Angela Watkins argues that although Quicksand is a well-studied novel, more attention should be paid to Nella Larsen’s depiction of education and educational institutions. Analyzing the objectives, rules, and regulations of historically Black colleges during the early twentieth century, the chapter examines Larsen’s critique of the conformity instilled in HBCU students. By drawing upon biographies of Nella Larsen, the chapter reveals how Larsen’s own problematic experiences at Fisk and Tuskegee shaped her fictionalization of Black southern institutions and the broader examination of ideologies of racial uplift.