When sports writers say that boxers punch above their weight, they mean that they hit harder than would be predicted from their weight alone. So, when UNCF says that HBCUs punch above their weight, we mean that, given their small average size, and given that they have been historically under resourced, the impact of these unique institutions is significantly greater than one would expect.

This report, HBCUs Punching Above Their Weight: A State-Level Analysis of Historically Black College and
University Enrollment and Graduation, shows that, in their most important function—enrolling and graduating college students—HBCUs perform far better than their small size and lack of resources would lead one to expect, and that impact is magnified when HBCUs’ geographic concentration is factored in.