Marybeth Gasman, Rutgers University
Resche Hines, Trivium BI LLC
Angela Henderson, Trivium BI LLC
The MacKenzie Scott Donations to
Historically Black Colleges and Universities:
Exploring the Data Landscape
RESEARCH TEAM
The year 2020 was one of highs and lows. The United States was in the midst of
a devastating global pandemic and financial austerity. At the same time, racial
turmoil bubbled up and manifested in the continuous loss of African American
lives. On a more positive note, the country saw the rise of Kamala Harris, the first
Black and Asian Vice President of the United States and a Howard University
graduate. We also witnessed Spelman College graduate Stacey Abrams’
extraordinary work to ensure that residents of Georgia had the right to vote,
as well as the successful U.S. Senate campaign of Morehouse College graduate
Raphael Warnock. As these major changes took place, philanthropist MacKenzie
Scott surprised the Historically Black College and University (HBCU) community
with her donation of $560 million to 23 HBCUs – public and private (See Figure 1).
She also contributed millions to two HBCU advocacy and member organizations
– the United Negro College Fund and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. When
interviewed about the significance of the donations, most HBCU presidents
commented that they were the largest their institutions had ever received and
mentioned that these gifts would be transformative in multiple ways. In effect,
MacKenzie Scott’s donations could fundamentally change the landscape of
opportunity for HBCUs and the students who attend them (See Figure 2).
MacKenzie Sco is an author and philanthropist. As of
June 2021, Forbes magazine estimated she is worth $60
billion. In May 2019, she signed the Giving Pledge, which
is a “commitment by the world’s wealthiest individuals and
families to dedicate the majority of their wealth to giving
back.” Of note, Scott was a student of Pulitzer Prize-winning
author Toni Morrison when Scott attended Princeton
University. Scott was married to Jeff Bezos until 2019, and as
a condition of the divorce settlement, Bezos transferred 25% of his stake in Amazon to
her. To date, she has donated roughly $9 billion dollars in an effort to support people and
organizations facing inequities.
PHOTO CREDIT: Felipe Gregate
2
THE MACKENZIE SCOTT DONATIONS TO HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES: EXPLORING THE DATA LANDSCAPE
HBCUs have been the foundation of the African American middle class. They have a strong and
substantial record of contributions across all aspects of the nation, from science to law to business
to arts and humanities to leadership. However, these contributions are regularly overlooked by
the general public. Since their founding in the 1800s, philanthropists have provided support to
HBCUs; unfortunately, this support has often been minuscule compared to their large donations
to Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs) (Gasman, 2007; Gasman & Drezner, 2008). And, when
HBCUs were given these small donations, there were often considerable strings attached in the
form of control on the part of philanthropists such as John D. Rockefeller Jr., Andrew Carnegie,
and James William Baldwin (Anderson, 1988; Watkins, 2001).
HBCU RECIPIENTS OF MACKENZIE SCOTT DONATIONS
Figure 1
Institution Amount
Alcorn State University $25,000,000
Bowie State University $25,000,000
Claflin University $20,000,000
Clark Atlanta University $15,000,000
Delaware State University $20,000,000
Dillard University $5,000,000
Elizabeth City State University $15,000,000
Hampton University $30,000,000
Howard University $40,000,000
Lincoln University (PA) $20,000,000
Morehouse College $20,000,000
Morgan State University $40,000,000
Norfolk State University $40,000,000
North Carolina A & T State University $45,000,000
Prairie View A & M University $50,000,000
Spelman College $20,000,000
Tougaloo College $6,000,000
Tuskegee College $20,000,000
University of Maryland Eastern Shore $20,000,000
Virginia State University $30,000,000
Voorhees College $4,000,000
Winston-Salem State University $30,000,000
Xavier University of Louisiana $20,000,000
Source: Scott, M. (2020). "116 Organizations Driving Change," Medium; Scott, M. (2020). "384 Ways to
Help," Medium.
“The team sought suggestions
and perspective from hundreds
of field experts, funders,
and non-profit leaders and
volunteers with decades of
experience. We leveraged this
collective knowledge base in
a collaboration that included
hundreds of emails and phone
interviews, and thousands
of pages of data analysis on
community needs, program
outcomes, and each non-profit’s
capacity to absorb and make
effective use of funding.”
