Jay-Z’s Shawn Carter Foundation launches HBCU bus tours in Atlanta, giving high school students direct access to 11 historically black colleges and universities.
Jay-Z puts Atlanta high school students squarely in front of colleges that could change their lives.
The Shawn Carter Foundation’s 2026 Annual HBCU Bus Tour takes place in the city this week, giving prospective students a real-life look at the historically black colleges and universities that will shape their futures.
According to Atlanta News 1, the tour exposes aspiring college students to the world of HBCUs in an effort to increase enrollment at these higher education institutions.
The foundation has been running this program for years, and it’s making a difference. Each year, more than 100 seniors receive offers from at least one school visited on the bus tour. Students can walk to the campuses of Spelman College, Morehouse College, Howard University, Hampton University, Lincoln University, Morgan State University, North Carolina A&T, Norfolk State University, Southern University, Virginia State University, and Bennett College.
One tour covered 11 different schools from Pennsylvania to Georgia.
But it’s not just about showing up and looking around. Before students even step onto the bus, the foundation launches a comprehensive preparation program. They are responsible for ACT and SAT prep, financial aid and scholarship resources, college essays and academic resumes, interview techniques and dressing for success, and college orientation.
Students must be a high school junior, have a GPA of at least 2.0, and must take at least one ACT or SAT test by the end of December. The foundation is looking for kids who really want to be there, have done community service and have real talent in sports, art, music or civic involvement.
Toyota Motor North America sponsors the entire operation, ensuring these students gain experience at no cost.
The 2026 Scholars documented their experiences in personal journals while reflecting on the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement and what these institutions represented. That’s the real value here. It’s not just about getting into college.
It’s about understanding the history and culture of these schools and their significance to black excellence in America.
The Shawn Carter Foundation’s commitment to HBCU education extends far beyond the annual bus tour. The foundation has been investing in Black higher education for many years, and this trip is just one part of a larger mission to ensure motivated students have real opportunities to further their education.
The next leg of the tour in the tri-state area is planned for later this year.
