50 best colleges for African Americans: a solid education, matched with the right opportunities, creates successful collegians: here are some strategies students should employ as they move from the college campus to the corner office and beyond.

Attending college is a rebirth of sorts. You're smart, ambitious, young, and for the first time in your life, you get to do things your way. Heather Booker's chapter in her family's

Hampton University story began when she was 6 months old. She bounced on the knee of her great-grandpa as he and the school's alumni association members made grand plans for the thriving university, such as erecting a statue of Booker T. Washington, still a centerpiece of the campus.

Booker, 20, has since gotten to know the campus more intimately as a student. She hails from a long line of Hampton graduates that includes her parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents. Her grandmother, Deloris Bryant-Booker, is a director of grant development for Fulton County Schools in Atlanta, while her grandfather, James Avery Booker Jr., is a retired trauma surgeon and colonel in the Air Force. In fact, she practically grew up on the campus with her mother. Dr. Karla Booker, an OB-GYN.

"I went [to Hampton] because these people have such love for the school," says Booker, referring to the network of support from professors and alumni that exists for students. "t wanted to be in a place where I was more than just a number. The experience of being at a black school offered me a foundation of history, resources, and examples of who I wanted to become."

As the senior prepares for graduation, she remains focused on keeping up her 3.5 GPA (as a Presidential Scholar); chairing the women's caucus; and taking an active role in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, which she pledged last spring. "Being involved in different associations, you never know who you're going to meet. It's a chance to find students that are on the same track as you, and most important, it's an opportunity to be an example for someone else."

In addition to getting to know students like Booker, SLACK ENTERPRISE will show you what it takes to get the most out of your college years. We've developed a year-by-year strategy, from your freshman through senior years, that is chock-full of expert advice on how to make a smooth transition from college life to the professional world Each subject has completed the year in which he or she appears.

We've also included our exclusive ranking of the 50 Best Colleges for African Americans for your social and academic needs. There are few surprises on this year's list. The University of Chicago is the lone newcomer, mostly because of its increase in black student graduation rates. (For more information on how we crunched the numbers, see the methodology.)

It's up to you to choose the school that's best for you. This ready reference is designed to keep you on point during your college years.

Since most of her family went to historically black colleges and universities, everyone thought Marcie Graham would attend one, too. Yet in September of 2003, the rising sophomore landed right in the heart of the Big Apple as a metropolitan studies student at New York University. So why break family tradition? "I wanted to do something different and more career-focused," says Graham, 19, originally from Memphis, Tennessee. The aspiring entertainment lawyer knew her career preference would land her in either New York or Los Angeles.

Armed with a 4.9 GPA out of a total of 5.0, Graham received a Presidential Scholar award worth $25,000 over four years--the highest honor a student can receive--and headed north. While catching the subway to classes and strolling through Man hattan's Washington Square Park she learned a few things during her first year in college. "Grades should always be the focus of why you're there. It has to come from [within]," she says. Graham also suggests that students should hit the road for their college experience: "If you're from the South, go north; if you're from the East, go west. You have no money, you can't cook, and those experiences are what you need to build character."

Many experts say freshman year yields all sorts of discovery. "This time is all about learning about college life, familiarizing yourself with organizations, clubs, and the resources that the institution offers," says John Augliera, career coordinator at the Career Services Center at Lehman College. In essence, attending college is about moving to another level and implementing these tools are the first steps.

Get to know your new environment. When you have freshman orientation, you receive a lot of material that explains the school's resources. Don't simply stack the materials in a corner; take the time to read them, highlighting areas of interest. Next, find out how to get involved. Take note of where the health services, career centers, tutoring centers, and financial aid offices are located. You will spend a lot of time in these places if you're taking full advantage of your college's resources. Also, visit the minority/diversity office for more services. Or maybe there's a school newspaper, an Intranet, or a school Website that you can peruse. For example, Georgetown University outlines a full plan on its Website to let yon know what you should be doing each year. Also, consider volunteering as a tour guide to experience your school and gain firsthand exposure to all it has to offer.

Make the grade. Although some say the economy is picking up, it's still an employer's market. That means you want to do "all you can to distinguish yourself from the pack. "I plan to make As," says Graham. "I know I have to study more ... but I look around the class to see who's naturally talented and then look at what I need to do to get there." Even if you're not the smartest kid in the class, you can improve your GPA by getting a tutor, attending a writing workshop, going to study groups, and asking your professors for help. When you get in front of potential employers, however, "they are not just looking for that top GPA; they are looking for students to articulate what they've learned, expecting to hear what you bring to the table," says Jean Muhammad, a former visiting professor at Florida A&M University who taught professional development courses until last spring. "It's that business entity that goes beyond the grades."

