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The Big Idea
Research indicates that the graduation rate disparities between Black and white students are reduced in environments where there is a higher representation of students and faculty of color. This conclusion stems from an extensive analysis of 2,807 four-year colleges across the United States, conducted by psychology researchers Nida Denson and myself. Our findings were published in a peer-reviewed article in The Journal of Higher Education in 2022.
The analysis revealed that institutions with a substantial proportion of Black students and faculty often exhibit smaller gaps in graduation rates between Black and white students. Furthermore, this environment appears beneficial not just for Black students, as the presence of one racial group can also contribute to decreased graduation rate gaps among other demographics, such as Latino and white students.
Notably, our research primarily focused on colleges where students mostly attend in-person classes. While online learning could allow some identification of racial backgrounds, interactions are often limited, which may diminish the visible impact of diversity.
At institutions predominantly serving Black students, graduation rates for Black students align closely with those of their white counterparts. A similar trend occurs at colleges with a majority-Latino enrollment, where Latino students achieve graduation rates comparable to white students. Our conclusions hold when accounting for various factors, such as college selectivity, geographic location, and tuition costs.
The graduation gap shrinks as the portion of Black students increases
Why it Matters
Graduation rates reveal significant variances among racial groups. For example, federal data indicates that among students who started at a four-year college in 2010, the graduation rate for white students was 63.9%, while only 39.7% of Black students graduated within six years.
This research underscores a critical factor that may contribute to these disparities: the predominance of white students and faculty at many colleges. Understanding this dynamic is crucial because colleges have agency over their recruitment and hiring practices.
The fact that predominantly Black and Latino institutions manage to eliminate graduation rate disparities, despite historical and systemic racism affecting educational outcomes, is particularly significant. Historical Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), founded to support Black students who faced barriers to attending predominantly white institutions, exemplify this success. Likewise, other colleges with diverse student populations, such as California State University, Fresno, also demonstrate similar patterns.
Acquiring a college degree reaps numerous benefits, including enhanced job prospects, increased earning potential, improved mental and physical health, and greater civic engagement. A well-educated populace fosters positive societal outcomes related to economics, health, and civic participation. Therefore, achieving equitable graduation rates is a vital step toward advancing racial justice.
To further hone in on the factors contributing to the equitable graduation rates linked to student and faculty diversity, further research is warranted. Colleges and universities should also consider amplifying their efforts to recruit and retain faculty of color to bolster student success.
What Still Isn’t Known
While our study establishes a link between higher ratios of students and faculty of color and reduced graduation rate disparities, the precise mechanisms behind this phenomenon remain unclear. This reduction in gaps may stem from various elements, including the comfort that students of color feel when surrounded by peers and faculty who share their racial backgrounds, the potential for increased social interactions, and the promotion of inclusive teaching environments fostered by faculty diversity.
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