—MacKenzie Scott
3
THE MACKENZIE SCOTT DONATIONS TO HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES: EXPLORING THE DATA LANDSCAPE
LOCATION OF ALL HBCUs AND THOSE RECEIVING MACKENZIE SCOTT DONATIONS
Figure 2
1
2
3
4 5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
17
16
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
2627
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
40 41
39
43 44
42
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
54 55
53
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
British Virgin Islands
102
103
104
66
1. St Philip's College
2. Huston-Tillotson University
3. Langston University
4. Paul Quinn College
5. Southwestern Christian College
6. Prairie View A & M University
7. Texas Southern University
8. Texas College
9. Jarvis Christian College
10. Wiley College
11. Southern University at Shreveport
12. Grambling State University
13. Arkansas Baptist College
14. Philander Smith College
15. Shorter College
16. Lincoln University (MO)
17. University of Arkansas at Pine Blu
18. Southern University and A & M College
19. Alcorn State University
20. Coahoma Community College
21. Mississippi Valley State University
22. Harris-Stowe State University
23. Jackson State University
24. Tougaloo College
25. Xavier University of Louisiana
26. Dillard University
27. Southern University at New Orleans
28. Le Moyne-Owen College
29. Rust College
30. Lane College
31. Bishop State Community College
32. Stillman College
33. Shelton State Community College
34. Selma University
35. Concordia College Alabama
36. Miles College
37. Lawson State Community College
38. Tennessee State University
39. Meharry Medical College
40. Fisk University
41. American Baptist College
42. Oakwood University
43. J. F. Drake State Community and Technical
College
44. Alabama A & M University
45. H. Councill Trenholm State Community
College
46. Alabama State University
47. Talladega College
48. Gadsden State Community College
49. Simmons College of Kentucky
50. Tuskegee University
51. Kentucky State University
52. Morehouse College
53. Clark Atlanta University
54. Morehouse School of Medicine
55. Spelman College
56. Interdenominational Theological Center
57. Florida A & M University
58. Albany State University
59. Fort Valley State University
60. Wilberforce University
61. Central State University
62. Paine College
63. West Virginia State University
64. Edward Waters College
65. Bluefield State College
66. Voorhees College
67. Denmark Technical College
68. Savannah State University
69. Clinton College
70. Bethune-Cookman University
71. Benedict College
72. Allen University
73. Johnson C. Smith University
74. Claflin University
75. South Carolina State University
76. Livingstone College
77. Morris College
78. Florida Memorial University
79. Winston-Salem State University
80. Bennett College
81. North Carolina A & T State University
82. Virginia University of Lynchburg
83. North Carolina Central University
84. Fayetteville State University
85. Shaw University
86. Saint Augustine's University
87. Virginia Union University
88. Virginia State University
89. University of the District of Columbia
90. Howard University
91. Bowie State University
92. Coppin State University
93. Morgan State University
94. Hampton University
95. Norfolk State University
96. Elizabeth City State University
97. Lincoln University (PA)
98. University of Maryland Eastern Shore
99. Delaware State University
100. Cheyney University of Pennsylvania
101. University of the Virgin Islands
102. Morris Brown College**
103. Knoxville College**
104. Barber-Scotia College**
● HBCU ● HBCU Donation Recipient
**These institutions are currently not accredited. Morris Brown College has applied for accreditation through the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools. Of note, these institutions
were not included in the analysis in this report as IPEDS data is not available for them.
4
THE MACKENZIE SCOTT DONATIONS TO HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES: EXPLORING THE DATA LANDSCAPE
MacKenzie Scott’s attitude toward philanthropy is a model for future donors. Her data-driven
approach places trust in HBCU leaders’ decision-making ability and demonstrates an understanding
of what HBCUs need in order to thrive and be sustainable in the future. Philanthropists who are
interested in HBCUs could learn a great deal from her methods, which she outlined in a Medium
post on July 28, 2020. First, Scott and her team did extensive research before making the donations.
According to Scott, “I asked a team of advisors to help me accelerate my 2020 giving through
immediate support to people suffering the economic effects of the [COVID-19] crisis. They took
a data-driven approach to identify organizations with strong leadership teams and results, with
special attention to those operating in communities facing high projected food insecurity, high
measures of racial inequity, high local poverty rates, and low access to philanthropic capital.”
Next, Scott engaged experts across a variety of sectors in order to make the most informed
decisions. As she writes, “The team sought suggestions and perspective from hundreds of field
experts, funders, and non-profit leaders and volunteers with decades of experience. We leveraged
this collective knowledge base in a collaboration that included hundreds of emails and phone
interviews, and thousands of pages of data analysis on community needs, program outcomes, and
each non-profit’s capacity to absorb and make effective use of funding.”
Then, in a manner that is quite out of the ordinary, she made the donations with no strings
attached and was cognizant of the benefits of giving in this way. From Scott’s informed
perspective, “We do this research and deeper diligence not only to identify organizations with
high potential for impact, but also to pave the way for unsolicited and unexpected gifts given with
full trust and no strings attached.”
Scott also gave the donations upfront, and in a demonstration of trust in her team’s research and
the institutions that she gave to, she did not burden them with endless reporting obligations:
“Because our research is data-driven and rigorous, our giving process can be human and soft. Not
only are non-profits chronically underfunded, they are also chronically diverted from their work
by fundraising, and by burdensome reporting requirements that donors often place on them.”
Lastly, Scott’s contributions to HBCUs are non-discretionary funds, so HBCUs can use the funds
for what they determine is appropriate. This approach to philanthropy provides “maximum
flexibility.” Scott understands the strength in effective HBCU leadership and is confident in that
strength: “All of these leaders and organizations have a track record of effective management and
significant impact in their fields. I gave each a contribution and encouraged them to spend it on
whatever they believe best serves their efforts.”
“Because our research is data-
driven and rigorous, our giving
process can be human and
soft. Not only are non-profits
chronically underfunded, they
are also chronically diverted
from their work by fundraising,
and by burdensome reporting
requirements that donors often
place on them.”
—MacKenzie Scott
PHOTO CREDIT: Nqobile Vundla
5
THE MACKENZIE SCOTT DONATIONS TO HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES: EXPLORING THE DATA LANDSCAPE
OUR APPROACH TO THE RESEARCH
As researchers, we were excited about MacKenzie Scott’s data-driven approach to giving. Of
course, most philanthropists do background research in order to determine to whom they will
donate, but few are as explicit about their approach as Scott. Given that she gave to 23 specific
HBCUs of the 104 in the nation, we were curious about why these institutions might have received
donations. Some HBCUs, such as Spelman, Morehouse, or Howard, which have become ‘household
names’ for those with varying knowledge of HBCUs, make sense at first glance, but others in the
23 are not as recognizable beyond the HBCU community. To quell our curiosity, and perhaps yours
as a reader, this report provides data on the HBCU recipients of MacKenzie Scott’s donations. We
also provide spotlights that compare HBCUs that received donations with like HBCUs that did not
receive them. We based comparisons on factors such as public/private status, size, mission, and
affiliations with various organizations.