Develop a team of supporters. It's very important to gather with like-minded individuals, from peers to mentors to advisers. "Surround yourself with achievers--peers who are really serious about succeeding. Share your story with them and vice versa to help you get through the tough times," says Kim Wells, director of the career services office at Howard University. "You can seek them out just by conversation. You'll hear the ones who have lofty goals about being a doctor, senator, etc., and then decide for yourself who has the same level of energy that you have." In addition, meet with your academic adviser to discuss career goals, registration requirements, deadlines, and perhaps, upcoming internship opportunities.

Your adviser can offer academic support throughout your college career, so consult him or her often. It might be prudent to speak to the dean of students and the head of the major and minor academic departments you're considering. It's this group that will help you focus on the task at hand--whether the goal is to become a world-famous botanist or travel the globe on a peace mission, Ask lots of questions, pay attention to the advice, and commit Lot, he process, even if you are not clear about the end result.

Put the social scene into perspective. This is a great time to make friends with people who will become Lifelong buddies, But you don't want to become a social butterfly to the detriment of your schoolwork. "Often, it's hard to make the transition into having that much freedom," says Carol J. Carter, author of Majoring in the Rest of Your Life, Fourth Edition (Lift-Bound; $16.95). "It's better to be moderate as you enter your freshman year. Don't skip going to parties; just don't go to them five nights a week." For tips on time management, see sidebar "Back-to-School Basics."

Start small. You don't have to do everything at once. "You need to take care of yourself first," says Carter, who is also founder and president of LifeBound (www.lifebound.com), a seminar and coaching company for high school and college students. "For example, instead of taking 18 credits, take 12. Once you've proven yourself [and have mastered the amount of work], you can increase your course load." The idea is to start small so that everything you do builds on each other over the following years.

Just call him tire diplomat N. Rashad Jones "knew that he would pursue a career in international affairs and foreign policy. Naturally, he headed north from Atlanta to Washington, D.C., where he attends Georgetown University. "Initially, I received full scholarships from American said Howard universities, but after visiting campuses and speaking to students, I decided on Georgetown.

The 19-year-old junior is making the best of his opportunities by getting involved in activities that will lead him down the path to becoming a political foreign service officer. Take, for instance, the Woodrow Wilson Foreign Services Fellowship he recently received. "I did a lot of research to find it [back in high school],and met students that had applied for the program and asked them how they felt about it," says Jones, who knew he was on the right track. "It's basically a training program for the State Department. I was asked grammar-related questions in economics, politics, etc., and you even take yourself out on a date to find out what your interests are." Jones recently finished teaching a debate course at Emory University.

Although it's a bit more rigorous than Jones lets on, the program is preparing him to protect our foreign interests abroad and to find peaceful foreign policy measures through meetings with dignitaries. Preparation is vital during your sophomore year. As you enter it, start thinking about what you really want to do after college and engage in the following activities to help you get there.

Select a major. Choose something that you're good at and would enjoy. To figure out what academic areas fit those criteria, make an appointment with your academic adviser, You may also want to talk with a career center adviser to see what professions suit your talents. "There is a battery of assessment tests [available] such as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, the Sigi/Plus, and the Discover System, to help a student focus their interest," says Wells. Contact you r career center to find out about taking these tests. No need to worry, there are no grades involved. You simply get a chance to be honest with yourself. The assessment tests match your likes and dislikes, and strengths and weaknesses, with your skills. You may be able to audit classes, attend without receiving any academic credit. This way, you can see if the coursework makes sense for your career aspirations.

Set up an internship for the summer. Upon graduating from college, every student should have completed at least two years of internship experience. "Internships provide students an opportunity to put into practice concepts discussed in their college curriculum and to make contacts with professionals in their area of interest," says Richard A. Smith, area manager of INROADS (www.inroads.org), an organization that recruits students of color who are interested in careers such as business, nursing, and accounting.

You should apply for internships in the fall of each year. "Those students who are searching for internships [early in their college years] are more successful at getting internships and employment upon graduation than their peers who may have waited until their final summer in college to begin their search," says Smith. Go to sites like Monster.com and MonsterTrak.com to view various companies and internships.

Also, don't be afraid to think outside the box. If a company you have an interest in doesn't have an internship, simply volunteer, says Carter. For example, dining Christmas break, "You can say, 'I know you don't have a formal intern program, but if you're pleased with my work, maybe I could stay through the summer and you could create a formal internship,'" says Smith.

