Benedict College in Columbia, South Carolina, reports that men make up 53% of its Fall 2026 incoming class, the second consecutive male-majority cohort. Its 731 new traditional undergraduates are the largest incoming class in that category since 2019.
National Center for Education Statistics figures cited in the article show men accounted for about 42% of U.S. undergraduates in 2024. In 2022, college enrollment among Black 18- to 24-year-olds was 32% for men and 39% for women. Black men made up 26% of HBCU students that year, down from 38% in 1976, according to The Root.
Benedict credits some of the growth to intentional outreach and efforts to expand access. The college says it pairs recruitment with academic and leadership support intended to help students succeed after they arrive on campus.
