Minority students lagging behind in graduation, retention rates
By: Michelle Latsu, Teresa Fernandez, Lauren Maiden
Many college students hope -- and perhaps expect -- to graduate college in four (or at the least six) years. An analysis of data from University of Maryland System institutions shows that in many cases, that's an unrealistic expectation.
Kristen Arey, a student at Morgan State University, thought she'd graduate in six years. But she attended a community college and changed her major during college, which set her back. This is a common problem in higher education, as students find themselves stuck with more years of tuition bills and colleges find themselves reporting low four-year graduation rates.
It's common for students to transfer schools. The National Student Clearinghouse Research Center reports 37 percent of college students end up transferring during their college career. Credits for completed courses don’t always transfer to the new school. Arey previously attended Anne Arundel Community college for three years before attending Morgan State. She will soon be a second-year student at Morgan State and realistically is on the six-and-a-half-year graduation track. The prerequities she had already taken for the marketing major did not count for engineering once she changed majors at Morgan State.
Arey is the norm rather than the exception at Morgan State. In 2016, the most recent year for which data is collected, Morgan State had 12 percent four-year graduation rate, 32 percent six-year graduation rate and 36 percent eight-year graduation rate. This is well below the national average of a 61 percent six-year graduation rate. Most students encounter many problems that delay graduating on time. Data focuses on collecting four-year and six-year rates. However, Morgan State did have a retention rate of 70 percent in 2016. Retention rate only counts if a student attends the fall semester and then continues to attend the school or university for the spring semester.
Many college students hope -- and perhaps expect -- to graduate college in four (or at the least six) years. An analysis of data from University of Maryland System institutions shows that in many cases, that's an unrealistic expectation.
Kristen Arey, a student at Morgan State University, thought she'd graduate in six years. But she attended a community college and changed her major during college, which set her back. This is a common problem in higher education, as students find themselves stuck with more years of tuition bills and colleges find themselves reporting low four-year graduation rates.
It's common for students to transfer schools. The National Student Clearinghouse Research Center reports 37 percent of college students end up transferring during their college career. Credits for completed courses don’t always transfer to the new school. Arey previously attended Anne Arundel Community college for three years before attending Morgan State. She will soon be a second-year student at Morgan State and realistically is on the six-and-a-half-year graduation track. The prerequities she had already taken for the marketing major did not count for engineering once she changed majors at Morgan State.
Arey is the norm rather than the exception at Morgan State. In 2016, the most recent year for which data is collected, Morgan State had 12 percent four-year graduation rate, 32 percent six-year graduation rate and 36 percent eight-year graduation rate. This is well below the national average of a 61 percent six-year graduation rate. Most students encounter many problems that delay graduating on time. Data focuses on collecting four-year and six-year rates. However, Morgan State did have a retention rate of 70 percent in 2016. Retention rate only counts if a student attends the fall semester and then continues to attend the school or university for the spring semester.
Data collected from- https://datausa.io
“When I’m on this campus, I often feel emotions of stress, anxiety and frustration,” Arey said.
Arey said administrators at Morgan State have an “overall unorganized run of the things throughout the school at times.” Arey also mentioned that some professors do not accurately explain how they would like the assignments to be completed which ends with the student failing the assignment which lowers their grade. This result creates the chance of the student failing the class.
Morgan State is a historically black college/university (HBCU), which means it predominantly enrolls black students. Predominately black universities such as Bowie State University and Coppin State University have lower graduation completion rates when compared to other schools and universities. HBCU schools have above a 50 percent retention rate in 2016. Bowie State had a retention rate of 75 percent, Coppin University had 61 percent, and University of Maryland Eastern Shore had 58 percent. Other USM system schools have retention rates starting from 77 percent and higher in 2016.
African-American women are graduating at higher rates than men
Over the past few years there has been a growth in African-American women graduating college. The National Center for Education Statistics reported that“ black women have been obtaining degrees at a consistently high rate for the last eight years and counting.. In our study we analyzed the graduation rate of African-American students from non-HBCU institutions in the USM system: Frostburg State University, Salisbury University, Towson University, University of Baltimore, University of Maryland-Baltimore County, University of Maryland-College Park and St. Mary’s College of Maryland from 2014 to 2016. African-American females graduated at a much higher rate than African-American men. In 2014, African-American men graduated at a rate of 58 percent and African-American females graduated at a rate of 87 percent from St. Mary's College of Maryland.
