News You Can Use (Seriously)

For the first time in its history, U.S. News & World Report - the creators of infamous rank-and-file lists like America's Best Colleges, America's Best Graduate Schools and America's Best Hospitals - has created a list of the best black colleges. America's Best Black Colleges includes any HBCU defined by the U.S. Department of Education. The ranking below lists numerically the schools in the top half of the 70 eligible to be ranked. Thirty-seven schools are listed, and four of them are tied for 34th place. The second half of the list can be found in the upcoming issue of U.S. News & World Report, which will be available on newsstands beginning, Monday, October 1.

But honestly, we all know the real reason why HBCU's are hot. As anyone who's ever attended an HBCU will tell you, homecoming makes up for every headache a financial aid office gives to its students. On Friday, September 29, HBCU homecoming season will begin, and best believe, those who attend at least one are sure to walk away with a lifetime of memories. After going through the U.S. News & World Report list, be sure to check out this year's HBCU homecoming schedule. Then, mark your calendar, call your crew, rent a car, and hit the road.
America's Best Black Colleges as listed by U.S. News & World Report (The second half of the list can be seen in the October 8 issue.)

1. Spelman College (Atlanta, GA)
2. Howard University (Washington, DC)
3. Hampton University (Hampton, VA)
4. Morehouse College (Atlanta, GA)
5. Fisk University (Nashville, TN)
6. Tuskegee University (Tuskegee, AL)
7. Claflin University (Orangeburg, SC)
8. Xavier University of Louisiana (New Orleans, LA)
9. Dillard University (New Orleans, LA)
10. Johnson C. Smith University (Charlotte, NC)
11. Tennessee State University (Nashville, TN)
12. Winston-Salem State University (Winston-Salem, NC)
13. Florida A&M University (Tallahassee, FL)
14. Morgan State University (Baltimore, MD)
15. Virginia State University (Petersburg, VA)
16. Bennett College (Greensboro, NC)
16. Elizabeth City State University (Elizabeth City, NC)
16. North Carolina Central University (Durham, NC)
19. North Carolina A&T State University (Greensboro, NC)
20. Tougaloo College (Tougaloo, MS)
21. Alcorn State University (Alcorn State, MS)
22. Clark Atlanta University (Atlanta, GA)
22. Oakwood College (Huntsville, AL)
22. South Carolina State University (Orangeburg, SC)
22. University of Maryland Eastern Shore (Princess Anne, MD)
26. Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University (Normal, AL)
26. Albany State University (Albany, GA)
26. Delaware State University (Dover, DE)
26. Jackson State University (Jackson, MS)
26. Kentucky State University (Frankfort, KY)
26. Stillman College (Tuscaloosa, AL)
32. Lincoln University (Lincoln University, PA)
32. Mississippi Valley State University (Itta Bena, MS)
34. Bluefield State College (Bluefield, WV)
34. Fayetteville State University (Fayetteville, NC)
34. Miles College (Birmingham, AL)
34. Norfolk State University (Norfolk, VA)

The 2007 HBCU Homecoming Schedule (In Alphabetical Order According To School Name)

Home Team: Alabama A&M University
Opponent: Texas Southern University
Date: 09/29/2007
Time: 3:00pm
Location: Huntsville, Ala
Home Team: Alabama State University
Opponent: Tuskegee University
Date: 11/22/2007
Time: 1:00pm
Location: Montgomery, AL

Home Team: Albany State University
Opponent: Morehouse College
Date: 10/27/2007
Time: 2:00pm
Location: Albany, GA

Home Team: Alcorn State University
Opponent: Prairie View  A&M University
Date: 10/06/2007
Time: TBD
Location: Alcorn State, MS

Home Team: University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Opponent: Prairie View A&M University
Date: 11/03/2007
Time: 2:30pm
Location: Pine Bluff, AR

Home Team: Benedict College
Opponent: Fort Valley State University
Date: 10/20/2007
Time: 2:00pm
Location: Columbia, SC

Home Team: Bethune Cookman College
Opponent: Morgan State University
Date: 09/29/2007
Time: TBD
Location: Daytona Beach, FL

Home Team: Bowie State University
Opponent: Shaw University
Date:10/27/2007
Time: 1:00pm
Location: Bowie, MD

Home Team: Central State University
Opponent: TBD
Date: 10/13/2007
Time: TBD
Location: Wilberforce, OH

Home Team: Claflin University
Opponent: TBD
Date: 09/22/2007
Time: TBD
Location: TBD

Home Team: Clark Atlanta University
Opponent: George Mason University
Date: 10/06/2007
Time: 1:30pm
Location: Atlanta, GA

Home Team: Delaware State University
Opponent: Morgan State University
Date: 10/20/2007
Time: 2:00pm
Location: Dover, DE

Home Team: Edward Waters College
Opponent: UNC-Pembroke
Date: 10/20/2007
Time: 5:00pm
Location: Jacksonville, FL

Home Team: Elizabeth City State University
Opponent: Livingstone College
Date: 10/20/2007
Time: 1:30pm
Location: Elizabeth City, NC

Home Team: Fayetteville State University
Opponent: Shaw University
Date: 10/20/2007
Time: 2:00pm
Location: Fayetteville, NC

Home Team: Fisk University
Opponent: TBD
Date: 09/22/2007
Time: TBD
Location: TBD