"You'll get a chance to see what these people's lives are like in these organizations. You'll see what it takes to be a Fortune 500 executive, and you'll start to identify different types of competencies that you need," says Wells. If your company is big on presentations, for example, and you need the practice, consider joining an organization like Toastmasters International (www.toastmasters.org) to improve your public speaking skills. At the very least, you can put that experience on your resume

Once you land the internship, Smith recommends looking at it not as a summer job, but as the beginning of a career.

He also offers this advice:

* Show up on time,

* Continue to do well academically.

* Network and get to know your peers.

* Dress appropriately.

* Give others a chance to see your skills.

Join organizations that you care about. The purpose of joining organizations is twofold: (1) to make contacts in your field of interest, especially if it's career-related and (2) to show your leadership skills and volunteer for a cause you believe in. For some, it means pledging a sorority or fraternity. For others, it's joining a business or leadership organization such as the student government, By joining these organizations and taking an active role, you will be able to articulate how you handled problem-solving scenarios, how you managed a team, met deadlines, and achieved the overall goal of a particular project.

Reapply for scholarships. Many scholarships last a year. Review your papers to see if your scholarship renews annually or if it's a one time opportunity. If it's a one-time scholarship, see if you are eligible to reapply and look for other scholarships and financial aid resources.

Smith recommends avoiding the following:

* Discussing personal issues or having inappropriate conversations

* Consistently arriving late or missing too many days

* Missing deadlines

* Using company equipment or e-mail for personal business

She had it all mapped out. About three years ago, Khalilah S. Karim created a five- to 10-year plan that included attending Stanford University in California, going abroad with the Peace Corps after graduation, and then returning to the states to obtain a master's degree in public policy. It might sound like a full load but not when you have a master plan.

A great deal of her success, says the 21-year old, is a result of growing up with 10 siblings. "I've had all of my brothers and sisters as my confidantes. My room and dad died when I was young, so I looked to them for guidance."

The counsel she received from seven college graduates has paid off. Karim worked three jobs this past summer. She served as an intern for the American Civil Liberties Union on the Capital Punishment Project, which is fighting against death penalty sentences for juvenile offenders; wrote for The Washington Informer, a grassroots Washington, D.C., newspaper; and completed an independent study project on the effects of racial integration on academic performance in low-income neighborhoods. Moreover, she has taken advantage of everything Stanford has to offer. How can you do it? Follow these tips:

Travel abroad. Whenever you visit another country, you get to sample the sights and sounds of a different, culture. "This is first hand experience that you can't get from a book," says Carter, who traveled to Spain while in college. Traveling will also open you up to new opportunities such as volunteering at a foreign mission after leaving college.

Take a research position or conduct an independent study. In academia, you gain access to a plethora of brilliant minds. Take an interest not only in what professors are teaching but also in what they're studying. Often, those trying to achieve tenure are required to conduct research, write papers, and become published. This may serve as an excellent opportunity to volunteer as an assistant or to ask you r professor to let you handle specific research you can convert into an independent study project.

Sign up for a leadership role in an organization. Now that you've joined a few groups on campus, it's time for you to play a bigger role. Run for student government president or seek out other leadership roles. Keep in mind that effective time management is a must. The rewards are limitless: You get to attend conferences, write speeches, participate in panels, and make executive decisions. "Getting involved in various professional associations allows you to connect upward with deans and alumni," says John Mixon, vice president and client service consultant at Atlanta-based Right Management Consultants. "You have to look at everyone as an opportunity."

Build your resume. Your resume is a vehicle to showcase skills relative to the position for which you are applying, your coursework, and it provides a mission statement of what you expect to accomplish. When developing your resume, make sure it's "free of spelling and grammatical errors, eliminate abbreviations, and do not overinflate accomplishments," says Smith. Create a general resume that highlights skills and experiences as well as one tailored to specific career goals.

Tighten your interviewing skills. First impressions are lasting ones. Preparing for an interview is a detailed process. "Research the organization [and] its vision and values," says Kim Wells of Howard University Career Services. "You want to identify organizations that have a perfect place for you, so look at reference guides and resources." Visit sites like www.salary.com for figures and read Job Interviews Made Easy by Jan Bailey Mattia (McGraw Hill; $7.44).

Wear appropriate dress to the Interview. "Wearing pants down to your knees may be stylish, but it's not professional," says Mixon. '"Being well-groomed is [extremely important] because wherever you are, people are making a judgment [about you], without even talking to you."