Of note, we approached this project with an understanding that philanthropists have their own
perspective on giving and that anything from relationships to a touching story to empirical data
can be the reason for their giving. We also believe that any donations to HBCUs are important
and essential. Our work is not a critique of MacKenzie Scott nor the HBCUs that did not receive
donations (or the ones that did, for that matter). Instead, we are interested in the factors that
might have attracted the philanthropist to these specific institutions overall.
Data obtained from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Integrated Postsecondary
Education Data System (IPEDS) served as the primary data source for this project. Within the
publicly accessible IPEDS Data Center, we identified all HBCUs and the most recent eight years
of data related to their characteristics and performance. Variables included those related to
admissions, cost, enrollment, student outcomes, financial aid, and institutional finances. We also
examined institutional ranking data from U.S. News and World Report’s ranking of HBCUs.
1
We imported data into Power BI, a visual analytics program, to promote the exploration and
identification of patterns through the use of data visualization. HBCUs receiving donations from
MacKenzie Scott were coded to facilitate comparison to HBCUs not receiving donations. With the
HBCUs categorized into two groups, those that received a donation from MacKenzie Scott and
those that did not, we examined variables to determine areas of greatest discrepancy.
At the foundational level, our goal was to develop a tool—visualized and designed to facilitate data
literacy and empower HBCUs—to identify key data points that can be leveraged to their strategic
benefit. The various data elements provide a road map for how visualized data supports HBCUs'
ability to gain strategic insights from complex data and drives them to not only make data-informed
decisions, but to further develop a culture nested in organizational learning.
Over the course of history, some
philanthropists have approached
giving to colleges and universities
with the idea in mind that they
are rewarding high performing
institutions. Other philanthropists
have been interested in stimulating
growth and thus, focus their donations
on lower performing institutions. We
believe that HBCUs deserve both
philanthropic approaches, and that
both strategies are needed to sustain
HBCUs as a whole into the future.
We also believe that access to data
is essential to informed and strategic
philanthropic giving. With this idea in
mind, readers can click on all figures in
this report and interact with the data
behind them.
—Gasman, Heinz, & Henderson
1
Although IPEDS provides some information related to HBCUs, it is essential that philanthropists talk directly with leaders of HBCUs to
gain an understanding of their strengths and challenges, and to gain a more well-rounded view overall.
6
THE MACKENZIE SCOTT DONATIONS TO HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES: EXPLORING THE DATA LANDSCAPE
A COMPARISON OF DONATION RECIPIENTS WITH NON-
RECIPIENTS
The heartbeat of every college and university in the nation is enrollment. Over the past two
decades, some HBCUs have had challenges with sustaining enrollment, while others have grown. In
examining the number of first-time degree-seeking undergraduates enrolled at HBCUs, institutions
receiving donations were consistently found to have a higher median number of first-time degree-
seeking students. On average, the median enrollment of new students was more than 300 students
greater for HBCUs that received funding when compared to the median enrollment for those that
did not receive funding. Specifically, the median enrollment for first-time degree-seeking students
in the entering classes of institutions receiving donations was 716 students compared to 349
students for institutions that did not receive donations (See Figure 3).
Figure 3
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
381
655
367
659
317
596
358
631
369
762
333
749
341
865
325
814
MEDIAN NUMBER OF DEGREE-SEEKING FIRST TIME
STUDENTS – COMPARISON
■ HBCU Non-Donation Recipients ■ HBCU Donation Recipients
“On average, the median
enrollment of new students was
more than 300 students greater
for HBCUs that received
funding when compared to the
median enrollment for those
that did not receive funding.”
Source: IPEDS, 2020 release.
7
THE MACKENZIE SCOTT DONATIONS TO HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES: EXPLORING THE DATA LANDSCAPE
In alignment with broader concerns about the value of higher education, the rising cost of a college
degree has also played a key role in the national conversation. The cost conversation is central to
the viability and the value of HBCUs. Nathenson, Castro Samayoa, and Gasman (2019) found the
cost of attendance at HBCUs to be lower than their PWI counterparts, with HBCUs enrolling far
more economically disadvantaged students compared to PWIs, and that nearly 70% of graduates
of HBCUs attain at least middle-class incomes. HBCUs receiving Scott's donations demonstrated
consistently higher median tuition and fee costs than HBCUs not receiving donations. As of 2019
data, the median combined in-state tuition and fees for HBCUs receiving donations was $10,861,
$2,293 higher than the median cost of HBCUs not receiving funding from Scott (See Figure 4).
Figure 4
0 5000 10000
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
0 5,000 10,000
$7,182
$9,804
$7,764
$10,218
$7,764
$10,608
$8,136
$10,600
$8,495
$10,600
$8,897
$10,600
$9,006
$10,861
MEDIAN IN-STATE TUITION & FEES COMPARISON
■ HBCU Non-Donation Recipients ■ HBCU Donation Recipients
“We do this research and
deeper diligence not only to
identify organizations with high
potential for impact, but also to
pave the way for unsolicited and
unexpected gifts given with full
trust and no strings attached.”
