Racial Differences in Higher Education Spending Have Little to Do With Race

usbls-thumbA new study by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics finds that Black and Latino families tend to spend less on higher education that White families. The data shows that on average Black families spent 70 percent less than White families on higher education. But the differences in higher education spending were found to have nothing to do with race. Rather socioeconomic factors were the main contributing reasons for the racial differences. In comparing Black and White families of similar income, wealth, educational background etc., there were almost no differences in the amounts spent on higher education.

The study examined higher education spending data on more than 90,000 U.S. households between 2008 and 2010.

Richard Holden, the San Francisco regional director of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, stated, “When you put everyone on a level playing field, in terms of education and income, they all make very similar decisions in terms of the amount they want to invest in higher education.” Holden said the spending differences between Black and White families with similar educational background and income was so small that it was statistically insignificant.

The study, “Investment in Higher Education by Race and Ethnicity,” was published in the Monthly Labor Review. It may be accessed here.

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1 COMMENT

  1. “A new study by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics finds that Black and Latino families tend to spend less on higher education that White families. The data shows that on average Black families spent 70 percent less than White families on higher education. But the differences in higher education spending were found to have nothing to do with race. Rather socioeconomic factors were the main contributing reasons for the racial differences.”

    JL: WHY….would anyone think “race” had something to do with it?!
    The ONLY time “race” is a *causal factor*…is when racism occurs.
    Other than that, “race” does not exist.

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