What Is Livingstone College?

Livingstone College is a private historically black college (HBCU) in Salisbury, North Carolina, built around a Christian-based environment and a stated commitment to quality instruction, academic excellence, and student success. It fits students looking for a small private HBCU experience that combines liberal arts study with career-oriented programs and a strong athletics and campus-life culture.

Academic Identity and Mission

The college describes itself as providing "excellent business, liberal arts, STEAM, teacher education and workforce development programs for students from all ethnic backgrounds." Two things stand out in that framing:

• Purpose: programs are designed to promote lifelong learning and to develop student potential for leadership and service to a global community.
• Setting: the Christian-based environment is presented as suitable for holistic learning — educating "the whole person" rather than only the academic side.

The institution is led by Dr. Anthony J. Davis, identified as its 13th president.

What You Can Study

Livingstone offers 23 majors, which the college says give "broad exposure to diverse thought and deep exploration within your fields of interest." The named program areas are:

If you are comparing schools, the practical question is whether one of those 23 majors matches your intended field — the college's own framing is breadth of exposure plus depth in your chosen area.

Campus Life and Athletics

Athletics is a visible part of the Livingstone identity. The Blue Bears field 12 CIAA Division 2 varsity sports, and the college is a member of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Conference USA. The college notes that its teams compete in what it calls some of the nation's finest facilities.

There is also a historical distinction the college highlights: the first black intercollegiate football game played in America took place on the front lawn of Livingstone College on Dec. 27, 1892, against Biddle Memorial Institute — now Johnson C. Smith University.

How to Explore the College

The website points to three main next steps:

1. Find your major — review the 23 majors to see whether your interest area is offered.
2. Visit campus — the college invites prospective students to walk the pathways with current students, eat a meal on campus, attend classes, talk with faculty, and explore academic and extracurricular opportunities.
3. Apply — the site frames application as joining "a community of scholars committed to lives of leadership and service."

Campus events and scheduling are handled through a 25Live calendar portal, and the college also links to information about Salisbury, North Carolina for those considering the surrounding area.

Recent Developments

Current news items on the site include Dr. Michael Eric Dyson joining as a Visiting Scholar in Residence, the opening of a new bookstore and merchandising center, and the appointment of Deborah Walker as Director of Alumni Engagement. These signal an active campus with ongoing academic and alumni programming.

Who It Suits

Livingstone College is a reasonable fit if you want a private HBCU with a Christian-based environment, a liberal arts core plus career-focused programs, and a strong CIAA Division 2 athletics culture. It is less suited if you need a large research university setting or a major that falls outside its 23 offered programs — in that case, confirm your specific field before applying.