—MacKenzie Scott
Source: IPEDS, 2020 release.
8
THE MACKENZIE SCOTT DONATIONS TO HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES: EXPLORING THE DATA LANDSCAPE
One of the important metrics of student academic success in the current landscape of higher
education is the full-time retention rate. This metric is defined by how many students attend
a college or university for the first time, register for 12 or more credit hours in their first term,
and return to the same institution the next fall. Research pertaining to retention shows that an
individual’s characteristics upon entering college have an impact on the likelihood of retention
(Braxton, 2000; Karp et al., 2008; Pascarella & Terenzini, 1991; Rovai et al., 2005; Silver Wolf et
al., 2017; Tinto, 1975). Characteristics such as family socioeconomic status, parent education,
academic aptitude, student demographics, and high school achievements affect college retention.
Pascarella and Terenzini (1991) noted the importance of student-institution fit as it relates to
persistence, specifically the social and academic experiences of students. Retention is influenced
by a combination of factors from academic, social, and economic aspects (Karp et al., 2008; Rovai
et al 2005; Silver Wolf et al., 2017). Integrative models, which include all three aspects, provide
a more thorough view of student retention. St. John et al. (2000) noted many economic studies
on persistence fail to incorporate variables related to academic and social experiences. When
comparing full-time retention rates for HBCUs that received donations and those that did not, the
data indicate that the median full-time retention rates were found to be consistently higher for
HBCUs that received a donation. On average, institutions selected to receive donations attained
retention rates fifteen percent higher than institutions that did not receive a donation. These
findings are important because HBCUs, that did not receive donations, have the ability to engage
with HBCUs that received donations to potentially increase their understanding of how leveraging
institutional and student-level data can enhance strategies to improve student retention and
student success (See Figure 5).
MEDIAN FULL-TIME RETENTION RATE COMPARISON
Figure 5
0
50
100
0
50%
100%
2012 2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
71%
72%
74% 74%
73%
72%
73%
71%
55%
56% 56%
58%
59%
58%
57%
60%
■ HBCU Non-Donation Recipients ■ HBCU Donation Recipients
“On average, institutions
selected to receive donations
attained retention rates fifteen
percent higher than institutions
that did not receive a donation.”
Source: IPEDS, 2020 release.
9
THE MACKENZIE SCOTT DONATIONS TO HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES: EXPLORING THE DATA LANDSCAPE
Median six-year bachelor’s graduation rates were also found to remain consistently higher for
those institutions selected to receive a donation. On average, institutions selected to receive
donations attained six-year graduation rates sixteen percent higher than institutions that did not
receive a donation (See Figure 6).
MEDIAN 6-YEAR UNDERGRADUATE GRADUATION RATE
COMPARISON
Figure 6
0
50
100
0
50%
100%
2012 2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
40%
26%
43% 43%
41%
42%
42%
42%
47%
26%
27% 27%
23%
26%
28% 28%
■ HBCU Non-Donation Recipients ■ HBCU Donation Recipients
Source: IPEDS, 2020 release.
10
THE MACKENZIE SCOTT DONATIONS TO HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES: EXPLORING THE DATA LANDSCAPE
In examining the median net revenue attained for the equivalent of each full-time student enrolled,
the difference between the two groups of institutions was not as dramatic. For six of the eight years
of data, HBCUs receiving donations generated more net revenue per student than HBCUs not
receiving donations (See Figure 7).
Figure 7
0 2000 4000 6000 8000
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2019
0 $2,000 $4,000 $6,000 $8,000
$6,173
$7,094
$7,120
$7,470
$7,175
$7,711
$7,120
$7,459
$7,456
$8,341
$6,845
$8,285
$7,715
$6,931
$7,441
$7,047
MEDIAN NET REVENUE PER FTE COMPARISON
■ HBCU Donation Non-Recipients ■ HBCU Donation Recipients
Source: IPEDS, 2020 release.
11
THE MACKENZIE SCOTT DONATIONS TO HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES: EXPLORING THE DATA LANDSCAPE
The percentage of full-time, first-time undergraduate students receiving Pell grants provided
another consistent data point over time.
2
As shown in Figure 8, HBCUs that received a donation
reported lower median rates of full-time, first-time students receiving Pell grants. On average,
institutions selected to receive donations reported fourteen percent fewer first-time full-time
students receiving Pell grants than institutions that did not receive a donation.
Giving toward the endowment of a college or university serves as a critical lifeline to support
institutional missions and students. By and large, institutions with more recognizable brands, and
that are more highly ranked by U.S. News and World Report (see Figure 9), tend to receive larger
philanthropic donations (e.g. Harvard University, Princeton University, Yale University). This
pattern of giving extends to HBCUs, with the well-known institutions such as Spelman College,
Morehouse College, and Howard University often times receiving larger gifts within the HBCU
community in comparison to lesser-known HBCUs.
However, the more well-known and better-resourced HBCUs, such as Spelman, Howard, and
Morehouse, have endowments that still are only a small fraction of those held by comparable PWIs
across the country.
In the current analysis of endowments, we made the strategic choice to measure endowment
income per FTE
3
rather than total endowment because we wanted the reader to consider the
impact of endowment size in relation to student population. When comparing endowment per FTE,
institutions that received a gift on average had a $10,000 higher endowment per FTE. Specifically,
the average endowment per FTE of HBCU donation recipients is $29,915 compared to the average
endowment per FTE of all HBCUs which is $18,399 (See Figure 10).
