Number of Blacks Earning Two-Year Associate’s Degrees Reaches an All-Time High

Blacks have made significant progress in the attainment of two-year associate’s degrees. In 2007 more than 90,000 African Americans were awarded two-year degrees. This is up more than 50 percent from the year 2000.

Liberal arts, business, and health services were the most popular fields of study for African Americans in two-year degree programs.

Two-year associate’s degree awards are important. Census data shows that blacks with some college or a two-year associate’s degree significantly increase their earning power over blacks with only a high school diploma.

In 2007 black women earned more than 69 percent of all two-year degrees awarded to African Americans.

Copyright © 2009. The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education. All rights reserved.