Ten historically Black colleges and universities will share $97.1 million through the Department of Defense’s HBCU and Minority-Serving Institutions Research and Education Program, money aimed at building the research muscle needed to reach R1 status.

Florida A&M University, North Carolina A&T State University, and Morgan State University each received $10 million. Texas Southern University, Delaware State University, the University of the District of Columbia, Fayetteville State University, Prairie View A&M University, and Clark Atlanta University each landed between $9.7 million and $10 million. Jackson State University received about $7.57 million.

R1 is the highest research activity classification for U.S. universities. It can open doors to larger federal grants and help schools recruit faculty and doctoral students. Howard University is currently the only HBCU with R1 status.

“For too long, HBCUs have gone unrecognized for their contributions to our nation’s leading STEM industry,” Senator Raphael Warnock said. “These institutions serve as stewards of academic excellence and innovation.”

Federal research awards like these typically pay for specific projects, such as lab equipment, faculty research, graduate assistantships, and undergraduate research positions.

At Fayetteville State, the $10 million award over five years is the largest research grant in the university’s history. The school plans to use it to launch a Ph.D. program in defense-focused artificial intelligence, with work in air defense systems, logistics technology, and biomanufacturing.

For Black men eyeing careers in engineering, AI, and defense technology, the awards could mean more funded graduate seats and research jobs at schools that have long produced Black STEM talent on tighter budgets.