| William Carbonaro
University of Notre Dame
Racial/ethnic differences in college graduation: The lasting effects of students' high school experiences
FINAL REPORT:
Racial/Ethnic Difference in College Graduation: The Role of Students' High School Experiences.
Graduate rates from four-year colleges differ substantially by race and ethnicity. Prior research has not adequately explored whether racial/ethnic differences in high school experiences explain racial/ethnic differences in college enrollment and completion. The results suggest that racial/ethnic differences in students' high school experiences primarily contribute to racial/ethnic gaps in graduation through their effects on college enrollment. The black-white gap in college completion is primarily explained by family background factors as well as the racial composition and climate of the school. For Hispanic and Asian students, the completion gap with whites is largely explained by a combination of background factors and differences in academic skills.
College Characteristics and Racial/Ethnic Differences in College Graduation
Black students who attend college are more likely to drop out than white students. This paper examines whether and how the types of colleges attended by black and white students contribute to the problem of minority retention. The findings suggest that black students who attend historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are substantially more likely to complete college than black students who attend non-HBCUs. However, this finding does not explain the gap in completion between black and non-black students: the entire gap is actually explained by a combination of selection factors, student characteristics, and academic skills.
Back to Funded Research Grants Page |