50 Best colleges for African Americans: the right college environment can make or break an experience. Here's how to make sure students choose the school that's best for them. (Special Report).

TIMES MAY HAVE CHANGED, BUT ONE THING HAS REMAINED constant: Each year, thousands of African American teens and parents will sit down to make the big decision about which college to attend. Typically, families base their choices on several factors: overall cost, financial aid package, location, and the school's academic reputation. For some students, the decision is clear-cut. Yet, families often overlook another essential factor--whether a school is the right fit for the student.

So how do you know which college is best? What qualities should you look for? This article will answer those questions. We've provided help from experts and notable alums of some of the schools that made this year's list of BLACK ENTERPRISE'S Top 50 Colleges for African Americans. We polled graduates of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), as well as those who attended predominantly white institutions to get their take on what makes a school the right one. These alumni, who hail from a wide variety of schools and careers (such as publishing, entertainment, education, and technology), also provide practical advice for students. The idea behind this story is that with the benefit of hindsight and foresight, students will have a broad range of issues to consider beyond cost.

As in the past, this year's list of Top 50 Colleges for African Americans offers a wealth of choices, and we provide tools and information to help families weigh their options. (Be sure to log on to www.blackenterprise .com for additional information, and visit our virtual college campus for tips on saving for college, scholarship information, and more.) This year, the list is more essential than ever. According to Minorities in Higher Education 2001-02: Nineteenth Annual Status Report by the American Council on Education, enrollment of students of color at the nation's colleges and universities rose 48% between 1990 and 1999, with African Americans making up nearly 11% of all college students. Despite this, black students still lag behind their white counterparts in degree attainment. The issue, then, is not simply a matter of being accepted and going to college but also about making sure the school meets the particular needs of a student.

FINDING A FIT

For high school students, the prospect of leaving the nest to fend for themselves is, well, scary. New cities, new people, and new experiences can be overwhelming. Before deciding on a school, it's a good idea to make sure a student knows which kind of environment is best for him or her. While the allure of a large university may be strong because of its name, it might not be the best for a student who flourishes in a small environment. Likewise, a small, suburban college might not be the best fit for a student who is more comfortable in the city. "Different colleges are like different communities," says Carol T. Christ, president of Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts. "It's important for the student to know himself and for parents to know their kid and understand the kind of environment in which he will thrive."

In addition to matching the environment to the student, Christ says it's a good idea for African American students concerned about diversity to look at the ethnic composition of the student body. "Look for extracurricular activities that focus on the students and that provide a way [for students] to meet other African American [peers]," she adds.

Filmmaker Spike Lee (Morehouse, '79) adds that overall diversity is especially important on predominantly white campuses. "Look at the diversity of the faculty, students, and administration. Look at the alumni. Who are the people that the school produces? This is a diverse world, and it's a better learning environment when you have people from every walk of life. It's just a better learning experience."

Bruce Spiva (Yale University, '88) agrees, noting that the diversity shouldn't be just racial. A partner at the law firm Jenner & Block, Spiva says, "Look for a place where there is not just racial diversity but also socioeconomic diversity. That's important because who you interact with can be an educational experience in itself."

But, Pamela K. Johnson (Stanford University, '82), co-editor of Tender-headed (Pocket Books; $25.95), says that often, socioeconomic diversity can be intimidating. "Stanford was a beautiful campus, and there are lots of opportunities. But at the same time, I was aware not only of race but also of class in a way that I was not before. There were a lot of students whose fathers were ambassadors, neurosurgeons, and Texas oil men--people who were running the country, and for a gift coming from a lower middle class neighborhood [Carson, California], it was off-putting at times." However, Johnson, 42, adds, there are great benefits to attending a top-name university such as Stanford. "It was highly challenging; it's a great place to sharpen your edge intellectually, and there is a strong sense of competition. But I was in a funk at times there. As much as I thought Stanford presented me with a lot of opportunity, I felt that the pie had already been carved up." Still, she adds, "Stanford seems to be a nice name to wave around."

While some alumni opted for mainstream institutions, others, like Keshia Knight Pulliam (Spelman College, '01) and Creative Artists Agency Foundation Program Director Michelynn "Miki" Woodard (Hampton University, '93) tout the wealth of their experiences at HBCUs. "I came out a much stronger person, and educationally, I got a solid foundation," says The Cosby Show alum. "If you ask me, you can't help but being pro-black and pro-feminist after going to Spelman." Pulliam, 23, says she took advantage of the "whole college experience," including pledging.

