College Graduation Rates and Affirmative Action

The National Review faults my new report on minority college graduation rates because “the words “affirmative” and “preference” appear nowhere in the document.” Well, yes, that’s true. And I have to admit, in the course of my analysis, I observed one group of students that consistently struggles in graduating compared to their peers. At college after college, this faction is apparently enjoying the benefit of identity-based admissions preferences and dragging down all the rest.

I refer, of course, to white men.

There are over 550 colleges and universities in America that reported higher graduation rates for black women in 2006 than for white men. They include Princeton, Yale, Georgetown, Pomona, Rice, Northwestern, Cornell, Davidson, Vanderbilt, Cal Tech, Wake Forest, Villanova, RPI, West Point, Virginia Tech, George Washington, BYU, Air Force, The University of Texas-Austin, Georgia Tech, SMU, Baylor, Miami, Rutgers, Julliard, Tulane, American, Purdue, Coast Guard, Florida State, UMASS, SUNY-Albany, South Carolina, Bowling Green, Oklahoma, George Mason, West Virginia, and many more.

There are a number of private colleges in the report that have very selective admissions, take race into account when considering applicants, and have no graduation rate gap. There are also lots of public institutions in the report that admit most students who apply regardless of race or anything else–some located in states that have outlawed affirmative action–yet still have very large graduation rate gaps.

So, no, I don’t think the report offers damning evidence against affirmative action that we somehow failed to come clean about.

Colleges admit lots of different kinds of students. Some have more barriers to graduation than others. Statistically speaking, students are less likely to graduate if they work full-time, have children, come from low-income households, enroll part-time, don’t enroll immediately after high school, struggle with reading and math, have parents who didn’t graduate from college, or have a Y chromosome. Responsible institutions understand this, and support individual students depending on their invidual needs, whatever they might be. That’s not a practice specfic to race or anything else, it’s about devoting resources and attention to students who need them most.

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2 Responses to “College Graduation Rates and Affirmative Action”

Djphoenix says:

November 3, 2009 at 2:18 pm

Where did you get these statistics? Please stop perpetrating this fraud. Black boys need help. This is true. Black girls, however, also need help. On just about every national measure, from reading and math scores, to drop out and supspension rates, to college-going rates, to incarceration rates, which disaggregrate data by sex and race, Black girls are not doing much better than Black males. The margin is very narrow. Also, with respect to college-going rates, only 36% of the 32% of the Black girls who graduate from high school continue to college. This group – age 18 – 25 has higher college-going rates among Black girls than Black boys. When you look at college-going rates among 25 – 34 year olds, you will find that Black men far outnumber Black females in college attendance rates. Yes, when the small percentage of Black girls who attend college actually get there, they do graduate in higher numbers. Their percentages, however, are small when you look at all Black girls, and you compare them to other females and male groups. Both black boys and black girls need help. For statistical sources: U.S. Department of Education, National Center of Education Statistics and U.S. Census Bureau. The data is clear.
rick lynn says:

November 14, 2008 at 3:33 pm

from rick lynn mayfieldga@bellsouth.net

Yes, my learning learning theory (will go to all on request) shows just why Males of all races are falling behind while Females are surging ahead. It provides us with tools to help all students improve their lives. This is due to great differences in mental, emotional, social, academic support over time along with large differences in overaggression allowed by society toward one group from day one as opposed to overprotection of another group from day one.

By redefining average stress as layers of mental frictions we can then see how all of us through differential treatment and neglect greatly affect thinking, learning, motivation, and accumulation of knowledge and skills over time.

The nineteenth century belief Males should be strong is still with us for all Males, both Black and White. This begins from day one. Notice if you will on your own how very young boys are treated as opposed to very young girls. This differential treatment is maintained throughout and is increased in aggression toward Males as they get older, as opposed to continual protection and support for Female children.

There is also the belief Males of all races (even internationally) should pull themselves up by their bootstraps denying Males much positive mental, emotional, social, and academic support so as not to coddle the Male child. This is why Female mature faster than Males. They are given the Mental, emotional, social, and academic support from day one whereas boys collectively are not.

The combination of overprotection, support, and much positive communication from day one provides the Female with just about everything they need to succeed.

The combination of neglect and aggression toward Males to make them tough provides just about everything Males need to fail in the information age.

My site is over eight years old and even then I showed all Males Falling behind.