Degree Attainments

African Americans Making Slow but Steady Progress in Doctoral Degree Awards

There were 2,512 African Americans who earned doctorates in 2019. They made up 7.1 percent of all doctorates awarded to U.S. citizens or permanent residents in the United States. Women made up 64.3 percent of all African Americans earning doctorates in 2019.

Graduation Rates of Students at State-Operated Historically Black Universities

A few of the nation's private historically Black colleges and universities have achieved progress in graduating their Black students. But at most of the nation's state-operated historically Black colleges and universities, the graduation rates remain very low.

The Persisting Racial Gap in College Graduation Rates at Flagship State Universities

At 21 flagship state universities in states with large Black populations, 15 have a racial graduation rate gap of 10 or more percentage points. The widest gap is at the University of Mississippi. There the Black graduation rate of 42 percent is 23 percentage points below the rate for White students.

Grading the Nation Top-Ranked Universities on Graduating Their Black Students

All of the 20 highest-ranked universities in the United States according to ratings by U.S. News & World Report have Black student graduation rates far higher than the national average of 48 percent. Harvard has the highest rate at 98 percent, followed by Yale and Princeton.

The Historically Black Collges and Universities Awarding the Most Bachelor’s Degrees

North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro awarded 1,662 bachelor's degrees, the most of any HBCU. This is not surprising since North Carolina A&T State University has the largest number of undergraduate students among HBCUs.

University of Memphis Launches The African American Male Academy

Starting in middle school, the initiative will identify, recruit, and induct African American male students into a culture of inclusive excellence. These students will be set on a path toward college completion.

Major New Report on the Status and Trends Relating to African American Education

Most of the information is contained in other federal reports, but the 228-page report is useful as it collects data on African American educational attainment at all levels in one place.

Academic Fields Where Blacks Earn Few or No Doctoral Degrees in 2017

African Americans earned only 1.2 percent of all doctorates awarded in physics to U.S. citizens and permanent residents in 2017. Blacks earned 0.9 percent of all mathematics and statistics doctorates, and only 1 percent of all doctorates in computer science.

African Americans Making Slow Progress in Engineering Degree Attainments

A new report from the Association of Public Land-grant Universities found that Blacks earned 3.9 percent of all bachelor's degrees in engineering in 2016. They received 2.2 percent of all master's degrees awarded in engineering fields and 1.9 percent of all Ph.D.s in engineering that year.

The Universities Awarding the Most Doctoral Degrees to Black Scholars

During the five-year period from 2013 through 2017, 11,389 Black or African American students earned doctoral degrees at colleges and universities in the United States. Walden University awarded 969 of these, by far the most of any educational institution.

African Americans Making Only Snail-Like Progress in Doctoral Degree Awards

If we restrict the figures to citizens and permanent residents we find that African Americans earned 6.7 percent of all doctoral awards in 2017. Therefore, African Americans earned about one half the number of doctorates that would be the case if racial parity with the U.S. Black population prevailed.

The Gender Gap in College Completion Rates for African Americans

For African Americans who entered four-year colleges and universities seeking bachelor's degrees in 2011, women had a graduation rate of 43.9 percent, compared to 34.1 percent of Black men. This was the largest gender gap for any racial or ethnic group.

A Major National Initiative to Close the College Achievement Gap by 2025

The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities has organized a collaborative effort in which 130 public universities and systems will work together to increase college access, close the achievement gap, and award hundreds of thousands more degrees by 2025.

The Gender Gap in Degree Attainments Among African Americans

There is a major gender gap in degree awards at all levels among African Americans. In the 2016-17 academic year, Black women earned 66.9 percent of all associate's degrees, 64.1 percent of all bachelor's degrees, 70.1 percent of all master's degrees, and 68.4 percent of all research doctorates awarded to African Americans.

New Data on African American Degree Attainments in the United States

During the 2016-17 academic year, African Americans earned more than 349,000 degree awards at four-year U.S. postsecondary educational institutions. Blacks earned 9.6 percent of all bachelor's degrees, 10.2 percent of all master's degrees, and 8 percent of all research doctorates.

The Education Trust Examines African American Degree Attainments by State

Just over 40 percent of Black adults in New Mexico have earned a higher education degree, the highest rate in the nation. The state with the lowest level of degree attainment for African American adults is Louisiana.

New Report Examines Racial Disparities Among Those Who Have Completed College

There have been a great number of studies done on racial disparities in access to - and graduating from - college. But a new report from the Center for American Progress finds that there are large racial disparities that exist even among those who complete college.

Fields Where African Americans Earn Few or No Doctoral Degrees

Blacks are vastly underrepresented among doctoral degree recipients in some disciplines. For example, in 2016 African Americans earned only 1.8 percent of all doctorates awarded in physics to U.S. citizens and permanent residents.

Doctoral Awards at Historically Black Colleges and Universities

National Science Foundation data shows that historically Black colleges and universities awarded 432 doctorates in 2016. This was 0.8 percent of all doctorates awarded in the United States. Howard University leads the list with 93 doctoral awards.

The Persisting Racial Gap in Doctoral Degree Awards

African Americans earned 6.6 percent of all doctoral degrees awarded to students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents of this country. Thus, African Americans earned about one half the number of doctorates that would be the case if racial parity with the U.S. Black population prevailed.
1234...12Page 3 of 12

Get the FREE JBHE Weekly Bulletin

Receive our weekly email newsletter delivered to your inbox

Latest News

Featured Jobs