Besides Hampton University's strong academic reputation, Woodard, 31, says it was important for her to be immersed in African American culture after living in environments as varied as London and Puerto Rico. "I had not had the opportunity to have more than one or two [African Americans] in my classes; I wanted to find out what it was like to be with people who looked like me. Plus, Hampton fit my personality," she adds.

For Woodard, the pull was even stronger because her parents are Hampton University alumni. No pressure there. Adds her mother, Suzanne Woodard (Hampton University, '70), a homemaker, "We encouraged the kids to go to Hampton." Her husband, Thurmond Woodard (Hampton University, '70), Dell Computer Corp.'s vice president of global diversity in Austin, Texas, says laughing, "We told Miki, `You can choose whatever school you want, but the check is going to Hampton.'" For Suzanne, 52, it was also important to make that connection with other African Americans in a supportive environment. Thurmond, 53, continues, "There's a value in going to an HBCU. You're going to experience culture that you've not experienced before and you're going to learn history that you did not learn previously."

Like Woodard, William Moss III (Hampton University, '95) has a long history of family attending and graduating from HBCUs. But Moss, 29, says the deciding factor in choosing Hampton was that it provided the best program for his major, computer science. "It's more important than before that students know what they want to pursue. If you have that focus in the beginning, you can figure out where you're going to land."

Mark Whittaker (Harvard College, '79), editor of Newsweek magazine, says he understands the appeal of HBCUs for African American students. "That's the environment in which they will flourish," he says. But he adds that it's just as important to interact with people from a variety of backgrounds because it's preparation for the larger world. Part of finding a "fit" at mainstream schools, he says, involves making connections with not only other students but also with African American faculty. "Look at the number of African American faculty on staff. Seek them out and try to build relationships," he says. "One of the great things about going to a school like Harvard is the contacts you make; take advantage of that."

PAY THEM A VISIT

One often-overlooked method of judging whether a college is the right fit is the campus visit. Our experts cite this as essential in making the decision about where to go to school. "When I was 7, my father took me and my brother to visit family in the D.C. area, and he took us to Howard. I remember getting out of the VW Beetle and just being amazed. I was being taken aback by college students who looked like my family and me," says Lisa Edmiston (Howard University, '87). That visit sealed her decision.

"If a family can afford it, they should take a trip to visit campuses," says Christ. "This is really useful because they can feel immediately whether or not they want to be on a campus." Syndicated radio host and HBCU supporter Tom Joyner (Tuskegee University, '70) adds: "When kids go on the tour and get a taste of what an HBCU is like, I think most of them decide then and there."

Pulliam agrees. "Visit the colleges if you can. A lot of times things look good on paper, but you'll need to visit the campus and get that feeling." She got "that feeling" when The Cosby Show filmed on the Spelman campus. "I was old enough to realize the magnitude of the school. Later, I decided that this was where I needed to be--in a school that is dedicated to developing a holistic African American woman."

Interior designer Sheila Bridges (Brown University, '86) agrees that a visit to the college or university is essential in the decision-making process. "I arrived on Brown's campus and immediately said, `This is where I want to go.' It was a very intuitive decision. It was a place that I felt wholly and completely comfortable. It's one of those things that proves the power of trusting your own intuition and trusting your own guts," says the host of the TV show Sheila Bridges: Designer Living and author of Furnishing Forward (Little Brown & Co., $40). "I couldn't have made a better decision."

MAKING CONNECTIONS

One key thing to look for, adds Pulliam, is class size. "At Spelman, there weren't big stadium-size classes where you're just a number. A small, intimate learning environment is really beneficial." Pulliam adds that she was also able to take advantage of resources and attend classes at other HBCUs such as Morehouse College and Clark Atlanta University.

Whatever school you attend, make sure to step outside your comfort zone and interact with people unlike yourself, adds Spiva. "It's important to come out of your cocoon. It might be comfortable, but it's also limiting," he says. And Whittaker agrees, "When I went to Harvard, some oP the black kids sat at the "black" table for four years. It's a shame to go to a place like Harvard for four years and not take advantage of the environment."

Johnson says that the beauty of attending a school like Stanford is that it affords the opportunity to interact with other African Americans at different socioeconomic levels as well. She recalls one incident in which star quarterback John Elway arrived on campus driving a shiny sports car: "It wasn't just white kids who were wealthy," she says, "I had a black classmate who was driving a car of equal caliber. That just blew me away."

But Bridges, who designed former President Bill Clinton's office in Harlem, adds that the differences she saw at the predominantly white Brown University, helped prepare her for the real world. "For me, part of the reason to choose a school like Brown rather than a traditionally black institution was that this is real life. This is what I'm going to have to deal with on a daily basis for the rest of my life," she says. "There's no question that it's a predominantly white school, but there was a very strong sense of community among blacks on campus."

