Content expands in new areas of exploration including: Education majors, STEM, Green Initiatives and Online Learners
NEW YORK – African-American male admissions, enrollment and retention rates at public Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have increased in both undergraduate and graduate disciplines according to the annual statistical data publication on public HBCUs, the Demographic Report, produced by the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, released today.
The study reports that overall African-American male graduate degrees conferred have increased by 36 percent for all Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields over the past ten years. Additionally, Hispanic males in STEM have doubled.
The report offers a comprehensive look at the astronomical impact that public HBCUs and universities make in their local, regional, statewide and national communities.
The study, led by Strategic Research Analysts; Olivia Blackmon and Director of Research, Dr. William Huit Blackmon is viewed as the leading source for information annually on the public HBCUs beyond the IPEDS data, the report is an in-depth, critical source for grant writing, research and studying trends for new program development.
The detailed report is organized around 15 disciplines. Some areas of note include: Enrollment, Retention and Dropouts, Student Employment, Faculty, College Cost, Financial Aid, Expenditures, Alumni Contributions, Private Support, Technology and School Reform.
A 20-year trend analysis on new areas of interest is incorporated in the report including: Admissions; Enrollment; Retention and Degrees Conferred (with special emphasis on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and Education). Additionally, this year’s report offers perspective on progression in the areas of: Education majors, Online Learners, Study Abroad Programs, Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) and Going Green Initiatives.
“The data presented in this study serves as a blueprint to guide researchers, philanthropists, the higher education community and HBCU scholars on emerging trends in the public HBCU arena,” said Dwayne Ashley, President & CEO, Thurgood Marshall College Fund. “Most importantly, the information is designed to offer comprehensive perspective on what areas we’ve strengthened in as well as the areas of opportunities to better engage our students.”
Highlights from the study include:
--Member institutions are attracting and retaining African-American males; the schools have experienced an increase in applications, admissions and enrollment rates:
- 65% overall increase in African-American male graduate enrollment.
- 23% overall African-American undergraduate enrollment increase. By comparison, more men tend to enroll in full-time undergraduate and graduate coursework, compared to their female counterparts. Roughly, 85% of all males were enrolled full-time and 15% were enrolled part-time. Black and Hispanic male enrollment has increased over the last twenty years, while White male enrollment has decreased as a portion of overall enrollment.
- Men composed 74% of the undergraduate engineering enrollment and 82% of the undergraduate engineering degrees conferred. Men also composed over 56% of the graduate degrees conferred, including 74% of engineering doctorate degrees.
- Men outnumber women in pursuit of graduate degrees in the STEM disciplines by 19%
Member institutions are fulfilling the promise by reaching out to other minorities and students who are typically underserved. Data shows a diverse pool of students to include Hispanics, Asians and American Indians:
- Over the last twenty years, Hispanic males have nearly doubled and Hispanic females have doubled their enrollment rates.
- Similarly, Asian males have increased by 37 percent and Asian females have doubled their enrollment population.
- Hispanic males have doubled their graduate enrollment rates and females have shout up over 200 percent over the last twenty years.
- Asian males have doubled their presence in graduate programs over the last twenty years and females have tripled their numbers.
Member institutions experienced overwhelming growth in STEM disciplines:
- STEM fields have increased by 57 percent over the last two-decades.
- 11.8% of undergraduates have declared STEM as their major.
- Engineering programs were heavily populated with males at 74 percent of enrollment and 82 percent of degrees conferred.
- African-American female graduation rates have increased by 32 percent in the last decade and Hispanic females have doubled.
- African-American males have increased doctoral degree programs from 8 students to 25, similarly African-American females have increased from 7 to 21 doctoral degrees.
---79% of TMCF member institutions reported participating in an “Energy Conservation Program.”
---52,300 undergraduate admissions application increase since 2001; five member schools doubled their applications between 2005 and 2006.
---8.7% of all Black enrollment in post-secondary education were enrolled in TMCF member institutions.
--10% increase in graduate enrollment over the last ten years. Total graduate students enrolled was the highest it has ever been reaching 28,576 in 2006-2007.
---63% of first-time full-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students in Fall 2005 returned in 2006. Four (4) institutions reported a 100% retention rate for part-time students from 2005-2006 school year.
---66% of all the 2-year and 4-year Title IV degree-granting institutions offered a credit-based college level distance learning course. Twenty-eight (28) universities reported offering an online degree program or distance learning courses in 10 universities responded that they currently do not have any online programs.
--- Enrollment at TMCF member institutions are stable, with 199,757 undergraduates; 29,676 graduate students; and 4,252 first professional students. Data shows that undergraduate applications were up for both males and females over the previous year, while admissions jumped 22 percent.
The full report can be accessed online at: http://www.thurgoodmarshallfund.net/v1/images/demorep/demographic-report.pdf
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About Thurgood Marshall College Fund, Inc.
The Thurgood Marshall College Fund, Inc., named for the late U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice, was established in 1987 and represents 47 public Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and 6 law schools located in 22 states and the US Virgin Islands with a population of over 235,000 students. Over the last 21 years, TMCF has awarded more than $100 million in leadership development, programmatic and capacity support, and scholarships enabling more than 12,000 students to attend public HBCUs. It is the only national organization of its type that provides merit-based scholarships and programmatic support to students attending the nation’s public HBCUs. TMCF also provides internship programs and joins corporate and foundation partners in providing leadership training and support to students preparing for undergraduate and professional schools. TMCF is a 501(c) (3), tax-exempt organization.