MEDIAN PELL GRANT RECIPIENTS PERCENTAGE
COMPARISON
Figure 8
0
50
100
0
50%
100%
2012 2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
82%
81%
80%
81%
79%
80%
81%
81%
67%
65% 65%
66%
68%
67%
66%
67%
■ HBCU Non-Donation Recipients ■ HBCU Donation Recipients
“HBCUs that received a
donation reported lower median
rates of full-time, first-time
students receiving Pell grants.”
2
The Pell Grant is a form of need-based federal financial aid that typically does not have to be repaid. It is awarded by the U.S. Department
of Education to help eligible low-income students pay for college costs, including tuition, fees, room and board, and other educational
expenses. The majority of Pell Grant funds are allocated to families with an income under $26,000. For more information, please see: https://
studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/grants/pell.
3
FTE means “full-time equivalency” for the purposes of full-time enrolled students.
Source: IPEDS, 2020 release.
12
THE MACKENZIE SCOTT DONATIONS TO HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES: EXPLORING THE DATA LANDSCAPE
PHOTO CREDIT: Mike Von
U.S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORT HBCU RANKING AND
DONATION
4
Figure 9
Institution Ranking Donation
Spelman College 1 $20,000,000
Howard University 2 $40,000,000
Xavier University of Louisiana 3 $20,000,000
Tuskegee University 4 $20,000,000
Hampton University 5 $30,000,000
Morehouse College 6 $20,000,000
North Carolina A & T State University 7 $45,000,000
Claflin University 9 $20,000,000
Delaware State University 11 $20,000,000
Morgan State University 13 $40,000,000
Tougaloo College 14 $6,000,000
Clark Atlanta University 15 $15,000,000
Winston-Salem State University 16 $30,000,000
University of Maryland Eastern Shore 18 $20,000,000
Alcorn State University 19 $25,000,000
Lincoln University (PA) 20 $20,000,000
Norfolk State University 20 $40,000,000
Dillard University 22 $5,000,000
Elizabeth City State University 22 $15,000,000
Virginia State University 24 $30,000,000
Bowie State University 26 $25,000,000
Prairie View A & M University 26 $50,000,000
Voorhees College 50 $4,000,000
4
Please note that the U.S. News & World Report rankings are not a fair measure of the value of HBCUs. Please see the following discussion for
more information on the privileging nature of these rankings: https://uncf.org/news/malcolm-gladwell-examines-national-college-rankings-
system-in-podcast-revisionist-history. We include the rankings as they are often consulted by philanthropists and funders.
13
THE MACKENZIE SCOTT DONATIONS TO HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES: EXPLORING THE DATA LANDSCAPE
PHOTO CREDIT: Kirsten Marie
ENDOWMENT PER FTE COMPARISON
Figure 10
Institution Donation
Endowment assets
(year end) per
FTE enrollment
Spelman College $20,000,000 $172,694
Howard University $40,000,000 $76,396
Dillard University $5,000,000 $71,192
Morehouse College $20,000,000 $67,980
Hampton University $30,000,000 $62,648
Xavier University of Louisiana $20,000,000 $54,588
Tuskegee University $20,000,000 $39,449
Tougaloo College $6,000,000 $22,263
Lincoln University (PA) $20,000,000 $19,418
Clark Atlanta University $15,000,000 $18,949
Voorhees College $4,000,000 $15,901
Virginia State University $30,000,000 $13,490
Claflin University $20,000,000 $13,170
University of Maryland Eastern Shore $20,000,000 $9,566
Prairie View A & M University $50,000,000 $9,358
Elizabeth City State University $15,000,000 $7,871
Winston-Salem State University $30,000,000 $7,168
North Carolina A & T State University $45,000,000 $7,152
Alcorn State University $25,000,000 $5,677
Morgan State University $40,000,000 $5,563
Delaware State University $20,000,000 $5,158
Norfolk State University $40,000,000 $5,116
Bowie State University $25,000,000 $1,956
Source: IPEDS, 2020 release.
THE MACKENZIE SCOTT DONATIONS TO HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES: EXPLORING THE DATA LANDSCAPE
14
VOORHEES COLLEGE, located in Denmark, South Carolina,
is a small, “career-focused, liberal arts college” that is affiliated
with the Episcopal Church. It is a member of the United Negro
College Fund and is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of
the Southern Associaons of Colleges and Schools. The college’s
enrollment is roughly 505 full-time, undergraduate students.
MacKenzie Scott made a $4 million donation to the institution.
Voorhees president, Ronnie Hopkins, was named the interim
president in January 2021; W. Franklin Evans was president
for five years when MacKenzie Scott made a donation to the
institution (See Figure 11 & 13).
PAUL QUINN COLLEGE, located in Dallas, Texas, is a small,
faith-based college that is affiliated with the African Methodist
Episcopal Church. Its mission includes addressing the academic,
social, and Christian developmental needs of students. Paul Quinn
College also aims to prepare students to be “servant leaders and
agents of change in the global marketplace.” Paul Quinn College
is accredited by the Transnaonal Associaon of Chrisan
Colleges and Schools and is not a member of the United Negro
College Fund. The enrollment at the college is roughly 525 full-
time, undergraduate students. Paul Quinn’s president, Michael
Sorrell, has held the position for 13 years (See Figures 12 & 14).