Whittaker admits that for many African American students, the idea of attending a predominantly white school can be intimidating--because of its reputation and perceived expense. "There are students, particularly students of color, who might be able to get in and don't apply because they don't think they're going to get in--that the bar is too high," he says. But Whittaker points out that a big reason he went to Harvard University (besides the high academic standards) was that the school offered him a generous financial aid package. And Christ adds, "It's important not to look at the sticker price but the amount the family is going to pay. It's really about going to the very best college the student aspires to attend."

Top Colleges & Universities For African Americans | 1-25

2003    2001    Colleges & Universities
Rank    Rank    City/State

 1       1      Morehouse College, Atlanta, Ga.
 2       4      Hampton University, Hampton, Va.
 3       2      Spelman College, Atlanta, Ga.
 4       5      Howard University, Washington, D.C.
 5       6      Xavier University, New Orleans, La.
 6       3      Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, Fla.
 7       7      Stanford University, Stanford, Calif.
 8       10     Columbia University, New York, N.Y.
 9       9      Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
 10      8      Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, Ga.
 11      19     Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.
 12      16     Duke University, Durham, N.C.
 13      32     Berea College, Berea, Ky.
 14      24     Williams College, Williamstown, Mass.
 15      14     Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, N.C.
 16      11     Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH
 17      12     Emory University, Atlanta, Ga.
 18      17     Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn.
 19      13     N.C. A&T State University, Tuskeegee, Ala.
 20      33     University of Maryland, College Park, Md.
 21      15     Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, Ala.
 22      22     Fisk University, Nashville, Tenn.
 23      28     University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa.
 24      31     George Washington Univ., Washington, D.C.
 25      45     Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y.
 26      35     Wellesley College, Wellesley, Mass.
 27      44     University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich.
 28      27     University of Southern Calif., Los Angeles
 29      42     Mount Holyoke College, S. Hadley, Mass.
 30      20     Amherst College, Amherst Mass.
 31      -      Wake Forest Univ., Winston-Salem, N.C.
 32      39     New York University, New York, N.Y.
 33      18     Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pa.
 34      23     Florida State University, Tallahassee, Fla.
 35      26     Morgan State University, Baltimore, Md.
 36      25     Johnson C. Smith University, Charlotte, N.C.
 37      36     Southern Univ./A&M College, Baton Bouge, La.
 38      29     John Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md.
 39      21     Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
 40      40     Yale University, New Haven, Conn.
 41      37     Temple University, Philadelphia, Pa.
 42      50     Brown University, Providence, R.I.
 43      41     Dillard University, New Orleans, La.
 44      30     Tennessee State University, Nashville, Tenn.
 45      -      Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
 46      -      Florida International Univ., Miami, Fla.
 47      -      California State Univ. Los Angeles
 48      34     Bethune-Cookman College, Daytona Beach, Fla.
 49      49     Mass. Inst. of Technology, Cambridge, Mass.
 50      46     University of California, Los Angeles

2003    Colleges & Universities                           Admission
Rank    City/State                                       Phone Number

 1      Morehouse College, Atlanta, Ga.                  800-851-1254
 2      Hampton University, Hampton, Va.                 800-624-3328
 3      Spelman College, Atlanta, Ga.                    800-982-2411
 4      Howard University, Washington, D.C.              800-822-6363
 5      Xavier University, New Orleans, La.              504-483-7388
 6      Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, Fla.        850-599-3796
 7      Stanford University, Stanford, Calif.            650-723-2091
 8      Columbia University, New York, N.Y.              212-854-2522
 9      Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.          202-687-3600
 10     Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, Ga.           800-688-3228
 11     Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.             617-495-1551
 12     Duke University, Durham, N.C.                    919-684-3214
 13     Berea College, Berea, Ky.                        800-326-5948
 14     Williams College, Williamstown, Mass.            412-597-2211
 15     Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, N.C.       919-966-3621
 16     Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH                     800-622-0BIE
 17     Emory University, Atlanta, Ga.                   800-727-6036
 18     Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn.           860-685-3000
 19     N.C. A&T State University, Tuskeegee, Ala.       800-443-8964
 20     University of Maryland, College Park, Md.        800-422-5867
 21     Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, Ala.              800-622-6531
 22     Fisk University, Nashville, Tenn.                800-443-3475
 23     University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa.    215-898-7507
 24     George Washington Univ., Washington, D.C.        800-447-3705
 25     Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y.                 607-255-5241
 26     Wellesley College, Wellesley, Mass.              781-283-2270
 27     University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich.         734-764-7433
 28     University of Southern Calif., Los Angeles       213-740-2311
 29     Mount Holyoke College, S. Hadley, Mass.          413-538-2023
 30     Amherst College, Amherst Mass.                   413-542-2328
 31     Wake Forest Univ., Winston-Salem, N.C.           336-758-5201
 32     New York University, New York, N.Y.              212-998-4500
 33     Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pa.              800-667-3110
 34     Florida State University, Tallahassee, Fla.      850-644-6200
 35     Morgan State University, Baltimore, Md.          443-885-3000
 36     Johnson C. Smith University, Charlotte, N.C.     800-782-7303
 37     Southern Univ./A&M College, Baton Bouge, La.     225-771-2430
 38     John Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md.          410-516-8171
 39     Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, N.Y.               800-827-7270
 40     Yale University, New Haven, Conn.                203-432-9300
 41     Temple University, Philadelphia, Pa.             888-340-2222
 42     Brown University, Providence, R.I.               401-863-2378
 43     Dillard University, New Orleans, La.             800-216-6637
 44     Tennessee State University, Nashville, Tenn.     615-963-5101
 45     Ohio State University, Columbus, OH              614-292-6446
 46     Florida International Univ., Miami, Fla.         305-348-2000
 47     California State Univ. Los Angeles               323-343-3000
 48     Bethune-Cookman College, Daytona Beach, Fla.     800-448-0200
 49     Mass. Inst. of Technology, Cambridge, Mass.      617-253-4791
 50     University of California, Los Angeles            310-825-3101

