Historically Black Colleges and Universities, or HBCUs are institutions that previously were the only schools to admit Black or African American students. Many were established after the American Civil War and are still running. Today, while Black students are admitted to any university or college in the U.S., many still choose to attend HBCUs. They offer great benefits for African American and Black students, not just in terms of the quality of education but the atmosphere and on-campus culture. There are 14 HBCUs in Alabama, 11 in North Carolina, 10 in Georgia, 9 in Texas, 8 in South Carolina, and 7 each in Mississippi and Tennessee. The top HBCUs are often Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia, Howard University in Washington, D.C., and Florida A&M University in Tallahassee.