In 2015, those numbers climbed with 95 percent of African-American women graduating from St. Mary's. Studies show that black men are being fast-tracked out of high school due to disportionate behavioral problems resulting in suspensions and expulsions. They don’t receive proper college preparation and are perceived as not being college-ready. Another major issue resulting in the low graduation rates of African-American men is the availability of financial aid.
Over the past few years there has been a growth in African-American women graduating college. The National Center for Education Statistics reported that“ black women have been obtaining degrees at a consistently high rate for the last eight years and counting.. In our study we analyzed the graduation rate of African-American students from non-HBCU institutions in the USM system: Frostburg State University, Salisbury University, Towson University, University of Baltimore, University of Maryland-Baltimore County, University of Maryland-College Park and St. Mary’s College of Maryland from 2014 to 2016. African-American females graduated at a much higher rate than African-American men. In 2014, African-American men graduated at a rate of 58 percent and African-American females graduated at a rate of 87 percent from St. Mary's College of Maryland.
In 2015, those numbers climbed with 95 percent of African-American women graduating from St. Mary's. Studies show that black men are being fast-tracked out of high school due to disportionate behavioral problems resulting in suspensions and expulsions. They don’t receive proper college preparation and are perceived as not being college-ready. Another major issue resulting in the low graduation rates of African-American men is the availability of financial aid.
Data collect from- https://datausa.io
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White students are graduating at higher rates than minorities
We found that 88 percent of white females and 80 percent of white males graduated from the University of Maryland while only 29.2 percent of Hispanic males graduated from the University of Maryland in 2012.
We found that 88 percent of white females and 80 percent of white males graduated from the University of Maryland while only 29.2 percent of Hispanic males graduated from the University of Maryland in 2012.
stacked chart
Data collected from- https://datausa.io
White students surpassed all other demographics across all 11 schools studied. When it comes to higher education there is a race gap in college graduation and retention rates. One of the reasons this occurs is because the cost of higher education negatively impacts minorities. Minority families tend to have lower wages than white families making it harder for them to afford their education and increasing the risk of the student dropping out due to financial difficulties or not enrolling in college at all.
Another reason white students tend to graduate at higher rates is that a large percentage of minorities are not adequately prepared for college level work before entering college. Many minorities in Maryland come from low-performing school districts and don't receive adequate college prep courses before attending college.
"The main factors affecting graduation rate are affordability and income and the cost of college is steadily increasing," said Konrad Mugglestone, senior research analyst with the Institute for Higher Education Policy. "African-American students have to juggle more such as working and attending school at the same time.”
Both Morgan State and Coppin State have some of the lowest graduation rates within the USM system. Those institutions have adapted a selective admission policy that is aimed at attracting students who are better prepared for college level work and instruction. This two schools have also received additional funding to improve their quality of instruction and programs.
When asked how the graduation rate among African-American students and minorities in general could be increased, Mugglestone said: “Affordability is the first step as well as increasing federal Pell Grants for low-income students. The value of the Pell Grant has decreased. As well as increasing the amount of need-based aid for lower income students. Much more aid is going to students with high grades and less to students in need."
Another reason white students tend to graduate at higher rates is that a large percentage of minorities are not adequately prepared for college level work before entering college. Many minorities in Maryland come from low-performing school districts and don't receive adequate college prep courses before attending college.
"The main factors affecting graduation rate are affordability and income and the cost of college is steadily increasing," said Konrad Mugglestone, senior research analyst with the Institute for Higher Education Policy. "African-American students have to juggle more such as working and attending school at the same time.”
Both Morgan State and Coppin State have some of the lowest graduation rates within the USM system. Those institutions have adapted a selective admission policy that is aimed at attracting students who are better prepared for college level work and instruction. This two schools have also received additional funding to improve their quality of instruction and programs.
When asked how the graduation rate among African-American students and minorities in general could be increased, Mugglestone said: “Affordability is the first step as well as increasing federal Pell Grants for low-income students. The value of the Pell Grant has decreased. As well as increasing the amount of need-based aid for lower income students. Much more aid is going to students with high grades and less to students in need."
