Seven current and former students of Lincoln University of Missouri filed a lawsuit against the state on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, alleging decades of systematic underfunding. The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri, claims the state violated the U.S. Constitution and federal civil rights laws by failing to provide equitable funding to the historically Black land-grant institution compared to the predominantly white University of Missouri.
The legal action follows a September 2023 analysis by the U.S. Department of Education and Department of Agriculture, which calculated that Missouri underfunded Lincoln University by $361.6 million between 1987 and 2020. Under the Morrill Act of 1890, states with separate land-grant systems for Black and white students are required to provide an equitable distribution of state funds. Don Calloway, leader of the 1890 Project, stated that while the federal government funded Lincoln with proper parity, the state chose not to match those appropriations.
According to the complaint, Missouri provided no state matching funds for Lincoln’s federal land-grant allocation from fiscal years 2000 through 2007. To maintain federal eligibility, Lincoln allegedly diverted approximately $43.5 million from its general operating budget between 2000 and 2016 and was forced to return nearly $8 million in federal funds between 2016 and 2018. During this same period, the plaintiffs allege the state fully matched allocations for the University of Missouri.
The lawsuit names several defendants, including the State of Missouri, Governor Michael Kehoe, and University of Missouri System President Mun Choi. The University of Missouri declined to comment, citing ongoing litigation, while Lincoln University and state officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Plaintiffs are seeking compensatory damages for "educational and economic injuries" and an injunction to ensure full state matching funds in the future.
The scale of the alleged underfunding has broader implications for the 1890 land-grant system, which includes historically Black institutions established following the Civil War. A 2023 federal analysis found that HBCUs in 16 states missed out on a total of $12.6 billion in state funding over three decades. If successful, this litigation could set a precedent for similar actions in other states; the 1890 Project indicated it is already in discussions with officials in Virginia, Arkansas, Maryland, North Carolina, Alabama, and Georgia regarding similar funding disparities.
The outcome of the case will determine whether Missouri must change its budget appropriations to Lincoln University to include campus repairs, faculty hiring, and student services. A previous lawsuit in Maryland concerning HBCU funding led to a $577 million settlement. As of October 7, 2026, no trial date has been set, and the state has not yet filed a formal response to the allegations in federal court. The university's enrollment has declined from 3,400 in 2011 to 2,200 today, a trend the plaintiffs attribute in part to the lack of resources for campus maintenance and programs.