                                                           Academic
2003    Colleges & Universities                             Survey
Rank    City/State                                          Score

 1      Morehouse College, Atlanta, Ga.                      3.63
 2      Hampton University, Hampton, Va.                     3.63
 3      Spelman College, Atlanta, Ga.                        3.53
 4      Howard University, Washington, D.C.                  3.60
 5      Xavier University, New Orleans, La.                  3.70
 6      Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, Fla.            3.43
 7      Stanford University, Stanford, Calif.                3.43
 8      Columbia University, New York, N.Y.                  3.49
 9      Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.              3.49
 10     Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, Ga.               3.01
 11     Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.                 3.72
 12     Duke University, Durham, N.C.                        3.43
 13     Berea College, Berea, Ky.                            3.43
 14     Williams College, Williamstown, Mass.                3.70
 15     Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, N.C.           3.31
 16     Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH                         2.88
 17     Emory University, Atlanta, Ga.                       3.20
 18     Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn.               3.34
 19     N.C. A&T State University, Tuskeegee, Ala.           3.16
 20     University of Maryland, College Park, Md.            3.60
 21     Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, Ala.                  3.43
 22     Fisk University, Nashville, Tenn.                    3.28
 23     University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa.        3.55
 24     George Washington Univ., Washington, D.C.            3.36
 25     Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y.                     3.68
 26     Wellesley College, Wellesley, Mass.                  3.85
 27     University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich.             3.60
 28     University of Southern Calif., Los Angeles           3.20
 29     Mount Holyoke College, S. Hadley, Mass.              3.43
 30     Amherst College, Amherst Mass.                       3.30
 31     Wake Forest Univ., Winston-Salem, N.C.               3.66
 32     New York University, New York, N.Y.                  3.36
 33     Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pa.                  2.67
 34     Florida State University, Tallahassee, Fla.          2.74
 35     Morgan State University, Baltimore, Md.              2.95
 36     Johnson C. Smith University, Charlotte, N.C.         2.88
 37     Southern Univ./A&M College, Baton Bouge, La.         3.22
 38     John Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md.              3.39
 39     Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, N.Y.                   3.08
 40     Yale University, New Haven, Conn.                    3.68
 41     Temple University, Philadelphia, Pa.                 2.77
 42     Brown University, Providence, R.I.                   3.55
 43     Dillard University, New Orleans, La.                 3.22
 44     Tennessee State University, Nashville, Tenn.         3.01
 45     Ohio State University, Columbus, OH                  3.47
 46     Florida International Univ., Miami, Fla.             2.71
 47     California State Univ. Los Angeles                   2.69
 48     Bethune-Cookman College, Daytona Beach, Fla.         2.74
 49     Mass. Inst. of Technology, Cambridge, Mass.          3.64
 50     University of California, Los Angeles                3.20

                                                            Social
2003    Colleges & Universities                             Survey
Rank    City/State                                          Score

