Featured Reports

Race and Ethnicity in Higher Education: A Status Report

7 March 2019 In Featured Reports

Race and Ethnicity in Higher Education: A Status Report

By MacGregor Obergfell

The American Council on Education recently released a new report, Race and Ethnicity in Higher Education. The report analyzed over 200 indicators to examine how access to higher education and outcomes vary by race and ethnicity.

Among the findings:

  • Much of the increase in postsecondary educational attainment over the last 20 years is due to Hispanic enrollment nearly doubling.
    • Between 1995-96 and 2015-16, undergraduate students of color increased from 30% to 45% of total undergraduate enrollment.
    • Over the same period, Hispanic high school graduates enrolling in higher education increased by 13%.
    • In 1997, 31.1% of the adult population over 25 years old had an associate’s degree or higher. By 2017, 44.5% did.
    • However, less than 30% of Hispanics over the age of 25 held an associate’s degree or higher.
  • Black enrollment and attainment gains over the last 20 years have been coupled with higher than average borrowing rates and large debt burdens.
    • 86.4% of black bachelor’s degree recipients borrowed for their undergraduate education. On average they borrowed $34,010. The average bachelor’s degree recipient borrowed $29,669.
    • 67.2% of black associate’s degree recipients borrowed for their education. On average they borrowed $22,303, while the average associate’s degree recipient borrowed $18,501.
    • 50% of black doctoral students are enrolled in for-profit institutions. At these institutions, 95.2% of black doctoral degree recipients borrowed to finance their education, averaging $128,359 in student loans.
  • While comprehensive and thorough national data on American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander students is lacking, the existing data is worrisome.
    • Only 18.8% of American Indian or Alaska Native students and 20.4% of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander students enroll in postsecondary education immediately after completing high school. This is compared to the national average of 40.9%.
    • These students disproportionately enroll in for-profit institutions, borrow at a higher rate, and amass a higher debt burden than their peers at public and private non-profit institutions.
  • Patterns of student borrowing and debt burdens vary significantly by race and gender.
    • FAFSA completion ranged from 67.5% for Asian American students up to 84.4% for black students. Black students were most likely to have a $0 EFC and least likely to have an EFC over $19,300. White students were least likely to have a $0 EFC and most likely to have an EFC over $19,300.
    • 96.1% of black students, 93% of American Indian or Alaska Native students, 86.4% of white students, and 83.7% of Asian American students were awarded financial aid.
    • Enrollment at for-profit institutions is associated with a higher debt burden and an increased reliance on student loans. Students of color disproportionately enroll in for-profit institutions. At public two-year institutions, 40.4% of degree recipients borrowed at an average of $15,486 in student loans, while at for-profit institutions, 87.4% of degree recipients borrowed at an average of $26,231.