A living, source-backed record of publicly documented AI activity across HBCUs — institutes, labs, partnerships, certificates, research, and student access. Listed alphabetically, never ranked against one another.
Why this is not a ranking
HBCUs operate with different missions, sizes, and funding histories. A numbered list would measure budgets, not effort.
So we don’t publish one. This tracker documents what each institution has publicly announced about its AI work, links the primary source, and dates the verification. An institution with less documented activity is not behind — it may simply not have published yet, and we say so plainly rather than inferring a gap.
This tracker documents publicly available information about AI activity at HBCUs — AI education and literacy, student access, courses and certificates, faculty development, research, dedicated institutes and centers, partnerships, workforce preparation, responsible AI, entrepreneurship, and infrastructure investment. It is descriptive, not evaluative: institutions are listed alphabetically, are not scored, and are not ranked against one another. Where an institution has not published documentation, the record reads "Documentation pending" — which reflects available public information, not institutional quality.
Verified leadership spotlight
North Carolina Central University — Durham, North Carolina
NCCU identifies its Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Research (IAIER) as the first dedicated AI institute at an HBCU.
IAIER anchors freshman-wide AI education through UNIV 1100 for nearly 1,700 students, collaborations with OpenAI, Google and IBM, faculty seed grants and interdisciplinary research, student AI leadership programs, industry-recognized badges and certificates, and a dedicated facility of approximately 5,000 square feet.
Spotlights highlight documented, first-of-its-kind activity. They are not a placement above any other institution, and other institutions are welcome to submit their own documentation.
FAMU-FSU College of Engineering — NVIDIA AI Technology Center
NVIDIA AI Technology Center partnership
Direct hands-on
NVIDIA PartnerFederal Research
2025-11-01
Grambling State University
LA
Documentation pending
Emerging AI capacity
Not publicly confirmed
Unverified
Needs Verification
2025-11-01
Howard University
DC
Institution-wide AI infrastructure
Research Institute for Tactical Autonomy (RITA); NVIDIA GTC Student Experience
NVIDIA GTC student program
Direct hands-on
NVIDIA PartnerFederal ResearchPioneer
2025-11-01
Huston-Tillotson University
TX
Interdisciplinary & curricular AI activity
AI initiatives and technology programs within the Austin technology ecosystem
Not publicly confirmed
Course-based
Workforce Ready
2026-08-11
Jackson State University
MS
Interdisciplinary & curricular AI activity
Computational & data science programs
Not publicly confirmed
Course-based
2025-11-01
Miles College
AL
Research & specialized AI hubs
NVIDIA-integrated AI curriculum and faculty research initiative
Direct collaboration — curriculum, research, community engagement
Course-based
NVIDIA PartnerPioneer
2025-11-01
Morehouse College
GA
Research & specialized AI hubs
AI in CS program; AUC research collaborations
Not publicly confirmed
Course-based
Foundation
2025-11-01
Morgan State University
MD
Research & specialized AI hubs
Center for Equitable AI & Machine Learning Systems (CEAMLS)
Not publicly confirmed
Direct hands-on
Federal Research
2025-11-01
Norfolk State University
VA
Interdisciplinary & curricular AI activity
Cybersecurity & DoD AI programs
Not publicly confirmed
Course-based
Federal Research
2025-11-01
North Carolina A&T State University
NC
Institution-wide AI infrastructure
AI/ML, autonomous systems, robotics labs
Research collaborations
Direct hands-on
Federal ResearchWorkforce Ready
2025-11-01
North Carolina Central University
NC
Institution-wide AI infrastructure
Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Research (IAIER) — first AI institute at an HBCU, with a dedicated ~5,000 sq. ft. facility
Not publicly confirmed — partnerships with OpenAI, Google and IBM
Direct hands-on
First AI Institute at an HBCUOpenAI PartnerGoogle PartnerIBM CollaborationPioneer
2026-08-11
Savannah State University
GA
Documentation pending
Emerging AI capacity
Not publicly confirmed
Unverified
Needs Verification
2025-11-01
South Carolina State University
SC
Research & specialized AI hubs
AI education + workforce collaboration with NVIDIA
Workforce development collaboration
Course-based
NVIDIA PartnerWorkforce Ready
2025-11-01
Records are built from publicly available information. When a claim cannot be sourced it is labeled “Documentation pending” rather than presented as fact or as a shortfall.
HBCU.ai is an independent information project. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or authorized to speak for any college, university, federal agency, foundation, or company referenced on this site. Institution names and logos are used for identification only.
