In 2023, Texas State lawmakers passed Senate Bill 17, effectively outlawing diversity, equity, and inclusion programs at public Texas colleges and universities. In December, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board released a new report that will serve as a baseline for future biennial studies on the impact of the state bill.
Using data from 2022 and 2023, the report examines the application rate, acceptance rate, matriculation rate, GPA, and graduation rate of students at public two-year and four-year institutions in Texas.
In 2023, only 48 percent of African American students at four-year institutions graduated within six-years, compared to 84 percent of Asian students, 73 percent of White students, and 60 percent of Hispanic students. Just 29 percent of Black students at four-year colleges and universities in Texas graduated after four years in 2023. Graduation rates at two-year institutions in Texas were even lower, with only 30 percent of Black students graduating after six-years.
Black students at Texas public colleges and universities also had lower average GPAs than their peers from other racial backgrounds. At two-year institutions, 66 percent of African American students had a GPA above 2.0, compared to 84 percent of Asian students, 79 percent of White students, and 73 percent of Hispanic students. At four-year institutions, 77 percent of Black students had a GPA over 2.0, compared to 93 percent of Asian students, 91 percent of White students, and 84 percent of Hispanic students.
“Ensuring all Texas students have the opportunity to succeed will directly strengthen
our workforce and economy,” write the report authors. “While it’s too early to assess the impact of SB 17, continuous monitoring of student outcomes is critical to improving efficiency and maximizing the potential of our future workforce.”