 1      Morehouse College, Atlanta, Ga.                      3.52
 2      Hampton University, Hampton, Va.                     3.63
 3      Spelman College, Atlanta, Ga.                        3.49
 4      Howard University, Washington, D.C.                  3.43
 5      Xavier University, New Orleans, La.                  3.29
 6      Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, Fla.            3.45
 7      Stanford University, Stanford, Calif.                3.08
 8      Columbia University, New York, N.Y.                  3.08
 9      Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.              2.98
 10     Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, Ga.               3.29
 11     Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.                 3.00
 12     Duke University, Durham, N.C.                        3.20
 13     Berea College, Berea, Ky.                            4.11
 14     Williams College, Williamstown, Mass.                3.25
 15     Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, N.C.           3.08
 16     Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH                         3.34
 17     Emory University, Atlanta, Ga.                       2.95
 18     Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn.               3.02
 19     N.C. A&T State University, Tuskeegee, Ala.           3.01
 20     University of Maryland, College Park, Md.            3.48
 21     Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, Ala.                  2.53
 22     Fisk University, Nashville, Tenn.                    3.08
 23     University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa.        2.90
 24     George Washington Univ., Washington, D.C.            3.08
 25     Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y.                     3.43
 26     Wellesley College, Wellesley, Mass.                  2.57
 27     University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich.             3.42
 28     University of Southern Calif., Los Angeles           2.86
 29     Mount Holyoke College, S. Hadley, Mass.              3.43
 30     Amherst College, Amherst Mass.                       2.26
 31     Wake Forest Univ., Winston-Salem, N.C.               3.52
 32     New York University, New York, N.Y.                  3.18
 33     Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pa.                  2.83
 34     Florida State University, Tallahassee, Fla.          2.95
 35     Morgan State University, Baltimore, Md.              2.79
 36     Johnson C. Smith University, Charlotte, N.C.         2.81
 37     Southern Univ./A&M College, Baton Bouge, La.         3.01
 38     John Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md.              2.36
 39     Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, N.Y.                   2.26
 40     Yale University, New Haven, Conn.                    2.48
 41     Temple University, Philadelphia, Pa.                 3.46
 42     Brown University, Providence, R.I.                   3.21
 43     Dillard University, New Orleans, La.                 3.08
 44     Tennessee State University, Nashville, Tenn.         2.67
 45     Ohio State University, Columbus, OH                  3.17
 46     Florida International Univ., Miami, Fla.             4.11
 47     California State Univ. Los Angeles                   4.12
 48     Bethune-Cookman College, Daytona Beach, Fla.         3.01
 49     Mass. Inst. of Technology, Cambridge, Mass.          2.62
 50     University of California, Los Angeles                3.08

2003    Colleges & Universities                            Web
Rank    City/State                                       Address

 1      Morehouse College, Atlanta, Ga.            www.morehouse.edu
 2      Hampton University, Hampton, Va.           www.hamptonu.edu
 3      Spelman College, Atlanta, Ga.              www.spelman.edu
 4      Howard University, Washington, D.C.        www.howard.edu
 5      Xavier University, New Orleans, La.        www.xula.edu
 6      Florida A&M University, Tallahassee,       www.famu.deu
        Fla.
 7      Stanford University, Stanford, Calif.      www.stanford.edu
 8      Columbia University, New York, N.Y.        www.columbia.edu
 9      Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.    www.georgetown.edu
 10     Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, Ga.     www.cau.edu
 11     Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.       www.fas.harvard.edu
 12     Duke University, Durham, N.C.              www.duke.edu
 13     Berea College, Berea, Ky.                  www.berea.edu
 14     Williams College, Williamstown, Mass.      www.williams.edu
 15     Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill,      www.unc.edu
        N.C.
 16     Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH               www.oberlin.edu
 17     Emory University, Atlanta, Ga.             www.emory.edu
 18     Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn.     www.wesleyan.edu
 19     N.C. A&T State University, Tuskeegee,      www.ncat.edu
        Ala.
 20     University of Maryland, College Park,      www.maryland.edu
        Md.
 21     Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, Ala.        tusk.edu
 22     Fisk University, Nashville, Tenn.          fisk.edu
 23     University of Pennsylvania,                www.upenn.edu
        Philadelphia, Pa.
 24     George Washington Univ., Washington,       www.gwu.edu
        D.C.
 25     Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y.           www.cornell.edu
 26     Wellesley College, Wellesley, Mass.        www.wellesley.edu
 27     University of Michigan, Ann Arbor,         www.umich.edu
        Mich.
 28     University of Southern Calif., Los         www.usc.edu
        Angeles
 29     Mount Holyoke College, S. Hadley, Mass.    www.mtholyoke.edu
 30     Amherst College, Amherst Mass.             www.amherst.edu
 31     Wake Forest Univ., Winston-Salem, N.C.     www.wfu.edu
 32     New York University, New York, N.Y.        www.nyu.edu
 33     Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pa.        www.swarthmore.edu
 34     Florida State University, Tallahassee,     www.admissions.
        Fla.                                       fsu.edu
 35     Morgan State University, Baltimore, Md.    www.morgan.edu
 36     Johnson C. Smith University,               www.jcsu.edu
        Charlotte, N.C.
 37     Southern Univ./A&M College, Baton          www.subr.edu
        Bouge, La.
 38     John Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md.    www.jhu.edu
 39     Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, N.Y.         www.vassar.edu
 40     Yale University, New Haven, Conn.          www.yale.edu
 41     Temple University, Philadelphia, Pa.       www.temple.edu
 42     Brown University, Providence, R.I.         www.brown.edu
 43     Dillard University, New Orleans, La.       www.diliard.edu
 44     Tennessee State University, Nashville,     www.tnstate.edu
        Tenn.
 45     Ohio State University, Columbus, OH        www.osu.edu
 46     Florida International Univ., Miami,        www.fiu.edu
        Fla.
 47     California State Univ. Los Angeles         www.calstatela.edu
 48     Bethune-Cookman College, Daytona           www.bethune.
        Beach, Fla.                                cookman.edu
 49     Mass. Inst. of Technology, Cambridge,      www.web.mit.edu
        Mass.
 50     University of California, Los Angeles      www.ucla.edu