Data collected from- https://datausa.io
Predominantly Black Universities Have Low Graduation Rates When Compared to Other Universities In the USM System
Over the years, predominantly black institutions have suffered from a decline in graduation rates. The national graduation rate for students graduating over a six-year period was 61 percent in 2016. The United Negro College Fund was able to observe the graduation rate of African-American students in 2015 and found that only 39.5 percent of African-American students graduate within a six-year period. Additionally, it was found that African-American students who are enrolled at HBCUs graduate at 35 percent within a six-year period. In 2016, most Maryland schools' graduation rate increased -- but not at many HBCUs.
Savia Long, a researcher for HBCU Research Magazine, said, “Low graduation rates and low retention rates are a result of low-income students not being able to afford the same opportunities as middle and higher income students. Long, said that if students don’t have “proper resources to support their academics” they will eventually drop-out, which affects overall graduation rates. A student's dependency on family income and financial aid factors into their likelihood of graduating. Students that go to institutions with higher federal funding and higher financial aid often have a more stable income background.
Over the years, predominantly black institutions have suffered from a decline in graduation rates. The national graduation rate for students graduating over a six-year period was 61 percent in 2016. The United Negro College Fund was able to observe the graduation rate of African-American students in 2015 and found that only 39.5 percent of African-American students graduate within a six-year period. Additionally, it was found that African-American students who are enrolled at HBCUs graduate at 35 percent within a six-year period. In 2016, most Maryland schools' graduation rate increased -- but not at many HBCUs.
Savia Long, a researcher for HBCU Research Magazine, said, “Low graduation rates and low retention rates are a result of low-income students not being able to afford the same opportunities as middle and higher income students. Long, said that if students don’t have “proper resources to support their academics” they will eventually drop-out, which affects overall graduation rates. A student's dependency on family income and financial aid factors into their likelihood of graduating. Students that go to institutions with higher federal funding and higher financial aid often have a more stable income background.
Data collected from- https://datausa.io
Data collected from- https://datausa.io
There Has Been a Decline in African-American Enrollment Rates at HBCUs.
African-American enrollment rates at HBCUs declined from 2012-2016. Morgan State’s African-American enrollment rate plummeted by 10 percentage points over a five-year period, with an 84 percent African-American enrollment rate in 2012 declining to a 74 percent in 2016. Other HBCUs have had similar declines. University of Maryland-Eastern Shore is the only HBCU to show an increase in its African-American enrollment rate, and over the span of 5 years, from 2012-2016, that rate has increased by 2 percentage points.
Long said the decline of black enrollment stems from a 2012 change in HBCU financial aid. “That year credit standards had tightened, students were receiving lesser amounts on their loans.” Long said the tightening the Parental Loans for Undergraduate Student (PLUS) caused for the overall HBCU enrollment rate to drop in 2012, and the African American enrollment rate for other Maryland universities to rise. There was a huge “decline in first-year students.”
Long pointed out that this didn’t only occur in the USM System. There was a “nation-wide tightening on PLUS loans” which affected most HBCU’s African-American enrollment rates.
African-American enrollment rates at HBCUs declined from 2012-2016. Morgan State’s African-American enrollment rate plummeted by 10 percentage points over a five-year period, with an 84 percent African-American enrollment rate in 2012 declining to a 74 percent in 2016. Other HBCUs have had similar declines. University of Maryland-Eastern Shore is the only HBCU to show an increase in its African-American enrollment rate, and over the span of 5 years, from 2012-2016, that rate has increased by 2 percentage points.
Long said the decline of black enrollment stems from a 2012 change in HBCU financial aid. “That year credit standards had tightened, students were receiving lesser amounts on their loans.” Long said the tightening the Parental Loans for Undergraduate Student (PLUS) caused for the overall HBCU enrollment rate to drop in 2012, and the African American enrollment rate for other Maryland universities to rise. There was a huge “decline in first-year students.”
Long pointed out that this didn’t only occur in the USM System. There was a “nation-wide tightening on PLUS loans” which affected most HBCU’s African-American enrollment rates.
Data collected from- https://datausa.io