The Higher Education Act of 1965 defines HBCUs as "any historically black college or university that was established prior to 1964, whose principal mission was, and is, the education of black Americans." HBCUs have a long legacy of producing successful graduates in all fields, with an active professional alumni network, which is one of the primary draws. In a competitive job market, students know they will have an extensive network within which to search for a job after graduation.
