By Emma L. Carew

Public historically black colleges and universities have become increasingly diverse over a 20-year period, according to a new report by the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.

The proportion of Hispanic, Asian, and multi-ethnic students enrolled in the organization's member institutions jumped from 6 percent of the student population in 1986 to 8 percent in 2006. The total number of nonblack students of color increased by 64 percent. The organization represents 47 public historically black colleges and universities, or HBCU's.

"Diversity matters to HBCU's," Olivia M. Blackmon, a strategic research analyst for the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, said in a telephone news conference last week. Ms. Blackmon pointed to the historic mission of HBCU's to support underserved communities and said the institutions are fulfilling that promise not only by reaching out to African Americans, but also by reaching out to other minorities.

The increase isn't a result of any specific initiatives to diversify the colleges, said Dwayne Ashley, president and chief executive of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. "Our goal is to enroll students who want to get a great education."

The report also says HBCU's provide a value education. The average cost of undergraduate tuition, room, and board for in-state public HBCU's was $14,400 for 2006-7. That compares with $16,050 for traditionally white public institutions, Ms. Blackmon said.

During the news conference, Mr. Ashley said public HBCU's are an "accessible and affordable" option for first-generation college students. "When you look at a time when the economy is a challenge, education for many young people today is not an option," he said.