HBCU Homecoming: A Week-Long Labor of Love
For graduates of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), autumn is a time of nostalgia and pride. As the leaves change colors, thousands of alumni return to their alma maters for a week-long celebration of friendship, community, and academic excellence. Homecoming is a time-honored tradition that brings together generations of students, faculty, and staff to reminisce about the past and look forward to the future.
According to the United Negro College Fund, HBCUs make up only three percent of the country’s colleges and universities, yet they enroll 10% of all Black college students and produce almost 20% of all Black college graduates. This impressive record is a testament to the dedication and perseverance of HBCU alumni, who continue to support their institutions and each other long after graduation.
From Vice President Kamala Harris, who attended Howard University, to Megan Thee Stallion, who graduated from Texas Southern University, HBCU alumni return to their campuses with a plan. Whether they come back to rekindle romance, raise funds for current students, address campus issues, or simply party like undergraduates again, homecoming is a week-long labor of love.
While homecoming is a time of celebration, it’s not limited to graduates. Friends and supporters of HBCUs are welcome to join in the festivities, buying tickets for the football game and tailgate, cheering on the athletes, and enjoying the world-famous marching bands. Many alumni also attend the homecomings of other schools, networking with friends and family whose caps and gowns bear different colors.
Attending an HBCU homecoming can be a life-changing experience, filled with fellowship and a shining example of enduring Black legacies. Take a look at the schedule of 2024 HBCU homecomings and classic football games below:
October 5, 2024 Gameday
- Alcorn State University
- Alabama State University
- Delaware State University
- Kentucky State University
- Lincoln University of Missouri
- Morgan State University
- Miles College
- Texas Southern University
October 12, 2024 Gameday
- Tennessee State University
- Virginia State University
- The Lincoln University
- Fort Valley State University
- West Virginia State University
- Alabama A&M University
- Morris Brown College
- Central State University
October 19, 2024 Gameday
- Howard University
- North Carolina A&T University
- Mississippi Valley State University
- Bowie State University
- Lane College
- Albany State University
- Clark Atlanta University
- Grambling State University
- Johnson C. Smith University
October 26, 2024 Gameday
- Morehouse College
- Benedict College
- North Carolina Central University
- Florida Memorial University
- Elizabeth City State University
- Lane College
- Fayetteville State University
- South Carolina State University
- Savannah State University
- University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
- Bethune-Cookman University
- Hampton University
- Norfolk State University
November 2, 2024 Gameday
- Allen University
- Virginia Union University
- Florida A&M University
- Jackson State University
- Shaw University
- Wiley College
November 9, 2024 Gameday
- Edward Waters University
- Fisk University
- University of Maryland Eastern Shore
- Tuskegee University
- Winston Salem-State University
- Xavier University of Louisiana
- Voorhees University
Football Classic Schedule
- September 28 – Circle City Classic (North Carolina Central vs Norfolk State)
- September 28 – State Fair Classic (Prairie View A&M vs Grambling State)
- October 5 – Gulf Coast Challenge (Jackson State vs Alabama A&M)
- October 5 – Morehouse-Tuskegee Classic (Tuskegee vs Morehouse)
- October 26 – Magic City Classic (Alabama State vs Alabama A&M)
- November 2 – Port City Classic (Alabama State vs Alcorn State)
- November 9 – AME Football Classic (Allen vs Edward Waters)
- November 9 – Battle of the AUC (Clark Atlanta vs Morehouse)
- November 9 – Fountain City Classic (Albany State vs Fort Valley State)
- November 21 – Frederick Douglass Classic (Albany State vs Central State)
- November 23 – Commemorative Classic (Johnson C. Smith vs Livingstone)
- November 23 – Florida Classic (Florida A&M vs Bethune-Cookman)
- November 28 – Turkey Day Classic (Alabama State vs Tuskegee)
- November 30 – Bayou Classic (Southern vs. Grambling State)
As the leaves fall and the seasons change, HBCU alumni and friends come together to celebrate the bonds of community, academic excellence, and the enduring legacy of Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
