"Ensuring College Access and Success for Black Students in Higher Education," authored by Drs. Frank Harris III and Tina King of San Diego State University, examines persistent barriers Black students face while highlighting promising practices from institutions nationwide that are effectively supporting these students.
The report, published by the Campaign for College Opportunity, reveals concerning trends in college completion rates. According to the research, public 4-year institutions support less than half (42%) of Black students to complete degrees within six years, and only 21% of Black students at public community colleges complete degrees within three years.
Despite these challenges, Black students enroll in college immediately after high school at rates comparable to their peers (59% compared to 62% overall). However, only one in four Black Americans holds a bachelor's degree—ten percentage points below the national average.
"By the time Gianna [Floyd, George Floyd's daughter] enrolls in college, we hope that institutions will have found more innovative ways to create and sustain Black-affirming spaces on campus, that more colleges will be designated as Black-Serving Institutions, and that there will be a critical mass of Black faculty members on Gianna's campus to whom she can go for mentoring and undergraduate research opportunities," wrote the authors.
The brief spotlights several successful programs, including Sacramento State University's Black Honors College—the nation's first, established in 2024—which provides specialized coursework, residential living communities, and dedicated academic support services. It also highlights Compton College's comprehensive food security program, which provides students with one free meal daily and $20 weekly farmers' market vouchers.