VOORHEES COLLEGE (FUNDED)/PAUL QUINN COLLEGE (NOT FUNDED) COMPARISON
In this section below, we compare similar institutions that were either funded or not funded by philanthropist MacKenzie Scott.
5
We
offer two caveats: 1.) We do not intend to pit institutions against each other, but instead are merely offering a comparison; 2.) Our
comparisons demonstrate that philanthropic giving is not a science; it is also emotional and based on relationships. Despite being data-
driven in her approach, Scott donated to a variety of HBCUs – some that rank more highly on traditional quality measures, and others
that do not. Given that the philanthropist consulted experts in the field as well as foundation leaders, these perspectives on HBCUs and
HBCU leadership are likely to have played a part in her funding decisions as well.
5
These data are designed intentionally to provide a visual narrative. Specifically, to enlighten and guide readers through visualized pathways that leverage meaningful insights and allow a
comprehensive understanding for how organizations can disseminate key organizational metrics and insights from publicly available national data. These metrics provide the foundation for
development of a data-informed and data-driven culture that results in actionable data circulated to key public and institutional stakeholders (i.e., boards of trustees, faculty, administrators,
students, and staff). As student success outcomes, more specifically retention and graduation rates, continue to play a greater role in informing institutional decision-making, careful consideration
must be given to the development of solutions that help institutional leaders contextualize their data.
SPOTLIGHT COMPARISONS
On the next page, we provide a comparison of the two institutions across graduation rates, percentage of Pell eligible undergraduates,
endowment per FTE student, and U.S. News & World Report HBCU ranking.
THE MACKENZIE SCOTT DONATIONS TO HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES: EXPLORING THE DATA LANDSCAPE
15
GRADUATION RATES
Voorhees College
Figure 13
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
0
20
40
60
80
100
0
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
91%
92%
89%
88%
85%
91%
84%
86%
PERCENTAGE OF FULL-TIME, FIRST-TIME UNDERGRADUATES AWARDED PELL GRANTS
ENDOWMENT PER FTE:
Voorhees College: $15,901
Paul Quinn College: $5,068
U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT HBCU RANKING:
Voorhees College: 50
Paul Quinn College: unranked
Voorhees College
Figure 11
0
10
20
30
40
29%
0
10%
20%
30%
40%
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
33% 33%
34%
26%
29%
43%
41%
16%
20%
18%
23%
16%
18%
28%
33
%
■ Graduation rate - Bachelor degree within 6 years total
■ Graduation rate - Bachelor degree within 4 years total
Paul Quinn College
6
Figure 12
0
10
20
30
40
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
1%
0
10%
20%
30%
40%
5%
13%
19%
20% 20%
4%
8%
1%
0%
3% 3%
13%
10%
9%
■ Graduation rate - Bachelor degree within 6 years total
■ Graduation rate - Bachelor degree within 4 years total
Paul Quinn College
Figure 14
0
20
40
60
80
100
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
87%
0
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
59%
77%
99%
92%
90%
82%
89%
6
Paul Quinn College noted in IPEDS that the institution "experienced extraordinary events related to accreditation from 2007-2009. We never lost accreditation; however, fall-out from the
process resulted in an enrollment change; 550 to 151 students, which resulted in almost all students transferring."
THE MACKENZIE SCOTT DONATIONS TO HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES: EXPLORING THE DATA LANDSCAPE
16
ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY, located in Alcorn, Mississippi,
is a public, land-grant institution. Alcorn’s mission is: “intellectual
development and lifelong learning through the integration of
diverse pedagogies, applied and basic research, cultural and
professional programs, public service and outreach, while
providing access to globally competitive academic and research
programs.” It is a member of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund
and is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern
Associaons of Colleges and Schools. The college’s enrollment is
2,729 full-time, undergraduate students. Felecia M. Nave is the
president of Alcorn State University and has been since 2019
(See Figures 15 & 17).
JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY, located in Jackson,
Mississippi, is a public, comprehensive, urban research
university. Its mission is to: “provide quality teaching,
research, and service at the baccalaureate, masters, specialist,
and doctoral levels to diverse populations of students and
communities using various modalities to ensure that they are
technologically-advanced, ethical, global leaders who think
critically and can address societal problems and compete
effectively.” Jackson State University enrolls 4,126 full-time,
undergraduate students. The university is a member of the
Thurgood Marshall College Fund and is accredited by the
Commission on Colleges of the Southern Associaons of
Colleges and Schools. Thomas Hudson has served as president
since 2020 (See Figures 16 & 18).
ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY (FUNDED) /JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY (NOT FUNDED)
On the next page, we provide a comparison of the two institutions across graduation rates, percentage of Pell eligible undergraduates,
endowment per FTE student, and U.S. News & World Report ranking.