2003    Colleges & Universities                             Total
Rank    City/State                                        Enrollment

 1      Morehouse College, Atlanta, Ga.                      2,729
 2      Hampton University, Hampton, Va.                     4,953
 3      Spelman College, Atlanta, Ga.                        1,899
 4      Howard University, Washington, D.C.                  6,099
 5      Xavier University, New Orleans, La.                  3,096
 6      Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, Fla.           10,691
 7      Stanford University, Stanford, Calif.                7,279
 8      Columbia University, New York, N.Y.                  4,092
 9      Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.              6,422
 10     Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, Ga.               3,740
 11     Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.                 6,658
 12     Duke University, Durham, N.C.                        6,071
 13     Berea College, Berea, Ky.                            1,674
 14     Williams College, Williamstown, Mass.                1,997
 15     Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, N.C.          15,844
 16     Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH                         2,840
 17     Emory University, Atlanta, Ga.                       6,274
 18     Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn.               2,792
 19     N.C. A&T State University, Tuskeegee, Ala.           6,850
 20     University of Maryland, College Park, Md.           24,638
 21     Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, Ala.                  2,540
 22     Fisk University, Nashville, Tenn.                      812
 23     University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa.        9,730
 24     George Washington Univ., Washington, D.C.           10,063
 25     Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y.                    13,801
 26     Wellesley College, Wellesley, Mass.                  2,273
 27     University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich.            24,547
 28     University of Southern Calif., Los Angeles          16,020
 29     Mount Holyoke College, S. Hadley, Mass.              2,037
 30     Amherst College, Amherst Mass.                       1,631
 31     Wake Forest Univ., Winston-Salem, N.C.               3,992
 32     New York University, New York, N.Y.                 18,714
 33     Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pa.                  1,467
 34     Florida State University, Tallahassee, Fla.         28,231
 35     Morgan State University, Baltimore, Md.              5,358
 36     Johnson C. Smith University, Charlotte, N.C.         1,283
 37     Southern Univ./A&M College, Baton Bouge, La.         7,472
 38     John Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md.              3,961
 39     Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, N.Y.                   2,439
 40     Yale University, New Haven, Conn.                    5,286
 41     Temple University, Philadelphia, Pa.                19,606
 42     Brown University, Providence, R.I.                   5,999
 43     Dillard University, New Orleans, La.                 1,792
 44     Tennessee State University, Nashville, Tenn.         6,125
 45     Ohio State University, Columbus, OH                 36,049
 46     Florida International Univ., Miami, Fla.            13,942
 47     California State Univ. Los Angeles                  13,898
 48     Bethune-Cookman College, Daytona Beach, Fla.         2,357
 49     Mass. Inst. of Technology, Cambridge, Mass.          4,220
 50     University of California, Los Angeles               25,011

                                                           African
2003    Colleges & Universities                            American
Rank    City/State                                        Enrollment

