Research & Studies

Of all American students studying abroad in all areas of the globe during the 2023-24 academic year, about 6.1 percent, were African Americans. Twenty years ago in the 2003-04 academic year, African Americans were 3.4 percent of all American students who studied abroad.

While the average U.S. household spends 3.2 percent of their income on utility bills, Black households spend an average of 5.1 percent of their income on energy expenses. This disparity holds true even when comparing households in majority-White and majority-Black neighborhoods with similar income levels.

Overall, pregnant women are more likely to die from gun violence than nonpregnant women. However, this risk is significantly higher among Black women, who represented over 57 percent of all pregnant women who were victims of homicide between 2018 and 2021.

Even among schools' top performing students, Black students are significantly less likely than their Asian, White, and Latino peers to take algebra in eighth grade. This leads to unequal access to advanced math courses in high school, putting Black students at a disadvantage when applying to college.

“There are many reasons why someone might come into a labor and delivery unit and need a cesarean delivery — it’s a critically important, life-saving procedure — but race is not one of them,” said Marie Boller, the study’s lead author. “These findings are cause for concern, because we know these disparities have no biological basis and are rooted in structural racism.”

In the 2024-25 academic year sub-Saharan nations sent more than 65,000 students to study at U.S. colleges and universities, an increase of more than 15 percent from the previous year. But early data shows that the rise in foreign enrollments has halted due to travel bans and visa restrictions during the first year of the Trump administration.

Although on average they have smaller endowments and receive less federal funding per student than private HBCUs, public HBCUs enroll over three-quarters of all HBCU undergraduates and produce more STEM graduates, translating to a significant impact on the U.S. workforce and economy.

“AI is a train that’s already in motion, and it’s picking up speed,” said Dr. Cortney VanHook, assistant professor of social work at the University of Illinois. “So, the question is: How can we use this amazing tool to improve mental health care for many populations?”

Compared to White Americans, Black Americans are less likely to trust the information provided by medical professionals and scientific literature regarding genetic medicine, which could be contributing to their underrepresentation in genetic research.

Overall, 46 percent of U.S. adults support measuring race in federal research, while 33 percent oppose it. Asian and White adults are more likely to support the federal government collecting race-related data, while Black and Hispanic adults are more likely to oppose it.

A team of scholars from Brown University and Harvard University has found premature deaths—those occurring before age 65—have steadily increased in the United States in recent years, particularly among Black Americans.

In 1984, the Victims of Crime Act established victim compensation programs to support victims and families of violent crime. Although Black families are more likely to file victim compensation claims, they are less likely to have their claims approved than White families.

Many Ivy League institutions, major research universities, and highly-selective liberal arts colleges across the United States have experienced sharp declines in Black first-year student enrollments since the Supreme Court's 2023 decision to end affirmative action.

According to a new study from scholars at the University of Illinois, highly-visible public universities in states that have adopted performance-based funding policies have experienced declines in their Black undergraduate enrollment.

According to a new economics study, second-generation Black immigrant women have achieved earnings that are higher than or equal to White American women in recent years. Second-generation Black men achieved similar progress, particularly among workers at the top 10 percent of income distribution.

Between 2011-2012 and 2021-2022, federal funding for the Pell Grant program decreased by some $10 billion. Over the same time period, there was a decrease of more than 487,000 Black students at U.S. colleges and universities, with the steepest declines occurring in southern states.

In an analysis of 11 years of data on New York City Public Schools, researchers found high levels of teacher turnover led to increased likelihood for office disciplinary referrals and suspensions for all students. Black students were the most likely group to receive disciplinary action when their teachers left mid-year.

According to a new study led by Brendesha Tynes of the University of Southern California, Black adolescents average six race-related online experiences per day, with 3.2 considered online racism. Those who do encounter online racism are more likely to experience next-day anxiety and depression.

The share of students living in predominantly Black school districts who are attending non-traditional public schools, such as homeschooling options or private schools, is far outpacing that of students in predominantly Hispanic and predominantly White districts. This raises concerns for Black districts' funding opportunities, as many state and federal aid is granted on a per-pupil basis.

According to a new report from the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants, Black PAs are less than four percent of all PAs working in primary care. Only three out of the top 25 PA specialties have a PA workforce that is at least 5 percent Black.