It’s that time of year again! It’s time to gather round and see which school gets to bring home the bragging rights because the 2022-2023 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges list has been published and we’re announcing the top five Historically Black Colleges and Universities

For these rankings, HBCUs were solely compared with one another and to be included, an institution must presently be designated by the U.S. Department of Education as an HBCU. An HBCU is defined by the Higher Education Act of 1965  as “any historically Black college or university that was established prior to 1964, whose principal mission was, and is, the education of Black Americans, and that is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association determined by the Secretary (of Education) to be a reliable authority as to the quality of training offered or is, according to such an agency or association, making reasonable progress toward accreditation.”

To be considered for the U.S. News rankings, an HBCU is also required to be an undergraduate baccalaureate-granting institution enrolling primarily first-year, first-time students and must also be a school that is part of the 2022-2023 Best Colleges rankings.

With over 100 HBCUs all across the United States today, 77 of which were eligible to be ranked, they are deemed pillars of the community, primarily among minorities.  The colleges highlighted on the list exhibit the leaders relating to the social and economic mobility they make available to their students. With low student-to-faculty ratios, they have higher than standard graduation rates.

Check out who topped the list below.