New numbers for Black Americans eager to improve their lives with college degrees are alarming: Only 34 percent hold degrees, and half “stop out” of or left four-year colleges within six years. Worse yet, their college enrollment numbers are steeply declining, down another 30,000 this past fall.
A new Gallup-Lumina Foundation poll tells us why. It shows how discrimination often derails learners’ dreams of better-paying jobs or promotions with degrees and credentials.
Overall, the poll found that one in five Black postsecondary students say they “frequently” or “occasionally” feel discriminated against at college—compared to the 15 percent reported for their peers. Black students were likelier to say they felt disrespected or unsafe in less diverse student populations.
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WASHINGTON, D.C.—More than one in three Black bachelor’s degree students in the U.S. (36%) have major life responsibilities beyond their coursework, twice the rate for all other bachelor’s students (18%).
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But in a concerning trend, the survey found higher reports of discrimination in certain academic programs that are increasingly popular with Black students:
These fast-track credential programs are often popular options for students who juggle family responsibilities and work full- or part-time to pay the high costs of college.
The poll also found that more than one in three Black bachelor’s degree students have major work and family responsibilities, about twice the rate for all other bachelor’s students. Of these students, almost half have considered stopping out.
So, it’s no surprise that college enrollment for Black students is falling fast:
Redressing these imbalances is more urgent than ever, as most new jobs require education beyond high school, and most good-paying jobs require a college degree.
With these new data in hand, our next steps are clear. Short-term credential programs need more safeguards and oversight to root out systemic discrimination. Advocates have called for greater accountability measures to prevent for-profit colleges from targeting minority communities with inferior program quality and predatory lending practices.
And at schools with fewer students of color, educators, students, and diversity officers need to partner to ensure their culture is safe and inclusive.
Meanwhile, we can help students juggle competing priorities by adding more online courses, counselors, and evening faculty hours. Other essential support includes campus programs and emergency funds.
The bottom line is this: College should be a welcoming haven for all learners, free of racism. It’s urgent that we reverse these trends, help Black students get back to their studies – and build a brighter future for us all through the power of learning.
Back to NewsTracy Chen
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