 1      Morehouse College, Atlanta, Ga.                      2,633
 2      Hampton University, Hampton, Va.                     4,161
 3      Spelman College, Atlanta, Ga.                        1,833
 4      Howard University, Washington, D.C.                  6,008
 5      Xavier University, New Orleans, La.                  2,904
 6      Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, Fla.           10,167
 7      Stanford University, Stanford, Calif.                  621
 8      Columbia University, New York, N.Y.                    391
 9      Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.                376
 10     Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, Ga.               3,733
 11     Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.                   526
 12     Duke University, Durham, N.C.                          498
 13     Berea College, Berea, Ky.                              199
 14     Williams College, Williamstown, Mass.                  133
 15     Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, N.C.           1,743
 16     Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH                           207
 17     Emory University, Atlanta, Ga.                         753
 18     Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn.                 265
 19     N.C. A&T State University, Tuskeegee, Ala.           6,610
 20     University of Maryland, College Park, Md.            3,942
 21     Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, Ala.                  2,462
 22     Fisk University, Nashville, Tenn.                      804
 23     University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa.          523
 24     George Washington Univ., Washington, D.C.              599
 25     Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y.                       607
 26     Wellesley College, Wellesley, Mass.                  1,614
 27     University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich.             1,954
 28     University of Southern Calif., Los Angeles             953
 29     Mount Holyoke College, S. Hadley, Mass.                103
 30     Amherst College, Amherst Mass.                         102
 31     Wake Forest Univ., Winston-Salem, N.C.                 359
 32     New York University, New York, N.Y.                  1,117
 33     Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pa.                    130
 34     Florida State University, Tallahassee, Fla.          3,515
 35     Morgan State University, Baltimore, Md.              4,972
 36     Johnson C. Smith University, Charlotte, N.C.         1,282
 37     Southern Univ./A&M College, Baton Bouge, La.         6,949
 38     John Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md.                234
 39     Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, N.Y.                     121
 40     Yale University, New Haven, Conn.                      380
 41     Temple University, Philadelphia, Pa.                 5,254
 42     Brown University, Providence, R.I.                   3,695
 43     Dillard University, New Orleans, La.                 1,756
 44     Tennessee State University, Nashville, Tenn.         5,366
 45     Ohio State University, Columbus, OH                  2,783
 46     Florida International Univ., Miami, Fla.             1,987
 47     California State Univ. Los Angeles                   3,475
 48     Bethune-Cookman College, Daytona Beach, Fla.         2,145
 49     Mass. Inst. of Technology, Cambridge, Mass.            241
 50     University of California, Los Angeles                1,176

2003    Colleges & Universities                             School
Rank    City/State                                           Type

 1      Morehouse College, Atlanta, Ga.                  Private, Men
                                                             Only
 2      Hampton University, Hampton, Va.                   Private
 3      Spelman College, Atlanta, Ga.                      Private,
                                                          Women Only
 4      Howard University, Washington, D.C.                Private
 5      Xavier University, New Orleans, La.                Private
 6      Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, Fla.           Public
 7      Stanford University, Stanford, Calif.              Private
 8      Columbia University, New York, N.Y.                Private
 9      Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.            Private
 10     Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, Ga.             Private
 11     Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.               Private
 12     Duke University, Durham, N.C.                      Private
 13     Berea College, Berea, Ky.                          Private
 14     Williams College, Williamstown, Mass.              Private
 15     Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, N.C.          Public
 16     Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH                       Private
 17     Emory University, Atlanta, Ga.                     Private
 18     Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn.             Private
 19     N.C. A&T State University, Tuskeegee, Ala.          Public
 20     University of Maryland, College Park, Md.           Public
 21     Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, Ala.                Private
 22     Fisk University, Nashville, Tenn.                  Private
 23     University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa.      Private
 24     George Washington Univ., Washington, D.C.          Private
 25     Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y.                   Private
 26     Wellesley College, Wellesley, Mass.                Private,
                                                          Women Only
 27     University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich.            Public
 28     University of Southern Calif., Los Angeles         Private
 29     Mount Holyoke College, S. Hadley, Mass.            Private
                                                          Women Only
 30     Amherst College, Amherst Mass.                     Private
 31     Wake Forest Univ., Winston-Salem, N.C.             Private
 32     New York University, New York, N.Y.                Private
 33     Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pa.                Private
 34     Florida State University, Tallahassee, Fla.         Public
 35     Morgan State University, Baltimore, Md.             Public
 36     Johnson C. Smith University, Charlotte, N.C.       Private
 37     Southern Univ./A&M College, Baton Bouge, La.        Public
 38     John Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md.            Private
 39     Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, N.Y.                 Private
 40     Yale University, New Haven, Conn.                  Private
 41     Temple University, Philadelphia, Pa.                Public
 42     Brown University, Providence, R.I.                 Private
 43     Dillard University, New Orleans, La.               Private
 44     Tennessee State University, Nashville, Tenn.        Public
 45     Ohio State University, Columbus, OH                 Public
 46     Florida International Univ., Miami, Fla.            Public
 47     California State Univ. Los Angeles                  Public
 48     Bethune-Cookman College, Daytona Beach, Fla.       Private
 49     Mass. Inst. of Technology, Cambridge, Mass.        Private
 50     University of California, Los Angeles               Public

