A Niche School Might Be The Best Fit

With almost 5000 accredited colleges and universities in the U.S., finding the right college can seem like a herculean task. College applicants searching for the best fit often take factors such as the desired program, cost, and location into consideration. The right school for an individual requires a lot of research; not only research into the colleges and universities, but also about one’s self.

Prominent figures such as MLK, Oprah Winfrey and Nigeria’s Nnamdi Azikiwe all attended HNCUs

After asking all the general questions, some might still find it difficult to settle on a school. Students interested in a unique and atypical college experience should consider niche schools. The U.S. has a variety of institutions such as co-educational vs. single-sex colleges/universities; traditional vs. progressive; specialized schools vs. liberal arts colleges. This article focuses on two types of niche schools: Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Women’s Colleges.

Historically Black Colleges and Universities often called HBCUs, are institutions of higher education originally set up with the intention of serving the African-American community, though they accept students of all races. With over 100 HBCUs including public and private institutions, medical and law schools, HBCUs have a rich legacy of matriculating Nigerian and African-American leaders. Prominent figures such as Martin Luther King (Morehouse College), Oprah Winfrey (Tennessee State University) and Nigeria’s Nnamdi Azikwe (Lincoln University in Pennsylvania) attended HBCUs.

A recent study by Gallup found that HBCU graduates are more likely to say that their colleges properly prepared them for life post-graduation than black graduates of non-HBCUs. The study also found that HBCU graduates had better support from mentors and professors. Graduates report having had classes and extracurricular activities that gave them an opportunity to explore African-American history and experiences. At HBCUs, students encounter people with whom they share similar backgrounds and cultural experiences which might make adjusting to life in the U.S. easier for international students.

HBCUs also tend to be more affordable than typical colleges and universities. Statistics show that the average total cost of attendance at HBCUs was 26 percent lower than the average. In addition to the lower cost, HBCUs have a strong alumni network that provides support with internships and work placements. There are also many scholarship opportunities available that aim to make college education more affordable and accessible. HBCUs can be co-educational or single-sex such as Morehouse, a college for men and Spelman, a women’s college.

Women’s colleges were founded because women were traditionally excluded from the higher education system. Although Harvard University opened in 1636, the first college to admit women did not do so for another 200 years. Women and men did not start attending college in equal numbers until the 1970s. According to research conducted by the Women College Coalition, women’s colleges excel at educating young women, and graduates of women’s colleges achieve higher rates of success than their female counterparts from coed institutions.

Women’s colleges have a higher percentage of majors in economics, math and life science than women at co-educational colleges. Although a majority of women colleges are private liberal arts schools, they have a proven track record of preparing female students for traditionally male disciplines in math and sciences in which they are typically underrepresented.

Women’s colleges typically have lower enrollment numbers and smaller class sizes, which gives students the opportunity to fully engage in an environment that is conducive for them to thrive. Women’s college graduates are said to be more successful in their careers. According to the Women’s College Coalition, graduates of women’s colleges are more likely to become leaders in traditionally male fields. Notable alums of women’s colleges include Hilary Clinton (Wellesley), Katharine Hepburn (Bryn Mawr), Nancy Pelosi (Trinity College), Pakistan’s first (and to date only) female Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto (Radcliffe College), and Gloria Steinem (Smith College) among others. Women’s colleges also have strong alumni networks and many scholarship opportunities that make college education more affordable.

Despite the advantages of HBCUs and women’s colleges, some misconceptions exist about these institutions. Some people question their relevance in a post –racial and more gender equal society. Despite these misconceptions, the numerous benefits of these institutions cannot be overlooked. HBCUs and women’s colleges might not be the best fit for everyone, but they add to the diversity of the U.S. higher education system. When researching and selecting the best fit for you, it is important to be open and explore all of your options including HBCUs and single-sex colleges, rather than ruling them out completely.

At the EducationUSA advising center in Abuja

The EducationUSA Advising Centers in Abuja and Lagos provide quality, accurate, and unbiased information about all accredited U.S. higher education institutions for persons wishing to study in the United States. For more information about EducationUSA and study opportunities in the United States, please visit

http://www.educationusa.state.gov

Abuja

Email: AbujaEducationUSA@state.gov
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EducationUSA.Abuja

Lagos

Email: LagosEducationUSA@state.gov
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EducationUSALagos

U.S. Mission Nigeria

Written by

United States Diplomatic Mission in Nigeria. For official information visit http://ng.usembassy.gov

Crossroads Nigeria

A publication of the United States Diplomatic Mission in Nigeria

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