# Missouri Sued for $549 Million Over Alleged Underfunding of Lincoln University

> Current and former students filed a federal lawsuit on October 7, 2026, claiming Missouri shortchanged the historically Black institution by nearly $549 million over decades.

By PrimaryBrief newsroom · Published 2026-10-23T23:02:39.137421Z
Canonical: https://primarybrief.com/article/missouri-sued-for-549-million-over-alleged-underfunding-of-lincoln-university-326e1304

Current and former students of Lincoln University in Missouri filed a federal lawsuit on October 7, 2026, seeking nearly $549 million from the state for alleged systematic underfunding of the historically Black institution [2][4][5][6]. The lawsuit claims Missouri violated federal laws by inequitably funding Lincoln University compared to the predominantly white University of Missouri [3][6].

This lawsuit is the first under "The 1890 Project," a national initiative to address $12.6 billion in historical underfunding of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) across 16 states [1][3][4][7]. The outcome of this case could influence similar efforts to secure equitable funding for other land-grant HBCUs nationwide [1][7].

## What the Records Show
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri, alleges that the state violated the Morrill Act of 1890, the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection Clause, and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 [3][6][10]. Plaintiffs contend that Missouri appropriated $361.6 million less to Lincoln University than to the University of Missouri on a per-student basis between 1987 and 2020 [1][3][4][7]. This figure comes from a September 2023 analysis by the U.S. secretaries of Agriculture and Education [3][4][6]. The analysis estimated that 16 states had underfunded historically Black land-grant universities by a combined $12.6 billion over roughly three decades [3][6].

The complaint states that Lincoln University diverted about $43.5 million from its general operating budget between 2000 and 2016 to qualify for federal agricultural funds [6]. The university also returned nearly $8 million in federal money from 2016 to 2018 when it could not meet matching requirements [9]. Defendants named in the lawsuit include the State of Missouri, the Coordinating Board for Higher Education, Governor Mike Kehoe, Commissioner of Higher Education and Workforce Development Bennett Boggs, and UM System President Mun Choi [2].

## The Timeline
Lincoln University was established as an 1890 land-grant institution for Black students after Missouri chose not to open the University of Missouri's Columbia campus to all races [1][3][4]. The Morrill Act of 1890 required states either to allow Black students to attend their existing land-grant colleges or establish separate, but equitably funded, institutions for Black students [1][4]. The lawsuit contends the state failed to uphold this parity [1][3][4].

The alleged underfunding period spans from 1987 to 2020, according to the lawsuit's citation of federal numbers [1][3][4][7]. The 2023 federal analysis documented the $361.6 million disparity for Lincoln University [3][4][6]. The lawsuit details a period from fiscal years 2000 through 2007 where Missouri provided no state matching funds for Lincoln's federal land-grant allocation [4][6]. In later years, the state provided only part of the required match [6].

## What Changed and for Whom
Plaintiffs argue that the alleged financial disparities harmed their education and devalued their degrees [1][7]. The requested nearly $549 million in relief would support campus repairs, faculty hiring, financial aid, student services, and agricultural research [6]. The lawsuit seeks compensatory damages for past harm and injunctive relief to ensure equitable future funding for Lincoln University [3][5][6][8]. Don Calloway, who leads The 1890 Project, said the group is seeking "a federal consent decree that makes sure that every year going forward, Lincoln is funded on parity with the University of Missouri" [8].

## What the Subject Has Said Publicly
The University of Missouri system and the governor's office both stated they could not comment on pending litigation as of October 7, 2026 [7].

## What We Could Not Confirm
We could not confirm specific responses from the State of Missouri or the other named defendants regarding the merits of the allegations made in the lawsuit [7].

## Evidence cited
1. The 1890 Project takes aim at funding disparities at land-grant HBCUs, beginning with a lawsuit alleging Missouri shortchanged Lincoln University by $361 million. — https://communityvoiceks.com/
2. The 1890 Project lawsuit challenges underfunding at Lincoln University — https://kbia.org/
3. Lincoln University students and alumni file federal civil rights lawsuit against Missouri — https://gasconadecountyrepublican.com/
4. Lincoln University students suing Missouri for alleged funding disparity — https://bizjournals.com/
5. Lincoln University Students File $549M Lawsuit Against Missouri For Underfunding (Black Enterprise) — https://blackenterprise.com/
6. Lincoln University students sue Missouri over alleged underfunding (Aframnews.com) — https://aframnews.com/
7. Missouri sued over alleged decades of underfunding at historically Black university (Washington Post) — https://washingtonpost.com/
8. Lincoln University Lawsuit | What you need to know — https://youtube.com/
9. Lincoln University Sues Missouri Over Alleged Decades Of Underfunding (Essence) — https://essence.com/
10. Lawsuit Claims Missouri Underfunded Lincoln University for Decades — https://insidehighered.com/
11. Missouri sued over alleged decades of underfunding at historically Black university — https://wsau.com/
12. Present and former Lincoln University students sue Missouri for underfunding — https://jurist.org/
13. Lawsuit Claims Lincoln University of Missouri Was Shorted $362 Million in State Funding — https://jbhe.com/
14. Missouri sued over alleged decades of underfunding at historically Black university (AP News) — https://apnews.com/
15. Lincoln University students and alumni file federal civil rights lawsuit against Missouri — https://ktwb.com/
16. Lincoln University Sues Missouri Over Alleged Historic Underfunding of HBCU (Drooid) — https://drooid.social/
17. (October 07 2026) Lincoln University students sue Missouri for alleged chronic underfunding — https://investing.com/
18. Lawsuit claims Missouri underfunded Lincoln University by $361M — https://wsbtv.com/
19. Lincoln University lawsuit alleges $361 million in underfunding from state of Missouri — https://ksdk.com/
20. Students of Lincoln University Sue Missouri for $549M for Underfunding — https://theeduledger.com/
21. HBCUs: Suing for Equal Funding — https://haakelawgroup.com/
22. Lincoln University of Missouri ("Lincoln" or "LU") — https://b-cdn.net/
23. Students and Alumni Sue Missouri, Saying Lincoln University Was Shortchanged for Decades — https://hbcubuzz.com/
24. Lincoln University alumni, students sue Missouri over alleged underfunding — https://stlamerican.com/
25. Lincoln University students sue Missouri for alleged chronic underfunding — https://westlaw.com/
26. Missouri sued by Lincoln University for underfunding — https://unitenewsonline.org/