About a month ago, Leon Massey received his diploma from Florida A&M University, and has just started working at Lockheed Martin Corp., the $31.8 billion aeronautics juggernaut. Having been recruited by INROADS right out of high school, Massey gained an edge over most of his competition. The 23-year-old notes, however, that "it's up to the INROADer to be able to successfully pass, know how to mingle and have a balance."

Initially, it was difficult for Massey to gain balance because "I would stay in, or go to the library and do miscellaneous research." But he soon got disgusted with the work and learned "you have to go out and have fun and meet people." After two internships--one with Cingular Wireless and the other with Lockheed--he's quick to speak, melding into the corporate culture as an African American professional. "When you're interviewed, know your research, know your competitors, give a firm handshake," he says. "Be business-oriented."

Even though it may sound like common sense, lots of students don't know these simple but critical rituals. Massey learned them well. Now he's using his knowledge in computer information systems to work on sophisticated, computer-aided integration management software.

He appears ready to handle the corporate environment with an unyielding confidence and strong cultural ties--by-products of his education at an HBCU. "[In] history classes, there would be a picture [or] a short paragraph [about African American contributions] and that was it," he says of his high school textbooks. "I felt like I was being cheated and an HBCU would meet that requirement."

As you complete your last year as an undergraduate, take these tips with you:

Send out cover letters and resumes. Now that you've mastered resume-building and cover letter writing, it's time to send them out. If you've followed our guidelines, you have a good sense of what you want to do as a professional. If you're trying to get on a path to a career, send out about 50 cover letters and resumes by using contacts, the Internet, job postings in newspapers, and your school's career center.

Prepare for a new school. If you're thinking about law school, grad school, or medical school, prepare to fill out applications, take aptitude tests such as the GMAT or LSAT, write essays, and meet deadlines. Take time the summer before your senior year to get all of your applications together and study for fall testing. Even consider a refresher course. But don't, view graduate school as a backup in case you don't get a job. Use it as the next step to meet your goals. For example, get an M.B.A. to become more competitive in a business environment or as preparation for a higher-level job.

Get started now, it's not too late. Developing a support network, sharpening interview skills, and even traveling abroad can happen early in your senior year. So if you're a late bloomer, it's not too late, it may take you longer to accomplish some goals if you wait too long into your final semester, but the resources at your school are there for you when you're ready, not the other way around.

Develop plans B, C, and D. What if you don't get that fellowship in England? By having more than one plan, you won't be stuck if the first one doesn't work out. If them is a hill between plans A and B, keep busy by taking on part-time work volunteering, and temping. Temporary work is a good opportunity to try different companies and make valuable contacts. Having backup plans will reduce the stress level you otherwise might have encountered had your first plan failed. "People should really pay attention to what their gifts and passions and talents are," Carter says. "If they keep asking [questions of] themselves and listening to themselves, they will ultimately get the information they seek."

--Additional reporting by Stephanie Young

CRASH COURSE:

Besides your diploma, you may get something else upon graduating from college--DEBT!

Sallie Mae calculated the mean undergraduate debt for African Americans to be $15,300 in 2002. Use these tips to help you balance your budget.

GET A JOB. Counteract debt by working during your summer or winter vacations, lf you choose to work during the school year, work part time to allow yourself enough time for schoolwork, According to the Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics, the effects on undergraduates working more than 21 hours per week included limited class schedules and access to the library, as well as a negative effect on grades.

Take advantage of on-campus jobs such as work-study and assistant positions, which allow you to work around your class schedule. A balanced combination of work and school can result in better time management and less procrastination. Hake sure you are able to handle your course load before determining if a part-time job is right for you.

RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIPS. Apply for scholarships every year. "The Internet has revolutionized how students learn about college scholarships," says Baird Johnson, vice president of product and marketing for EastWeb.com, the Internet's leading scholarship search service. "Over $1 billion in scholarships is awarded each year--much of it earmarked for students with particular backgrounds or unique qualifications. Using a free online search engine such as FastWeb allows college students to search a database of 600.000 scholarships to create a personalized list of scholarship opportunities unique to them."

COMPARE CREDIT CARD OFFERS. Consider these five elements when choosing a credit card, advises the National Foundation for Credit Counseling: finance charges, annual fees, grace periods, penalty fees, and balanced calculation methods. "Beware of introductory low-interest-rate credit offers," warns the NFCC, "Frequently, the interest jumps dramatically within six months to a year." Never sign anything you do not completely understand.