                                                           Tuition
2003    Colleges & Universities                             In/Out
Rank    City/State                                         Of State

 1      Morehouse College, Atlanta, Ga.                     11,322
 2      Hampton University, Hampton, Va.                    10,990
 3      Spelman College, Atlanta, Ga.                       10,660
 4      Howard University, Washington, D.C.                 10,320
 5      Xavier University, New Orleans, La.                 10,100
 6      Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, Fla.        2,546/12,900
 7      Stanford University, Stanford, Calif.               27,204
 8      Columbia University, New York, N.Y.                 27,190
 9      Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.             25,152
 10     Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, Ga.              12,862
 11     Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.                24,630
 12     Duke University, Durham, N.C.                       27,050
 13     Berea College, Berea, Ky.                           20,000
 14     Williams College, Williamstown, Mass.               25,540
 15     Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, N.C.       3,826/15,110
 16     Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH                        27,880
 17     Emory University, Atlanta, Ga.                      26,600
 18     Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn.              27,474
 19     N.C. A&T State University, Tuskeegee, Ala.       2,630/11,551
 20     University of Maryland, College Park, Md.        5,670/14,434
 21     Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, Ala.                 5,292
 22     Fisk University, Nashville, Tenn.                   10,090
 23     University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa.       27,988
 24     George Washington Univ., Washington, D.C.           27,820
 25     Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y.                    27,394
 26     Wellesley College, Wellesley, Mass.                 26,762
 27     University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich.         7,485/23,365
 28     University of Southern Calif., Los Angeles          26,954
 29     Mount Holyoke College, S. Hadley, Mass.             27,540
 30     Amherst College, Amherst Mass.                      27,800
 31     Wake Forest Univ., Winston-Salem, N.C.              24,750
 32     New York University, New York, N.Y.                 26,646
 33     Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pa.                 27,272
 34     Florida State University, Tallahassee, Fla.      2,195/9,184
 35     Morgan State University, Baltimore, Md.          2,349/5,559
 36     Johnson C. Smith University, Charlotte, N.C.        12,444
 37     Southern Univ./A&M College, Baton Bouge, La.     2,634/5,792
 38     John Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md.             27,390
 39     Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, N.Y.                  27,550
 40     Yale University, New Haven, Conn.                   37,000
 41     Temple University, Philadelphia, Pa.             7,602/13,858
 42     Brown University, Providence, R.I.                  27,858
 43     Dillard University, New Orleans, La.                10,094
 44     Tennessee State University, Nashville, Tenn.     3,272/10,230
 45     Ohio State University, Columbus, OH              5,664/15,087
 46     Florida International Univ., Miami, Fla.         2,511/11,976
 47     California State Univ. Los Angeles               2,435/11,459
 48     Bethune-Cookman College, Daytona Beach, Fla.        9,810
 49     Mass. Inst. of Technology, Cambridge, Mass.         28,030
 50     University of California, Los Angeles            3,702/16,081

SOURCE: THOMAS A. LAVEIST, PH.D.

RELATED ARTICLE: Calculating the daystar rating.

Colleges were selected to be in our analysis based on one of two criteria: 1) They are accredited four-year colleges with an African American student enrollment of at least 3%; or 2) Every other college that did not meet criteria one but is a large or well-known university (e.g., the University of Utah, New Mexico State University, etc.). The goal was to be as inclusive as possible without including schools of little interest to black students. This process resulted in 482 colleges.

OUR PANEL OF EXPERTS

We compiled a list of 1,855 African American professionals in higher education from membership lists of professional organizations, news reports, and other sources, and mailed each of them a questionnaire. The professionals held titles such as president, chancellor, vice president, vice chancellor, provost, dean, assistant dean, department chair, director of admissions, admissions counselor, and college recruiter They were all employed by one of the 482 universities in the study. The questionnaire asked them to rate colleges based on whether they felt the schools were a good social and educational environment for African American students. Each school was rated on the following scale: 2=strongly recommended, 1=recommended, 0=neutral, -1=not recommended, -2=strongly not recommended. Each school was categorized according to the college classification protocol developed by U.S, News and World Report, which is a modified version of the protocol developed by Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Each survey respondent was asked to rate only schools that were in the same classification as the school where he or she was employed. Survey respondents were asked to rate only schools that they felt they knew enough about to have an opinion.

CALCULATING THE DAYSTAR RATING

The DayStar rating was calculated by developing a regression-based weighted multiplicative index combining four variables: 1) percentage of African American undergraduate students; 2) the school's DayStar rating from 2001; 3) average survey score for the school's social environment for African American students; and 4) average survey score for the school's educational environment for African American students.