Lincoln University students sue Missouri over alleged HBCU underfunding

Students and alumni of Lincoln University have filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the state of Missouri, alleging decades of systematic underfunding compared to the University of Missouri. The plaintiffs, represented by the 1890 Project and attorney Donald Calloway Jr., are seeking approximately $548.7 million in damages and interest, claiming the state failed to meet its legal obligations under the Second Morrill Act of 1890.

The lawsuit alleges that between 1987 and 2020, Missouri appropriated significantly less funding per student to Lincoln University than to its predominantly white counterpart. Plaintiffs argue this disparity has resulted in inadequate infrastructure, limited student support services, and devalued degrees. The legal action claims the state violated the 14th Amendment and civil rights by failing to provide equitable land-grant matching funds.

This case marks the first legal challenge by the 1890 Project, a group monitoring whether states are fulfilling funding commitments to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The group aims to address a broader national issue; a 2023 federal finding indicated that HBCUs in 16 states had been deprived of more than $12.6 billion in funding over the last three decades.