BE FINANCIALLY ORGANIZED. "Debt isn't the problem; buying decisions are the problem," says Scott Bilker, author of Credit Card & Debt Management: A Step-By-Step How-To Guide for Organizing Debt & Saving Money on Interest Payments (Press One Publishing; $19.95), "Have a list of all your bills and always pay them on time." Use the worksheets in Bilker's book to successfully manage your bills. NFCC members provide free and affordable confidential money management, financial education, budget counseling, and debt management services via in-person and telephone sessions For more information, call 800-388-2227 or visit www.nfcc.org.

CRUNCHING THE NUMBERS

A total of 482 colleges and universities were selected based on the following criteria:

1 Accredited four-year colleges or universities with an African American student: enrollment of at least 3%.

2 Colleges or universities that did not meet criteria one, but are large or well-known (e.g., the University of Southern California).

The goal was to be as inclusive as possible while targeting schools that would be of interest to black students.

We surveyed 1,855 African American higher education professionals with titles such as president, chancellor, and provost, for their assessments of the social and educational environments of the nation's colleges and universities for African American students. Each school received a rating from 2 (strongly recommended) to -2 (strongly not recommend ed) with 0 being neutral. Schools were 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 the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Survey respondents were asked to rate only schools that they were knowledgeable about.

The BE top colleges list was developed by Thomas A. LaVeist, Ph.D. professor of health policy, management, and sociology at Johns Hopkins University, and CEO of DayStar Research, LaVeist is the author of DayStar Guide to Colleges for African Americans (Kaplan/Simon & Schuster; $20) and co-author of 8 Steps to Help Black Families Pay for College (Princeton Review; $13). The list, based on the DayStar rating, was calculated by developing a regression-based. weighted, multiplicative index combining four variables:

1 The school's five-year graduation rate for African Americans

2 The school's percentage of African American undergraduate students

3 The school's average survey score for the school's academic environment

4 The school's average survey score for the school's social environment

2004  2003  Colleges & Universities             Admissions
Rank  Rank  City/State                         Phone Number

 1     1    Morehouse College, Atlanta, GA    [phone]

 2     3    Spelman College, Atlanta, GA      [phone]

 3     2    Hampton University, Hampton, VA   [phone]

 4     4    Howard University,                [phone]
            Washington, DC

 5     5    Xavier University,                (877) XAVIERU
            New Orleans, LA

 6     6    Florida A & M University,         [phone]
            Tallahassee, FL

 7     7    Stanford University,              [phone]
            Stanford, CA

 8     8    Columbia University,              [phone]
            New York, NY

 9    11    Harvard University,               [phone]
            Cambridge, MA

10    12    Duke University, Durham, NC       [phone]

11     9    Georgetown University,            [phone]
            Washington, DC

12    10    Clark Atlanta University,         [phone]
            Atlanta, GA

13    13    Berea College, Berea, KY          [phone]

14    15    Univ. of North Carolina,          [phone]
            Chapel Hill, NC

15    16    Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH      (800) 622-OBIE

16    14    Williams College,                 [phone]
            Williamstown, MA

17    19    NC A&T State University,          [phone]
            Greensboro, NC

18    17    Emory University, Atlanta, GA     [phone]

19    18    Wesleyan University,              [phone]
            Middletown, CT

20    22    Fisk University, Nashville, TN    (800) 433-FISK

21    20    University of Maryland,           [phone]
            College Park, MD

22    21    Tuskegee University,              [phone]
            Tuskegee, AL

23    23    University of Pennsylvania,       [phone]
            Philadelphia, PA

24    25    Cornell Univ.-Endowed Colleges,   [phone]
            Ithaca, NY

25    27    University of Michigan,           [phone]
            Ann Arbor, MI

26    24    George Washington Univ.,          [phone]
            Washington, DC

27    30    Amherst College, Amherst, MA      [phone]

28    29    Mount Holyoke college,            [phone]
            South Hadley, MA

29    26    Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA  [phone]

30    28    Univ. of Southern California,     [phone]
            Los Angeles, CA

31    31    Wake Forest University,           [phone]
            Winston-Salem, NC

32    32    New York University,              [phone]
            New York, NY

33    36    Johnson C. Smith University,      [phone]
            Charlotte, NC

34    35    Morgan State University,          [phone]
            Baltimore, MD

35    38    Johns Hopkins University,         [phone]
            Baltimore, MD

36    33    Swarthmore College,               [phone]
            Swarthmore, PA

37    34    Florida State University,         [phone]
            Tallahassee, FL

38    40    Yale University, New Haven, CT    [phone]

39    39    Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY  [phone]

40    37    Southern Univ. A&M College,       [phone]
            Baton Rouge, LA

