Some Public Colleges and Universities Are Making Gains, Closing Gaps in Graduation Rates for Minority Students

Many young people choose where to attend college based on its popularity and prestige. But they may neglect to consider the school’s record in actually graduating students. Minority students especially may want to take a good look at how well the college they’re considering fares.
     Two new Ed Trust briefs show that some public colleges and universities are doing better than others in ensuring that minority students earn bachelor’s degrees. “Top Gainers” and “Top Gap Closers” highlight institutions that have made the biggest improvements since 2002.
     The briefs compiled and analyzed data from federal sources and College Results Online—Ed Trust’s Web tool that allows the public to view college graduation rates by race, ethnicity, and gender. About 60 percent of public four-year colleges have seen improved graduation rates for minority students since 2002. At the same time, 46 percent of these institutions narrowed the graduation-rate gap between minority and nonminority students. More details in our Press Room.