Blacks Make Significant Progress in Attainments of Two-Year Community College Degrees

Normally JBHE concentrates its research on black progress at four-year colleges and universities as well as in graduate education. But community colleges are also an important part of higher education, particularly for African Americans. About 42 percent of all African-American enrollments in higher education are at the nation’s two-year community colleges. For whites, the figure is 35.5 percent.

Blacks have made significant progress in the attainment of two-year associate’s degrees. In 2004 more than 81,000 African Americans were awarded two-year degrees. This is more than double the number from 15 years ago.

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.