As a hopeful sign of change, recent trends show that Black students are enrolling in medical school at a record rates, with enrollment rising 21.0% from the 2020-21 school year. The fall 2021 freshman class marks the largest and most diverse first-year medical school class than ever before (AAMC).  

HBCUs have long played a significant role in diversifying the healthcare workforce. Here are few facts about how HBCUs have impacted healthcare worker diversity since their inception.

The HBCU Medical School Effect

“The HBCU Medical School Effect,” coined by several researchers, explains how these institutions have helped increase the rate of Black board members, staff, faculty, and students at medical schools. For example, a study reported that despite HBCUs representing 3% of degree-granting institutions, they represented 17% of schools with the most African American medical students in 2013. Xavier University and Howard University students accounted for 92% of African American medical school graduates that same year (HBCUs and the Production of Doctors). Additionally, HBCUs have produced 70% of all African-American physicians and doctors.

An HBCU previously produced more African American medical school applicants than two PWIs combined.

HBCUs’ impact on America’s diverse workforce can be traced through the successful applicant rates of African American medical students. For example, in 2000, Xavier University’s School of Medicine as an individual HBCU attained more successful African American medical school applicants than two PWIs combined. According to the HBCU Alumnicle, Xavier University gain an applicant pool of 94 students, which was more than Johns Hopkins (20), Harvard (37), and the University of Maryland (24) combined.