A two-year institution named after its location in the state of Alabama, Gadsden State Community College was founded in 1925 as the Alabama School of Trades. Due to a series of mergers with other like-minded institutions for the rest of the century, the college has three campuses and three learning centers in Alabama as of February, 2011, with an enrollment of roughly 5,500 students. Its 79 associate degree programs include subject areas such as industrial automation technology, carpentry, aquatic biology, therapeutic massage therapy and legal transcription.
The Detroit-based Lewis College of Business is one of the few HBCUs located outside the former U.S. slave-holding states and territories. It is also known as the first of its kind in the state of Michigan. A private institution founded in 1928, it has 300 enrolled students as of February, 2011. LCB focuses on business-oriented classes in the certificate, associate, bachelor's and master's formats.
Morehouse College, founded in 1867 as the Augusta Institute, is one of the most popular HBCUs in the country, as well as one of the oldest. It is the alma mater of several famous black figures in American history, politics and culture, including Martin Luther King, Jr., Samuel L. Jackson, Maynard Jackson and Spike Lee. It is also one of the few traditionally all-male colleges remaining in the country. Students can choose from the 26 bachelor's programs available at the college's Business Administration & Economics, Humanities & Social Sciences and Science & Mathematics divisions. Programs include urban studies, African American studies and a dual degree in engineering and physics.
Spelman College is similar to Morehouse in three respects. First, it is based in Atlanta, Georgia. Second, it is one of the oldest and most popular HBCUs, founded in 1881 as the Atlanta Baptist Female Seminary. Finally, it is a private single-sex college, dedicated to serving the higher-education needs of women. It also has illustrious alumni, including Alice Walker and Keshia Knight Pulliam. Its 32 programs include comparative women's studies, anthropology, sociology, engineering, and African Diaspora and the World.