HBCUs Face Legal Fight for Fair Funding in Missouri
A lawsuit in Missouri targets underfunding of HBCUs, seeking equity for Lincoln University and others. Legal efforts aim to address decades of financial disp...
POLICY WIRE — Jefferson City, United States — A legal initiative has begun in Missouri to confront the long-standing underfunding of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), with a lawsuit targeting the state’s failure to provide equitable funding to institutions like Lincoln University.
The lawsuit, filed by students and graduates of Lincoln University, claims that insufficient financial support has harmed educational quality and devalued degrees. The 1890 Project, a newly formed group, is expanding its focus to other states, arguing that HBCUs have been systematically underfunded compared to their non-HBCU counterparts.
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Historically, land-grant universities established under the Morrill Act of 1862 were meant to provide accessible education in practical fields. However, many HBCUs, including Lincoln University, were created as separate institutions for Black students. Despite federal mandates for equitable funding, analysis from the Biden administration found that only two states funded these institutions fairly. The lawsuit highlights a $361 million shortfall for Lincoln University between 1987 and 2020.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
