College Enrollment 1

Runner Head: COLLEGE ENROLLMENT AMONGST AFRICAN-AMERICANS

Comparison of the College Enrollment Levels between White, Blacks, and Other Minority
Groups
Stephanie De Los Santos
Tuskegee University
SOWK300-Section 01
Professor J.L. McArthur
September 23, 2010
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Abstract

The results and findings on the analysis that I conducted, showed that over the last 40 years
the level of African-Americans that have been enrolled in college have been low. When
comparing the different races and ethnic group, that’s when the low levels are most apparent.
Another aspect that was apparent was that the overall number of females that have been
enrolled in college has been greater than the amount of males.
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Magnitude of the Problem- Figure 1

Descriptive Discussion Figure-1:

Figure 1 shows the percentage of college enrollment by different races and minority
groups. As figure1 clearly showed the White race has the greatest numbers when it comes to
college enrollment. They have more than half of the registration numbers, with 66% in the
lead. They are followed by Blacks with 14%, then Hispanics with 13%, and last illustrated
Asians/ Pacific Islander with 7%.

Interpretive Discussion Figure-1:

I think the problem is very severe, for the most parts the problem of college
enrollment is very important and very large. For quite some time I’ve known that the levels
of Black’s enrollment were low. Sitting down and looking at the data, the numbers are
illustrated clearly, makes me notice that the problem is bigger that I thought. When
pertaining to the Black communities I was able to see that since such small numbers of Black
are registered in college it becomes explainable why Blacks have less wealth, less authority,
higher crime rates, and higher level of poverty.
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Scope of the Problem- Figure 2

Descriptive Discussion Figure-2:

Figure 2 shows that the levels of college enrollment are low amongst all United
States. According to the data in the graph above, it illustrates the view that the number of
people that are enrolled by States. Amongst the least populated states, the lowest levels of
enrollment are found amongst Alaska and New Hampshire. Amongst these States the level of
Black enrollment were really low, the Black enrollments are around 1%. On the other hand,
when looking into the most populated States, one would refer to the States like: California,
Texas, Florida, and New York. Amongst these could be made out of the States of New York
and Texas. In New York out of 1,160,000 people that were enrolled in college, only 12%
were Black; and in the State of Texas out of 1,253,000 only 11% were Black.

Interpretive Discussion Figure-2:

The interpretation that I draw from this figure is that Blacks have low levels of
college enrollment throughout the whole United States. This scope does not show a variation
on the levels enrollment by any specific area of the Nation. In 6 States that are illustrated
above, one can see that although the numbers vary because of the population that the
different states have as a whole, the levels of Black enrollment are still extremely low.
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Changes in the Problem- Figure 3

Descriptive Discussion Figure-3:

According to figure 3, the changes that have occurred in the last 27 years have been
great. Since 1980, when only 11, 387, 000 people were enrolled in college, amongst a minute
percentage of Black’s enrollment was recorded, to a total of 18,248,100 that were enrolled in
2007; the numbers have evidently increased. Sadly it is to say that out of those many that
were registered in college only 12% were Black. Even going deeper into the subject in
matter, throughout the past 27 years, Black females have taken the lead in obtaining their
education. From 686,000 that were recorded being enrolled in 1980 to 1,545,300 that were
enrolled in 2007, grand improvement has been made.

Interpretive Discussion Figure-3:

The conclusions that have drawn from this figure are that there has been great
improvement has occurred, with regard to the levels of enrollment that Americans are having
as the years have passed. Although there has been great improvement in the level of the
overall registration, the Black the changes have not been as great. I think that the Black
population is not as focused in being enrolled in college as many of the other Race and ethnic
groups are. Regardless of the low numbers of enrollment within the Black community, Black
females have taken more initiative than Black males to get themselves registered in college.
Unfortunately the improvement of the Black male’s group hasn’t been as great; out of
476,000 that were first enrolled in college in 1980 only 838,100 were enrolled in 2007.
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Disparities in the Problem- Figure 4

Descriptive Discussion Figure-4:

Figure 4 illustrates the increasing change that the level of college enrollment has
had in a period of 17 years. Along with that, it also portrays the lead have females have had
in their enrollment. The figure shows that a greater number of females, during the period
shown, have had the lead in the levels of their enrollment. Although the levels of enrollment
have been improving during the past of the years, females have shown greater improvement
than the opposite sex.

Interpretive Discussion Figure-4:

My personal conclusion on this figure is that females have during the analyzed time is
that more females are being wiser than males and are registering themselves in college. From
a number of 6,283,900 females that were enrolled in 1990 to 10,432,800 that were registered
in 2007, females have had the head start since the beginning. Overall males have shown good
results in the level of their improvement, but they have not been able to surpass the level of
registration that females have had, and will most likely continue to have.
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Summary and Conclusion

The different graphs that were illustrated in my analysis helped paint a picture, which

clearly showed, how over the past 30 years not many members of the Black community have

been enrolled in college as they should have been. The numbers lucidly demonstrate that

compared with the White community there is more than six times the numbers of Whites,

which are and have been enrolled in college, than Blacks. The graphs also illustrates that,

during the analyzed time, more females are being wiser than males and are registering

themselves in college. Looking into any of the groups, whether they’re Blacks, Whites,

Hispanics , or American Indian/ Alaska Natives, females are the ones that are taking the lead

and posses the higher number of college enrollment versus the males.

Overall, after looking at these graphs I can clearly see the primary issue; which is that

since such small numbers of African-Americans have been enrolled in college, even lower

numbers when regarding about males. These numbest have brought along more problems

and less progress, being attached to the African-American or Urban communities. The rate of

the college enrollment has increased from 11,387,000 in 1980, to a total of 18,248,000 in

2007. Out of these increasing numbers, only a minute increasing change of 1,163,000 in

1980 to 2,383,400 have occurred amongst African-American.

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References

Table 270.U.S. National Center for Education Statistics, Digest of Education Statistics”, annual;
“College Enrollment by Selected Characteristics: 1990 to 2007” Retrieved on September 19,
2010; http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2010/tables/10s0270.pdf

Table 271.U.S. National Center for Education Statistics, Digest of Education Statistics”, annual;
“Degree-Granting Institutions, Number and Enrollment by State: 2006” Retrieved on September
19, 2010; http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2010/tables/10s0271.pdf

Table 272.U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Reports, PPL-148, and earlier reports;
“College Enrollment by Sex, Age, Race, and Hispanic Origin: 1980 to 2007” Retrieved on
September 19, 2010 http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/school.html

Table 277.U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Fall 2006
Integrated postsecondary Education;
“Residence and Migration of College Freshmen by State: 2006” Retrieved on September 19,
2010 http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2010/tables/10s0277.pdf