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Morgan State University

Baltimore, MD

publicHBCUgraduate

Quick Facts

Growing the Future and Leading the World

1867
Founded
Public historically black research university
Type
8,293
Total Students
9,027
Undergrad
1,712
Graduate
$8K
Tuition (In-State)
$19K
Tuition (Out-State)
$15K
Avg Net Price
83%
Acceptance Rate
42%
Graduation Rate
6-year
71%
Retention Rate
Doctoral Universities
Classification
President: David Wilson

Data from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0) & U.S. Dept. of Education

About Morgan State University

Morgan State: A historic public HBCU driving high research activity and professional excellence.

Morgan State University, nestled in Baltimore, Maryland, stands as a vibrant public historically black research university with a profound legacy. Established in 1867 as the Centenary Biblical Institute, its mission quickly broadened beyond ministry training to educate men and women as teachers, evolving into a comprehensive institution dedicated to "Growing the Future and Leading the World." Today, Morgan State is recognized as the third-largest HBCU nationally and holds the prestigious R2 classification for "Doctoral Universities – High research activity," underscoring its commitment to innovation and academic rigor.

Throughout its rich history, Morgan State has demonstrated remarkable resilience and growth. Renamed Morgan College in 1890 to honor a key donor and board chairman, Lyttleton Morgan, it faced and overcame significant challenges, including a discriminatory lawsuit in 1918 over its relocation. The institution became a state-owned college in 1939 and was officially designated a university in 1975, expanding its academic reach to include doctoral programs. Its continuous expansion includes modern facilities like the Earl S. Richardson Library, Dixon Research Center, and the state-of-the-art Center for the Built Environment and Infrastructure Studies.

Prospective students will find a dynamic learning environment driven by strong academic programs and a supportive community. Morgan State boasts professionally accredited schools in Engineering, Business, Community Health, and Global Journalism and Communication, making a significant impact on Maryland's workforce, particularly among African-American professionals. For instance, its nursing program achieved a perfect pass rate in 2018, and its engineering school produces a substantial majority of the state's African-American civil and electrical engineers. Recent record-setting donations from philanthropists like MacKenzie Scott and Calvin E. Tyler Jr. further empower Morgan State to invest in student success and institutional excellence, ensuring a vibrant and impactful experience for all who join the Bear family.

Students also benefit from a thriving campus life, including the new student union and opportunities to engage with student-run media like The Spokesman newspaper, WMUR radio, and BEAR-TV.

Key Highlights

  • Designated as an "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity" by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
  • The third-largest Historically Black College or University (HBCU) in the United States.
  • The School of Community Health and Policy's nursing class of 2018 achieved a perfect 100% pass rate on the NCLEX exam.
  • The Clarence M. Mitchell Jr. School of Engineering contributes over two-thirds of Maryland's African-American Civil Engineers and 60% of its African-American Electrical Engineers.
  • Received a total of $103 million in donations from MacKenzie Scott in 2020 and 2025, alongside a $20 million donation from Calvin E. Tyler Jr. in 2021.
  • Holds accreditations for various programs from ABET (Engineering), AACSB (Business), AACN (Nursing), and ACEJMC (Journalism and Mass Communication).

Timeline

1867
Founded as Centenary Biblical Institute to train young men in the ministry.
1890
Renamed Morgan College in honor of the Reverend Lyttleton Morgan.
1917
Moved to its present site in northeast Baltimore after meeting conditions for an Andrew Carnegie grant.
1939
Purchased by the state of Maryland and renamed Morgan State College.
1975
Designated as a university by state legislature, adding several doctoral programs.
1984
Clarence M. Mitchell Jr. School of Engineering admitted its first class.
2012
Opened the Center for the Built Environment and Infrastructure Studies (CBEIS).
2013
Established the School of Global Journalism and Communication.
2020
Received a $40 million donation from MacKenzie Scott.
2025
Received an additional $63 million donation from MacKenzie Scott, the largest in institutional history.
🏛️
159 Years
of Excellence

Schools & Colleges

4 notable schools within Morgan State University

⚙️

Clarence M. Mitchell Jr. School of Engineering

Offers Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) accredited degrees, producing a significant majority of Maryland's African-American Civil and Electrical Engineers. The school is housed in a modern facility that includes sixteen teaching laboratories and five research laboratories, with an additional 40,000 sq ft facility completed in 1998.

💼

Earl G. Graves School of Business and Management

Named after alumnus Earl G. Graves, Sr., this school offers Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, Master of Business Administration (MBA), and PhD degree programs. Its programs are accredited by The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).

🏫

School of Community Health and Policy

Offers an American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) accredited program in nursing, along with degree programs in nutritional sciences and health education. It also provides graduate programs leading to the Master of Public Health, Master of Science, and Doctor of Public Health (DPH). Its nursing class of 2018 achieved a 100% pass rate.

🏫

School of Global Journalism and Communication

Established in 2013, it is one of only two Maryland-based universities with an internationally accredited journalism school by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC). Degree programs include journalism, strategic communications, and multiplatform production, and it hosts student-run media like The Spokesman, WMUR Baltimore, and BEAR-TV.

Leadership

President
Provost

Data from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

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