Image: Kara Durrette

Jay-Z’s Shawn Carter Foundation is actively engaging Atlanta high school students through its 2026 HBCU Bus Tour, which connects them with 11 historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) to encourage higher education attendance.

The tour includes renowned institutions such as Spelman College, Morehouse College, Howard University, and North Carolina A&T, allowing students to gain firsthand experiences of different campuses.

Over 100 seniors benefit each year by receiving admission offers from at least one of the universities visited during the tour, showcasing the program’s success in promoting college accessibility.

Prior to participating in the tour, students undergo a comprehensive preparation program that covers ACT and SAT prep, scholarship resources, college essay writing, and interview skills, aimed at equipping them for the college admission process.

Eligibility criteria for students include being high school juniors with a minimum 2.0 GPA and having taken a standardized test by December, as the foundation seeks motivated individuals with demonstrated community involvement and talents.

The entire initiative is supported by Toyota Motor N.A., which sponsors the program, ensuring that students can participate without financial burden.

Participants document their experiences in personal journals, reflecting not only on potential college pathways but also on the legacy and cultural significance of the HBCUs they visit, emphasizing the tour’s educational focus beyond mere college admission.

The Shawn Carter Foundation’s commitment extends beyond this event, as it has been investing in Black higher education initiatives for years, with future tours planned for the tri-state area later this year.