A Surge in Black Enrollments in Postsecondary Career and Technical Education Programs

A new report from the Department of Education shows that in 2004 more than 10.6 million Americans were enrolled in postsecondary career and technical education programs. These programs, previously referred to as vocational education, are in such fields as business, computers, electronics, and health services. About half of all students enrolled in these career fields are in four-year bachelor’s degree programs, many in the field of business management.

In 2004 African Americans made up 16.6 percent of all students enrolled in postsecondary career and technical education programs. Thus, there were nearly 1.8 million blacks enrolled in these programs nationwide. In contrast, African Americans were 11.4 percent of all students in college and university academic programs that year.

In 1990 African Americans were 11.6 percent of all students enrolled in postsecondary vocational education programs. Since 1990 the number of black students enrolled in these vocational programs has increased by about 50 percent.

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