THE MACKENZIE SCOTT DONATIONS TO HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES: EXPLORING THE DATA LANDSCAPE
17
ENDOWMENT PER FTE:
Alcorn State University: $5,677
Jackson State University: $7,105
U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT HBCU RANKING:
Alcorn State University: 19
Jackson State University: 16
GRADUATION RATES
PERCENTAGE OF FULL-TIME, FIRST-TIME UNDERGRADUATES AWARDED PELL GRANTS
Alcorn State University
Figure 15
0
10
20
30
40
31%
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
0
10%
20%
30%
40%
34%
40%
34%
30%
32%
40%
40%
15%
18%
20%
17%
16%
15%
19%
22%
■ Graduation rate - Bachelor degree within 6 years total
■ Graduation rate - Bachelor degree within 4 years total
Alcorn State University
Figure 17
0
20
40
60
80
100
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
0
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
55%
67%
71%
74% 74%
79%
86%
70%
Jackson State University
Figure 18
0
20
40
60
80
100
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
82%
0
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
73%
74%
76%
70%
60%
55%
77%
Jackson State University
Figure 16
■ Graduation rate - Bachelor degree within 6 years total
■ Graduation rate - Bachelor degree within 4 years total
0
10
20
30
40
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
45%
0
10%
20%
30%
40%
39%
43%
40%
38%
34%
43%
38%
21%
17%
19% 19% 19% 19%
24%
20%
THE MACKENZIE SCOTT DONATIONS TO HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES: EXPLORING THE DATA LANDSCAPE
18
PRAIRIE VIEW A & M UNIVERSITY is a rural, public, land-
grant university that is part of the Texas A & M University
System. It is located in Prairie View, Texas. Its mission is
“dedicated to achieving excellence and relevance in teaching,
research, and service. It seeks to invest in programs and
services that address issues and challenges affecting the
diverse ethnic and socioeconomic population of Texas and
the larger society including the global arena.” Prairie View
is a member of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund and is
accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern
Associaons of Colleges and Schools. The enrollment is 7,501
full-time, undergraduate students. The president, Ruth
Simmons, has been in the leadership role since 2017 (See
Figures 19 & 21).
FLORIDA A & M UNIVERSITY, located in Tallahassee,
Florida, is a public, land-grant university. Its mission is the
“advancement of knowledge, resolution of complex issues and
the empowerment of citizens and communities.” Florida A & M
University is a member of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund
and is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern
Associaons of Colleges and Schools. The enrollment is 6,802
full-time, undergraduate students. The president, Larry Robinson,
was named to the role in 2017 (See Figures 20 & 22).
PRAIRIE VIEW A & M UNIVERSITY (FUNDED) /FLORIDA A & M UNIVERSITY (NOT FUNDED) COMPARISON
On the next page, we provide a comparison of the two institutions across graduation rates, percentage of Pell eligible undergraduates,
endowment per FTE student, and U.S. News & World Report ranking.
THE MACKENZIE SCOTT DONATIONS TO HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES: EXPLORING THE DATA LANDSCAPE
19
ENDOWMENT PER FTE:
Prairie View A&M University: $9,358
Florida A&M University: $8,973
U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT HBCU RANKING:
Prairie View A&M University: 26
Florida A&M University: 7
GRADUATION RATES
PERCENTAGE OF FULL-TIME, FIRST-TIME UNDERGRADUATES AWARDED PELL GRANTS
Prairie View A & M University
Figure 19
■ Graduation rate - Bachelor degree within 6 years total
■ Graduation rate - Bachelor degree within 4 years total
0
10
20
30
40
50
0
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
36%
37% 37%
34%
31%
35%35%
36%
10%
11%
28%
11%
9%
13%
12%
11%
Prairie View A & M University
Figure 21
0
20
40
60
80
100
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
0
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
74% 74%
73%
74%
70%
69%
71%
69%
Florida A & M University
Figure 22
0
20
40
60
80
100
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
0
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
68% 68% 68%
70%
72%
64%
71%
68%
Florida A & M University
Figure 20
■ Graduation rate - Bachelor degree within 6 years total
■ Graduation rate - Bachelor degree within 4 years total
0
10
20
30
40
50
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
40%
0
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
41%
40%
39%
41%
48%
51%
53%
10%
12% 12%
11%
12%
13%
18%
22%
THE MACKENZIE SCOTT DONATIONS TO HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES: EXPLORING THE DATA LANDSCAPE
20
CLAFLIN UNIVERSITY, located in Orangeburg, South
Carolina, is a small, private, comprehensive institution of higher
education affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Its
mission is “dedicated to providing a student-centered, liberal
arts education grounded in cutting-edge research, experiential
learning, state-of-the art technology, community service, and
life-long personal and professional fulfillment.” Claflin is a
member of the United Negro College Fund and is accredited by
the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Associaons of
Colleges and Schools. The full-time, undergraduate enrollment
at the institution is 1,889. President Dwaun Warmack has been
in the leadership role since 2019 (See Figure 23 & 25).
BENEDICT COLLEGE, located in Columbia, South Carolina,
is a small, private liberal arts college affiliated with American
Baptist Churches. Its mission is to “provide transformative
learning experiences characterized by high quality academic,
co-curricular and extra-curricular programming, intentionally
designed to develop superior cultural and professional
competencies for a diverse student body.” Benedict is a member
of the United Negro College Fund and is accredited by the
Commission on Colleges of the Southern Associaons of
Colleges and Schools. The full-time, undergraduate enrollment
at Benedict is 2,012. Roslyn Artis, the president of Benedict, has
been in the role since 2017 (See Figure 24 & 26).
CLAFLIN UNIVERSITY (FUNDED) / BENEDICT COLLEGE (NOT FUNDED) COMPARISON
On the next page, we provide a comparison of the two institutions across graduation rates, percentage of Pell eligible undergraduates,
endowment per FTE student, and U.S. News & World Report ranking.
