The Gender Gap at the Black Colleges

As is the case in virtually all areas of higher education, black women are increasing their share of total enrollments at the nation’s historically black colleges and universities.

In 1980 women accounted for 54.1 percent of all enrollments at black colleges. By 1990 women were 59.1 percent of all black college enrollments. In 2003 women were nearly 62 percent of the total enrollments at the black colleges.

When we consider African Americans only, we find that since 1980 black women have increased their enrollments at the black colleges by 44 percent. For black men, total enrollments at the black colleges have increased by 17 percent.