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How Racially Representative Is Your College?

A college degree can improve a person’s job prospects, wages, and quality of life, but not everyone has equal access to higher education.

College enrollment gaps between racial and ethnic groups persist, driven by systemic barriers—like the racial wealth gap, inequitable admissions practices, underinvestment in K–12 education, and varying student preferences—as well as policies and practices that often aren’t designed to help underrepresented students access high-quality postsecondary education opportunities. These gaps can perpetuate earnings and wealth disparities between racial and ethnic groups.

Most colleges can easily find a diverse group of potential students, but many schools have student bodies that don’t look like the pool of potential students they could enroll. We look at two- and four-year colleges and universities to see which racial and ethnic groups are over- and underrepresented based on the population of the school’s market. This market area varies depending on the type of school and the distance current students are willing to travel to attend that college.

Exploring these trends can inform efforts to expand access to postsecondary education options that improve people’s lives, especially for those who have historically and systematically been denied those opportunities.

Data highlight

White overrepresention is falling at highly selective US public colleges

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Data highlight

Hispanic representation is rising in most California public college sectors

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Data highlight

Black representation is falling at Michigan's Wayne State University

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Average Representation at US Colleges in 2017

Relative to market of potential students

Average Representation at Public Nonselective US Colleges over Time, by Race or Ethnicity

Relative to market of potential students

Average Hispanic Representation at US Colleges over Time, by College Sector

Relative to market of potential students

Representation at Northern Virginia Community College over Time

Relative to market of potential students

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