The goals of the graduate schools in predominantly Negro institutions are comparable to those of graduate education in other US institutions. However, graduate education in predominantly Negro universities has 2 unique functions: (1) to provide programs which meet criteria in terms of adequacy while preparing graduate students for significant roles in the black community, and (2) to stimulate intellectual activity among students and faculty in order that viable graduate programs may become typical rather than the exception. The rapidly changing picture of graduate education in these institutions suggested the need for a study of the status of their graduate programs in 1968. An open-ended questionnaire was sent to administrators at 20 predominantly Negro institutions offering graduate instruction in the 1963-1964 school year. A total of 1,139 master's degrees and 14 Ph.D degrees were granted by 15 of the 20 institutions in the 1967-1968 academic year. Problems reported include: the recruitment of good students and a capable staff, financial aid for students, allocation of adequate staff time for research, and the need for adequate equipment, supplies, and physical facilities. The paper also discusses the framework within which graduate education in Negro institutions was developed, and considers the future of their graduate work in terms of staffing, students, and programs. (WM)