41    42    Brown University, Providence, RI  [phone]

42    43    Dillard University,               [phone]
            New Orleans, LA

43    44    Tennessee State University,       [phone]
            Nashville, TN

44    45    Ohio State University,            [phone]
            Columbus, OH

45    41    Temple University,                [phone]
            Philadelphia, PA

46    48    Bethune-Cookman College,          [phone]
            Daytona Beach, FL

47    46    Florida International             [phone]
            University, Miami, FL

48    49    Mass. Institute of Technology,    [phone]
            Cambridge, MA

49    47    California State University,      [phone]
            Los Angeles, CA

50     --   University of Chicago,            [phone]
            Chicago, IL

2004  2003  Colleges & Universities                 Web
Rank  Rank  City/State                            Address

 1     1    Morehouse College, Atlanta, GA    www.morehouse.edu

 2     3    Spelman College, Atlanta, GA      www.spelman.edu

 3     2    Hampton University, Hampton, VA   www.hamptonu.edu

 4     4    Howard University,                www.howard.edu
            Washington, DC

 5     5    Xavier University,                www.xula.edu
            New Orleans, LA

 6     6    Florida A & M University,         www.famu.edu
            Tallahassee, FL

 7     7    Stanford University,              www.stanford.edu
            Stanford, CA

 8     8    Columbia University,              www.columbia.edu
            New York, NY

 9    11    Harvard University,               www.harvard.edu
            Cambridge, MA

10    12    Duke University, Durham, NC       www.duke.edu

11     9    Georgetown University,            www.georgetown.edu
            Washington, DC

12    10    Clark Atlanta University,         www.cau.edu
            Atlanta, GA

13    13    Berea College, Berea, KY          www.berea.edu

14    15    Univ. of North Carolina,          www.unc.edu
            Chapel Hill, NC

15    16    Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH      www.oberlin.edu

16    14    Williams College,                 www.williams.edu
            Williamstown, MA

17    19    NC A&T State University,          www.ncat.edu
            Greensboro, NC

18    17    Emory University, Atlanta, GA     www.emory.edu

19    18    Wesleyan University,              www.wesleyan.edu
            Middletown, CT

20    22    Fisk University, Nashville, TN    www.fisk.edu

21    20    University of Maryland,           www.umd.edu
            College Park, MD

22    21    Tuskegee University,              www.tuskegee.edu
            Tuskegee, AL

23    23    University of Pennsylvania,       www.upenn.edu
            Philadelphia, PA

24    25    Cornell Univ.-Endowed Colleges,   www.cornell.edu
            Ithaca, NY

25    21    University of Michigan,           www.umich.edu
            Ann Arbor, MI

26    24    George Washington Univ.,          www.gwu.edu
            Washington, DC

27    30    Amherst College, Amherst, MA      www.amherst.edu

28    29    Mount Holyoke college,            www.mtholyoke.edu
            South Hadley, MA

29    26    Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA  www.wellesley.edu

30    28    Univ. of Southern California,     www.usc.edu
            Los Angeles, CA

31    31    Wake Forest University,           www.wfu.edu
            Winston-Salem, NC

32    32    New York University,              www.nyu.edu
            New York, NY

33    36    Johnson C. Smith University,      www.jcsu.edu
            Charlotte, NC

34    35    Morgan State University,          www.morgan.edu
            Baltimore, MD

35    38    Johns Hopkins University,         www.jhu.edu
            Baltimore, MD

36    33    Swarthmore College,               www.swarthmore.edu
            Swarthmore, PA

37    34    Florida State University,         www.fsu.edu
            Tallahassee, FL

38    40    Yale University, New Haven, CT    www.yale.edu

39    39    Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY  www.vassar.edu

40    37    Southern Univ. A&M College,       www.subr.edu
            Baton Rouge, LA

41    42    Brown University, Providence, RI  www.brown.edu

42    43    Dillard University,               www.dillard.edu
            New Orleans, LA

43    44    Tennessee State University,       www.tnstate.edu
            Nashville, TN

44    45    Ohio State University,            www.osu.edu
            Columbus, OH

45    41    Temple University,                www.temple.edu
            Philadelphia, PA

46    48    Bethune-Cookman College,          www.bethune.cookman.edu
            Daytona Beach, FL

47    46    Florida International             www.fiu.edu
            University, Miami, FL

48    49    Mass. Institute of Technology,    www.mit.edu
            Cambridge, MA

49    47    California State University,      www.calstatela.edu
            Los Angeles, CA

50     --   University of Chicago,            www.uchicago.edu
            Chicago, IL

