HBCUs Are Hitting R1 — Here's Why It's Huge

Black Box Theory Podcast · Oct 27, 2026 · 4m · transcript

Underfunded for generations, and still out here producing a huge share of the country's Black engineers. Now HBCUs are climbing to the top research tier — and that changes everything. In this clip we get into it.

Malcolm and Thomas break down the significant federal funding being secured for HBCU STEM programs and what it means for institutions that have done so much with so little for so long. They get into R1 status — the "very high research activity" classification — what it actually takes to earn it, and why it's such a big deal: more research dollars, stronger programs, and a louder seat…