Originally published September 2026. Updated October 2026.
The leading HBCU journalism, communications and PR programs in 2026 are Howard University's Cathy Hughes School of Communications, Florida A&M University's School of Journalism and Graphic Communication, North Carolina A&T's Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, and Hampton University's Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications. Each holds ACEJMC accreditation for its journalism programs, and each offers communications coursework beyond a single generalist major.
Historically Black colleges and universities have a long record of training Black journalists and communications professionals, and each program below publishes its own alumni and placement information. The four programs below have the deepest accreditation history among HBCUs and the most developed placement infrastructure across both the reporting and the communications sides of the discipline.
Which HBCU journalism and communications programs lead in 2026?
Howard, Florida A&M, North Carolina A&T, and Hampton lead the category, each holding ACEJMC accreditation for journalism. North Carolina A&T says its department is one of only seven accredited programs at HBCUs. All four sit inside metro or regional media markets that feed internship and placement pipelines into national newsrooms and PR agencies alike.
Why does Howard's Cathy Hughes School lead?
Howard University's program is housed in the Cathy Hughes School of Communications, named in 2016 for Cathy Hughes, founder of Radio One, now Urban One. Howard announced the naming alongside a multimillion-dollar gift from the Alfred C. Liggins III Foundation. The school was founded in 1971, and it offers programs in journalism, film, public relations, advertising and strategic communication, according to the school. ACEJMC lists Howard's B.A. in Media, Journalism and Film among its accredited programs, reaccredited in 2023.
Its Washington, DC location gives PR and public affairs students direct proximity to federal agencies, national trade associations, and the lobbying and government-relations firms concentrated in the capital, alongside the broadcast bureaus and wire services that feed its journalism track.
What makes Florida A&M's program distinctive?
Florida A&M University's School of Journalism and Graphic Communication offers journalism, public relations and graphic design degrees under one school, giving PR-track students exposure to visual and editorial production alongside strategic communication coursework. ACEJMC first accredited FAMU's journalism program in 1982, the first at an HBCU, and reaccredited it in May 2025, according to the university.
North Carolina A&T State University's Department of Journalism and Mass Communication was reaccredited by ACEJMC in 2023 and is one of three accredited programs in North Carolina, according to the department. It sits inside the Piedmont Triad media market in Greensboro, North Carolina, which gives students agency and corporate internship access without requiring relocation to a coastal market.
What is distinctive about Hampton's Scripps Howard School?
Hampton University's Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications carries the name of the Scripps Howard Foundation, which committed $10 million to upgrade journalism education at the school, according to Journal-isms reporting. Hampton sits in the Mid-Atlantic corridor and combines journalism and communications programs inside a single school. Prospective students should ask the school for current placement data.
How do these programs compare on PR specifically?
Howard's Washington, DC location gives it the strongest structural advantage for public affairs and government-relations PR specifically, the same market-access logic that makes Georgetown's PR program and American University strong choices for that track among predominantly white institutions. Florida A&M's pairing of PR with graphic design is the most distinctive curriculum design among the four, useful for students who want visual production skills alongside strategic communication training. Students interested in PR at North Carolina A&T or Hampton should confirm the current PR courses and tracks with each school.
How do HBCU programs compare to the national top tier?
HBCU journalism and communications programs are frequently left out of generalist national rankings entirely, despite holding the same ACEJMC accreditation as Missouri or Columbia. The comparison that matters for a prospective student is not name recognition against those programs, it is the depth of each program's alumni network inside Black media and communications leadership, which a student can check by asking each school for its alumni directory and placement data. For the broader national comparison of pure journalism programs, see Best Journalism Schools in 2026 and the Missouri School of Journalism profile; for PR and communications specifically, see Best PR and Communications Schools in 2026; for leading programs outside the U.S., see Best International Journalism Schools, Ranked for 2026.
Which other programs does Everything-PR profile for PR students?
Howard University's Cathy Hughes School of Communications is the leading HBCU option for both journalism and PR, based on its Washington, DC location, its ACEJMC-accredited journalism program, and its PR and strategic communication offerings. Florida A&M, North Carolina A&T, and Hampton University's Scripps Howard School are the next tier, each with ACEJMC-accredited journalism and strong regional media and communications-market access.
Do HBCUs offer public relations degrees?
Yes. Florida A&M's School of Journalism and Graphic Communication lists public relations among its degrees, and Howard's Cathy Hughes School of Communications offers public relations and strategic communication programs. Prospective students should confirm current PR options at North Carolina A&T and Hampton with each school.
Which HBCU is best for public affairs PR?
Howard University, because its Washington, DC location gives public affairs and government-relations PR students direct proximity to federal agencies, trade associations, and lobbying firms, the same market-access advantage that makes Georgetown and American University strong choices for that track.
Who is the Cathy Hughes School named after?
The school is named for Cathy Hughes, founder of Radio One, now Urban One. Howard announced the naming in 2016 with a multimillion-dollar gift from the Alfred C. Liggins III Foundation.
Is Howard's journalism program accredited?
Yes. ACEJMC lists Howard University's B.A. in Media, Journalism and Film among its accredited programs, reaccredited in 2023. Missouri and Columbia Journalism School hold the same accreditation. Related on Everything-PR: Best Journalism Schools in 2026 · Missouri School of Journalism · Best International Journalism Schools, Ranked 2026 · Best PR and Communications Schools in 2026 · What Can You Do With a Public Relations Degree · Which Universities Teach GEO?
Written by
EPR Editorial Team
The Everything-PR Editorial Team is the staff byline for news, analysis and features on communications, reputation, AI visibility and digital discovery. Everything-PR has published since 2009. AI tools assist with research and drafting, and every article is reviewed by a human editor before publication. Coverage follows the Editorial Policy, and substantive corrections are noted on the article under the Corrections Policy.
