Bennett College: Empowering African-American Women for 130 Years

One of only two historically black colleges in the Unites States that caters exclusively to women, Bennett College of Greensboro, North Carolina, stands as a shining example of academic excellence.  Founded in Greensboro in 1873, the school made a humble beginning with seventy students in the basement of the Warnersville Methodist Episcopal Church.

With the help of contributions from New York businessman Lyman Bennett, a group of emancipated slaves banded together to purchase a plot of land for the new school. During the same period, the group also arranged for the school to be administered, funded and governed by the Freedmen's Aid Society and the Southern Education Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church.  Following the death of Mr. Bennett in 1876, the school was named Bennett College in his honor.

The college's first African-American president, Reverend Charles Grandison, was successful in procuring the charter that allowed Bennett to operate as a fully licensed four-year college.  During Grandison's tenure as president, as well as that of his successor, Dr. Jordan Chavis, Bennett College's enrollment steadily increased to over 300 students by the 1910s.

The school was originally a co-educational institution until 1926.  After the Women's Home Missionary Society joined the Greensboro Board of Education, the decision was made to make the educational facilities of Bennett available only to females.  Currently, Bennett College is home to more than 600 female students.

Over twenty different majors are now offered at Bennett College, including unique programs such as Womanist Religious Studies, Global Studies and Africana Women's Studies.  In addition, through a partnership with North Carolina A&T State University, Bennett now offers degrees in Chemistry/Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering. Courses through Bennett College are now available online for students to earn their degrees from home.

As stated in its mission, Bennett College "offers women an education conducive to excellence in scholarly pursuits; preparation for leadership roles in the workplace, society, and the world; and life-long learning in a technologically advanced, complex global society."  With this philosophy in mind, it's no wonder that the school is known in many circles as the "Vassar of the South." Due to the academic success of its student body and the college's relatively low tuition, Bennett College is currently ranked #16 out of the nation's top Historical Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU).

In order to learn more about Bennett College, please visit our campus or our Web site (www.bennett.edu).  We would be delighted to show you around our school and welcome you to our college family!