                                                            African
2004  2003  Colleges & Universities             Total       American
Rank  Rank  City/State                        Enrollment   Enrollment

 1     1    Morehouse College, Atlanta, GA       2,738        2,660

 2     3    Spelman College, Atlanta, GA         2,121        2,049

 3     2    Hampton University, Hampton, VA      4,979        4,720

 4     4    Howard University,                   6,892        4,735
            Washington, DC

 5     5    Xavier University,                   3,184        2,776
            New Orleans, LA

 6     6    Florida A & M University,           10,803       10,284
            Tallahassee, FL

 7     7    Stanford University,                 7,360          648
            Stanford, CA

 8     8    Columbia University,                 6,988          489
            New York, NY

 9    11    Harvard University,                  9,774          626
            Cambridge, MA

10    12    Duke University, Durham, NC          6,206          645

11     9    Georgetown University,               6,332          424
            Washington, DC

12    10    Clark Atlanta University,            3,864        3,644
            Atlanta, GA

13    13    Berea College, Berea, KY             1,578          257

14    15    Univ. of North Carolina,            15,961        1,772
            Chapel Hill, NC

15    16    Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH         2,848          205

16    14    Williams College,                    1,985          157
            Williamstown, MA

17    19    NC A&T State University,             7,982        7,272
            Greensboro, NC

18    17    Emory University, Atlanta, GA        6,285          585

19    18    Wesleyan University,                 2,733          230
            Middletown, CT

20    22    Fisk University, Nashville, TN         806          685

21    20    University of Maryland,             25,240        3,131
            College Park, MD

22    21    Tuskegee University,                 2,608        2,102
            Tuskegee, AL

23    23    University of Pennsylvania,         11,946          788
            Philadelphia, PA

24    25    Cornell Univ.-Endowed Colleges,      8,513          400
            Ithaca, NY

25    21    University of Michigan,             24,472        1,958
            Ann Arbor, MI

26    24    George Washington Univ.,            10,328          630
            Washington, DC

27    30    Amherst College, Amherst, MA         1,618          144

28    29    Mount Holyoke college,               2,191           99
            South Hadley, MA

29    26    Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA     2,300          133

30    28    Univ. of Southern California,       16,145        1,049
            Los Angeles, CA

31    31    Wake Forest University,              4,045          279
            Winston-Salem, NC

32    32    New York University,                19,490        1,130
            New York, NY

33    36    Johnson C. Smith University,         1,537        1,532
            Charlotte, NC

34    35    Morgan State University,             6,032        5,513
            Baltimore, MD

35    38    Johns Hopkins University,            5,490          412
            Baltimore, MD

36    33    Swarthmore College,                  1,479           98
            Swarthmore, PA

37    34    Florida State University,           29,195        3,591
            Tallahassee, FL

38    40    Yale University, New Haven, CT       5,339          422

39    39    Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY     2,472          111

40    37    Southern Univ. A&M College,          7,351        7,175
            Baton Rouge, LA

41    42    Brown University, Providence, RI     6,030          356

42    43    Dillard University,                  2,225        2,192
            New Orleans, LA

43    44    Tennessee State University,          7,239        5,856
            Nashville, TN

44    45    Ohio State University,              36,855        3,022
            Columbus, OH

45    41    Temple University,                  21,429        4,843
            Philadelphia, PA

46    48    Bethune-Cookman College,             2,584        2,274
            Daytona Beach, FL

47    46    Florida International               27,153        3,693
            University, Miami, FL

48    49    Mass. Institute of Technology,       4,178          259
            Cambridge, MA

49    47    California State University,        14,573        1,151
            Los Angeles, CA

50     --   University of Chicago,               4,236          169
            Chicago, IL

                                                            Tuition
2004  2003  Colleges & Universities             School       In/Out
Rank  Rank  City/State                           Type       Of State

 1     1    Morehouse College, Atlanta, GA     Private,     $14,310
                                               Men Only

 2     3    Spelman College, Atlanta, GA       Private,      14,125
                                              Women Only

 3     2    Hampton University, Hampton, VA    Private       12,864

 4     4    Howard University,                 Private       10,935
            Washington, DC

 5     5    Xavier University,                 Private       10,500
            New Orleans, LA

 6     6    Florida A & M University,           Public    2,702/13,058
            Tallahassee, FL

 7     7    Stanford University,               Private       28,563
            Stanford, CA

 8     8    Columbia University,               Private       29,788
            New York, NY

 9    11    Harvard University,                Private       29,060
            Cambridge, MA