Home Team: Florida A&M University
Opponent: North Carolina A&T State University
Date: 11/03/2007
Time: 3:00pm
Location: Tallahassee, FL

Home Team: Fort Valley State University
Opponent: Edward Waters College
Date: 10/13/2007
Time: 1:30pm
Location: Fort Valley, GA

Home Team: Grambling State University
Opponent: Texas Southern University
Date: 10/27/2007
Time: TBD
Location: Grambling, LA

Home Team: Hampton University
Opponent: South Carolina State University
Date: 10/20/2007
Time: 2:00pm
Location: Hampton, VA

Home Team: Howard University
Opponent: South Carolina State University
Date: 11/03/2007
Time: 1:00pm
Location: Washington, DC

Home Team: Huston-Tillotson University
Opponent: TBD
Date: 09/22/2007
Time: TBD
Location: TBD

Home Team: Jackson State University
Opponent: Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Date: 10/27/2007
Time: 3:00pm
Location: Jackson, MS

Home Team: Johnson C. Smith University
Opponent: Fayetteville State University
Date: 10/27/2007
Time: 1:00pm
Location: Charlotte, NC

Home Team:Kentucky State University
Opponent: Miles College
Date: 10/20/2007
Time: 1:30pm
Location: Frankfort, KY

Home Team: Lane College
Opponent: Stillman College
Date: 10/20/2007
Time: 2:00pm
Location: Jackson, TN

Home Team: Langston University
Opponent: TBA
Date: 10/06/2007
Time: 2:00pm
Location: Langston, OK

Home Team: Lemoyne-Owen College
Opponent: TBD
Date: 09/22/2007
Time: TBD
Location: TBD

Home Team: Livingstone College
Opponent: Fayetteville State University
Date: 09/29/2007
Time: 2:00pm
Location: Salisbury, NC

Home Team: Miles College
Opponent: Lane College
Date: 10/13/2007
Time: 12:00pm
Location: Fairfield, AL

Home Team: Mississippi Valley State University
Opponent: Texas Southern University
Date: 10/20/2007
Time: TBD
Location: Itta Bena, MS

Home Team: Morehouse College
Opponent: Clark Atlanta University
Date: 10/20/2007
Time: 2:00pm
Location: Atlanta, GA

Home Team: Morgan State University
Opponent: Howard University
Date: 10/13/2007
Time: 1:00pm
Location: Baltimore, MD

Home Team: Morris Brown College
Opponent: TBD
Date: 10/20/2007
Time: TBD
Location: Atlanta, GA

Home Team: Norfolk State University
Opponent: Howard University
Date: 10/27/2007
Time: 1:00pm
Location: Norfolk, VA

Home Team: North Carolina A&T State University
Opponent: Bethune Cookman College
Date: 10/27/2007
Time: 1:30pm
Location: Greensboro, NC

Home Team: North Carolina Central University
Opponent: North Greenville
Date: 10/13/2007
Time: 1:00pm
Location: Durham, NC

Home Team: Prairie View A&M University
Opponent: Mississippi Valley State University
Date: 10/27/2007
Time: 2:00pm
Location: Prairie View, TX

Home Team: Saint Augustine's College
Opponent: Saint Paul's College
Date: 10/20/2007
Time: 2:00pm
Location: Raleigh, NC

Home Team: Saint Paul's College
Opponent: Shaw University
Date: 10/06/2007
Time: 1:30pm
Location: Lawrenceville, VA

Home Team: Savannah State University
Opponent: Edward Waters College
Date: 10/27/2007
Time: 2:00pm
Location: Savannah, GA

Home Team: Shaw University
Opponent: Livingstone College
Date: 10/13/2007
Time: 4:00pm
Location: Durham, NC

Home Team: South Carolina State University
Opponent: Delaware State University
Date: 10/27/2007
Time: 1:30pm
Location: Orangeburg, SC

Home Team: Southern University
Opponent: Alabama A&M University
Date: 10/06/2007
Time: 5:30pm
Locatin: Baton Rouge, LA

Home Team: Stillman College
Opponent: Benedict College
Date: 11/10/2007
Time: 1:30pm
Location: Tuscaloosa, AL

Home Team: Talladega College
Opponent: TBD
Date: 09/22/2007
Time: TBD
Location: Talladega, AL

Home Team: Tennessee State University
Opponent: Murray State
Date: 11/03/2007
Time: 4:00pm
Location: Nashville, TN

Home Team: Texas College
Opponent: Concordia College
Date: 10/27/2007
Time: 4:00pm
Location: Tyler, TX

Home Team: Texas Southern University
Opponent: Alcorn State University
Date: 10/13/2007
Time: 2:00pm
Location: Houston, TX

Home Team: Tuskegee University
Opponent: Clark Atlanta University
Date: 11/03/2007
Time: 1:00pm
Location: Tuskegee, AL

Home Team: Virginia State University
Opponent: Virginia Union University
Date: 10/27/2007
Time: 1:00pm
Location: Ettrick, VA

Home Team: Virginia Union University
Opponent: Saint Augustines College
Date: 09/29/2007
Time: 1:00pm
Location: Richmond, VA

Home Team: West Virginia State College
Opponent: Seton Hall
Date: 10/13/2007
Time: TBD
Location: Institute, WV

Home Team: Winston-Salem State University
Opponent: Delaware State University
Date: 11/03/2007
Time: 2:00pm
Location: Winston-Salem, NC