DURHAM, N.C. — Many historically Black colleges and universities are seeing growth from an increase of Black students applying and enrolling after years of decline.

What You Need To Know

The National Center of Education Statistics shows enrollment at HBCUs is increasing

There are more than 100 HBCUs in the country and 11 in North Carolina

Students say they choose HBCUs in part because of the comfortable, inclusive environment

The National Center of Education Statistics shows enrollment at HBCUs was 298,183 people in 2017, a 2% jump from 2016.

The growth comes despite enrollment declining by more than 9% across all colleges and universities since 2010, according to the Education Data Initiative

There are more than 100 HBCUs in the country, and 11 in North Carolina, including N.C. Central.

Incoming freshman Jaiden Lanier has had nine other family members choose N.C. Central to pursue their collegiate career.

He is studying information technology, the same career as his father.

“I started working with him and all that, and I just felt like I loved it, and I love working with computers, and I just felt like that was the way to go," Lanier said.“I started working with him and all that, and I just felt like I loved it, and I love working with computers, and I just felt like that was the way to go," Lanier said.

On Tuesday, Lanier got to experience his first 10:40 break. It's a longstanding tradition that goes back to the 1970s. Originally it was a way for social activists at NCCU to relax and regroup coming out of the Civil Rights Movement.

Now it’s a bonding experience and one of the many reasons students choose to attend HBCUs like NCCU.

"It just shows that everybody is one big family," Lanier said. "Small community means you are going to meet new people, you are going to have to interact with them. And it just helps you with making new friends ... making connections with people you don’t even know you’re going to need in the future."

The environment gives students like Lanier a chance to learn without issues like racism and discrimination that still linger at other institutions.

“It just feels, feels more like home," Lanier said.

Lanier is also part of the Aspiring Eagles Academy at N.C. Central. It helps ease students' transition from high school to college.

That academic support, along with the tight-knit community, is something he says will always make HBCUs attractive.