About Us

HBCU 360 integrates technology into education by utilizing virtual reality headsets that enable students to tour HBCUs as if they were physically on campus. Since COVID, college campus tours have declined by 20%, with minority students representing the lowest percentages of those touring colleges.

To address this, we aimed to create not only an exceptional college tour experience but also one that leaves a lasting impression. HBCU 360 allows students to explore multiple HBCUs across various states without ever leaving their city. It offers a safe, affordable, convenient, and revolutionary way to tour colleges, reflecting the needs of our times.
Join us in taking your college tour into the metaverse, discover your options, find your fit, or simply explore different HBCU campuses to broaden your exposure. This vision is what our founder had in mind, among other reasons.

Founded by Lawrence Frett, known as EdTech Tal among friends, HBCU-360 was born out of a deep understanding of the crucial role exposure plays in shaping opportunities. Coming from the Northeast and attending a high school with 5,000 students, Lawrence experienced firsthand the limited exposure to HBCUs. “I hardly saw my counselor, and he knew little about HBCUs,” Lawrence recalls. This lack of visibility persisted when he transitioned into an educator role, with students mainly aware of a handful of prominent HBCUs like Morehouse, Spelman, and Howard.

Attending Florida Memorial University in Miami Shores, a small HBCU that believed in him when others didn’t, Lawrence realized the transformative power of finding the right college fit. Drawing from his personal journey, he founded HBCU 360 to provide early knowledge and guidance for students seeking their ideal HBCU match. “The top 10% will be fine; it’s the 90%, then the 50%, that became my early focus,” Lawrence reflects, identifying with the challenges faced by many students.

HBCU 360’s mission (goal) is clear: increase awareness of all 105 HBCUs and ensure students are informed of their full range of college options. The platform also aims to cultivate early awareness of HBCUs and career opportunities in a user-friendly manner. Given the overwhelming counselor-to-student ratios in high schools nationwide, HBCU 360 strives to replicate a personalized counseling experience online while also creating a phenomenal metaverse experience.