10    12    Duke University, Durham, NC        Private       29,345

11     9    Georgetown University,             Private       28,209
            Washington, DC

12    10    Clark Atlanta University,          Private       12,862
            Atlanta, GA

13    13    Berea College, Berea, KY           Private       N/A *

14    15    Univ. of North Carolina,            Public    4,072/15,920
            Chapel Hill, NC

15    16    Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH       Private       29,688

16    14    Williams College,                  Private       28,090
            Williamstown, MA

17    19    NC A&T State University,            Public    2,722/12,089
            Greensboro, NC

18    17    Emory University, Atlanta, GA      Private       27,600

19    18    Wesleyan University,               Private       29,998
            Middletown, CT

20    22    Fisk University, Nashville, TN     Private       11,770

21    20    University of Maryland,             Public    6,759/17,433
            College Park, MD

22    21    Tuskegee University,               Private       11,310
            Tuskegee, AL

23    23    University of Pennsylvania,        Private       29,318
            Philadelphia, PA

24    25    Cornell Univ.-Endowed Colleges,    Private       28,754
            Ithaca, NY

25    21    University of Michigan,             Public    7,975/24,778
            Ann Arbor, MI

26    24    George Washington Univ.,           Private       29,320
            Washington, DC

27    30    Amherst College, Amherst, MA       Private       29,730

28    29    Mount Holyoke college,             Private,      29,338
            South Hadley, MA                  Women Only

29    26    Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA   Private,      27,904
                                              Women Only

30    28    Univ. of Southern California,      Private       28,692
            Los Angeles, CA

31    31    Wake Forest University,            Private       26,490
            Winston-Salem, NC

32    32    New York University,               Private       28,496
            New York, NY

33    36    Johnson C. Smith University,       Private       13,062
            Charlotte, NC

34    35    Morgan State University,            Public    5,078/12,076
            Baltimore, MD

35    38    Johns Hopkins University,          Private       28,730
            Baltimore, MD

36    33    Swarthmore College,                Private       28,802
            Swarthmore, PA

37    34    Florida State University,           Public    2,714/13,742
            Tallahassee, FL

38    40    Yale University, New Haven, CT     Private       28,400

39    39    Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY   Private       29,095

40    37    Southern Univ. A&M College,         Public    3,066/8,858
            Baton Rouge, LA

41    42    Brown University, Providence, RI   Private       29,200

42    43    Dillard University,                Private       11,215
            New Orleans, LA

43    44    Tennessee State University,         Public    3,788/11,720
            Nashville, TN

44    45    Ohio State University,              Public    6,651/16,638
            Columbus, OH

45    41    Temple University,                  Public    4,594/15,354
            Philadelphia, PA

46    48    Bethune-Cookman College,           Private       10,106
            Daytona Beach, FL

47    46    Florida International               Public    2,668/13,696
            University, Miami, FL

48    49    Mass. Institute of Technology,     Private       29,400
            Cambridge, MA

49    47    California State University,        Public    2,441/10,901
            Los Angeles, CA

50     --   University of Chicago,             Private       29,238
            Chicago, IL

BACK-TO-SCHOOL BASICS

College isn't just for 18-year-olds.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 68% of college students over age 24 work full time and are enrolled part time, They are also more likely to be married and have children. Consider these tips as you plan your continuing education:

BE PREPARED. Before applying to college, Consult an adviser. Margaret Stumpf, adviser to nontraditional students at the Friday Center for Continuing Education at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, encourages prospective adult students to review the school's catalog, which contains academic major requirements and descriptions of classes. "Weigh the major you might love against the one that will get you a job," she advises. Stumpf emphasizes the importance of keeping a copy of your high school and college transcripts for your own records.

TAKE YOUR TIME. "Adults feel they are behind and often take on too much to make up for lost time," says Pauline Drake, president of Spelman University's Continuing Education Program: Don't pressure yourself into trying to finish school as soon as possible because you didn't attend college sooner. Drake advises students to take one or two courses to get adjusted, gain confidence, and build a strong academic foundation.

BREAK UP TASKS. Spending time on schoolwork will affect your personal and family time. Don't overwhelm yourself by taking on too many tasks at once. If you are having trouble remembering important class notes, record class lectures and play them in your car as you run errand. Create a daily and weekly schedule of tasks to ensure that you remember deadlines.

MANAGE TIME WISELY. Arrange for others in your household to help with chores in order to relieve pressure and successfully balance your education, career, and family. Use personal time to reflect on your day. Remember to praise yourself for striving to finish college, an achievement for people of all ages.