THE MACKENZIE SCOTT DONATIONS TO HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES: EXPLORING THE DATA LANDSCAPE
21
ENDOWMENT PER FTE:
Clain University: $13,170
Benedict College: $9,936
U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT HBCU RANKING:
Clain University: 9
Benedict College: 59-77 (*unranked in this group)
GRADUATION RATES
PERCENTAGE OF FULL-TIME, FIRST-TIME UNDERGRADUATES AWARDED PELL GRANTS
Claflin University
7
Figure 23
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
44%
0
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
44%
49%
16%
56%
53%
50%
51%
39%
40%
39%
40%
11%
32%
29%
26%
■ Graduation rate - Bachelor degree within 6 years total
■ Graduation rate - Bachelor degree within 4 years total
Benedict College
Figure 24
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
0
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
29%
30%
31%
27%
22%
26%
29%
24%
12%
14%
15%
14%
9%
14%
21%
14%
■ Graduation rate - Bachelor degree within 6 years total
■ Graduation rate - Bachelor degree within 4 years total
Claflin University
Figure 25
0
20
40
60
80
100
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
0
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
91%
92%
89%
81%
86%
80%
79%
80%
Benedict College
Figure 26
0
20
40
60
80
100
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
0
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
85%
82%
83%
85%
82%
85%
85%
83%
7
Please note that 2015 is an aberration for Claflin. However, these numbers were reported to IPEDS.
22
THE MACKENZIE SCOTT DONATIONS TO HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES: EXPLORING THE DATA LANDSCAPE
RECOMMENDATIONS
Philanthropists should take a lead from MacKenzie Scott and give to colleges and universities that
serve first-generation, low-income, and students of color in order to have the largest impact.
Philanthropists can better support HBCUs by giving across the spectrum of these institutions in
various regions of the country.
Philanthropists can demonstrate their trust in HBCU leadership, as well as their understanding of
how higher education institutions function, by giving donations that are unrestricted.
HBCUs can benefit from reviewing important data metrics and benchmarking their institution in
relation to other institutions.
Philanthropists should follow MacKenzie Scott’s lead and invest in more African American-led
institutions and organizations, supporting Black communities overall.
Philanthropists would have a larger impact and thus reach a greater diversity of students if they
gave beyond a well-known set of institutions.
HBCUs can benefit from having access to and knowledge of their own data. Remember to click on
the various tables in this report to access interactive HBCU data.
Philanthropists could strengthen HBCUs by giving specifically to their endowments, adding to
the sustainability of the institutions and ensuring they are on equitable, solid foundations in
comparison to like Predominantly White Institutions.
As HBCUs with consistent leadership are more likely to receive philanthropic support, it is
essential that boards of trustees choose presidents with a significant commitment to leading the
institution, and that they give them the autonomy to lead.
Philanthropists should consult data to make better informed decisions around giving, considering
the donations to both high performing institutions to reward growth and lower performing
institutions to stimulate growth.
CONCLUSION
MacKenzie Scott’s historic donations have the potential to fundamentally strengthen HBCUs
as a sector, especially if she continues to donate to the remaining institutions. Perhaps the most
powerful and lasting impact of Scott’s donations is that more philanthropists will see the value
and contributions of HBCUs and make data-informed donations to them. There is considerable
evidence that HBCUs provide a rich education to African American students and that they offer a
safe environment that actualizes the phrase “Black Lives Matter.” All HBCUs, even those that are
not household names, are a significant source of future leaders, thinkers, artists, and activists. Any
proclamations on behalf of individuals or organizations that are related to valuing African American
contributions and people must include HBCUs at their foundation.
23
THE MACKENZIE SCOTT DONATIONS TO HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES: EXPLORING THE DATA LANDSCAPE
REFERENCES
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Karp, M. M., Hughes, K. L., & O'Gara, L. (2008). An exploration of Tinto's
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Scott, M. (2020). 116 Organizations Driving Change. Medium, https://mackenzie-
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Tinto, V. (1975). Dropout from higher education: A theoretical synthesis of
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AUTHOR BIOS
Marybeth Gasman is the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Endowed
Chair and a Distinguished Professor in the Graduate School
of Education at Rutgers University. She also serves as the
Executive Director of the Rutgers Center for Minority Serving
Institutions and the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Institute for
Leadership, Equity, and Justice.
Resche Hines is the Chief Executive Officer for Trivium BI. His
areas of expertise are in data driven and informed leadership,
strategic planning, strategic enrollment management, and
institutional change management in K-12, Higher Education
and not for profit sectors. He graduated with a Ph.D. In
Educational Administration from Michigan State University,
and has a Master of Science in Community Psychology
and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the Florida
Agricultural and Mechanical University.
Angela Henderson is the Chief Data Architect for Trivium
BI. Her areas of expertise and interest include data-informed
analyses, data visualization, and integration of data to guide
institutional decision-making processes. Throughout her
15 years of higher education experience, she has presented
numerous sessions on these topics at national and regional
conferences. She has served as a co-editor and author for
New Direcons of Instuonal Research and Culvang a Data
Culture in Higher Educaon (2018).
Please cite this report as: Gasman, M., Hines, R., & Henderson, A.
(2021). The MacKenzie Sco Donaons to Historically Black Colleges
and Universies: Exploring the Data Landscape. New Brunswick, N.J.:
Rutgers Center for Minority Serving Institutions.
Special thanks to Levon Esters (Purdue University), Leah Hollis (Morgan State University), Walter Kimbrough (Dillard University), John S. Wilson
(Harvard University), Andrés Castro Samayoa (Boston College), Brandy Jones (Rutgers University), and Natalie Passov (Rutgers University) for reading
drafts of this report and providing constructive feedback.
