is below the national average and contribute significantly to local economies, with every dollar spent generating $1.44 in local spending[3][4].
- **Educational Outcomes**: HBCUs have higher graduation rates for African American students, particularly those from low-income families, and are more affordable than comparable non-HBCUs[4].