The Gender Gap in African-American Higher Education May Have Peaked

Readers of this journal are aware of the wide gender gap in African-American higher education. For example, the latest data shows that black women make up nearly two thirds of all African-American enrollments in higher education. Black women have a college graduation rate that is 12 percentage points higher than the rate for black men. As a result, black women now earn two thirds of all bachelor’s degrees awarded to African Americans. In master’s degree awards, black women win more than 70 percent of all degrees earned by African Americans.

But there is evidence that the gender gap in African-American higher education has stabilized, albeit at a very high level.

• In 2007 black men made up 35.2 percent of all African-American enrollments in higher education. Three years earlier, black men were 35 percent of all African-American enrollments.

• Black men earned 36.1 percent of all doctorates awarded to African Americans in 2008. This is up from 34.5 percent in 2004.

• In 2007 black men earned 33.9 percent of all bachelor’s degrees awarded to African Americans. This rate has remained relatively steady for several years.

• In 2007 black men earned 36.6 percent of all professional degrees awarded to African Americans. This is up slightly from 35.8 percent in the 2004-05 academic year.