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Differences in Graduation Rates Between Young Black and White College Students: Effect of Entry into Parenthood and Historically Black Universities

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Abstract

Black and White students who enrolled in college by age 20 were selected from a national probability sample, in order to estimate the prevalence of having children and the effect of having a child on probability of graduation with a bachelor’s degree. Black students reported significantly higher rates of having children than White students, but rates for Black students at historically Black universities were similar to those of Black students at predominantly White universities. After controlling for family background, achievement, and other student characteristics, having a child within 5 years of starting college generally reduced the probability of graduating with a bachelor’s degree for Black women and White women and men. The independent effect of attending a historically Black college was significantly positive for Black women but not statistically significant for Black men.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Tennessee State University, 3500 John Merritt Blvd., Nashville, TN, USA, 37209

    Amy E. Sibulkin

  2. Martin School of Public Policy and Administration, Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science, University of Kentucky, USA

    J.S. Butler

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  1. Amy E. Sibulkin
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  2. J.S. Butler
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Correspondence to Amy E. Sibulkin.

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Sibulkin, A.E., Butler, J. Differences in Graduation Rates Between Young Black and White College Students: Effect of Entry into Parenthood and Historically Black Universities. Res High Educ 46, 327–348 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11162-004-1643-0

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