To say that President Trump’s immediate predecessor had a dicey relationship with historically black colleges and universities, or HBCUs, would be putting it mildly.

President Obama’s first budget proposal cut funds for black colleges, which mostly lack big endowments and depend on the government for a large share of their revenue. The Obama administration also stiffened eligibility requirements for loan programs that HBCU students, who tend to be low-income, are likelier to use. Following the changes, some 28,000 students...