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Economy Has Bigger Impact on Minority Students' College Choices
Study Reveals Economy's Impact on Higher Education
Lee's Summit , MO - July 11, 2003 - African-American and Latino high school students' college choice is more influenced than that of white students by the present state of the U.S. economy, according to a recent survey released today by the National Research Center for College & University Admissions (NRCCUA) and Maguire Associates.
A group of 1,832 junior and senior high school students was asked: "How will the current state of the economy influence your college choice?"
African-American and Latino students were nearly 50% more likely than their white counterparts to say that the current state of the economy would have an impact on their choice of which college to attend. The following are the breakdowns of the students who said the economy would have at least a "moderate" affect on their decision:
- 68% of African-American students
- 67% of Latino/Hispanic students
- 46% of Caucasian/white students
- 54% of all students polled
Even when family income is taken into account, the greater effects on minority students' decision making are maintained. For example, in those families making less than $40,000 a year, 76% of African-American, 68% of Latino/Hispanic, and 51% of Caucasian/white students report at least a moderate economic influence on their college choice.
"Financing higher education for students is a challenge many families are facing, especially those in disadvantaged minority populations," said Don Munce, President of NRCCUA, which conducts a survey of millions of high school students annually helping to link these students with colleges and universities. "This study shows that most minority students realize that some options for their higher education are related to the economy's impact on family financing, while over half the Caucasian students don't."
"This also raises questions about whether minority students will be looking more at public versus private colleges and universities due to cost and whether for some, they may be forgoing college altogether due to financial factors," said Munce.
"Our research has frequently indicated that underserved minority populations tend to be quite pragmatic about their college decisions, more critically determining the value of their higher educational options," said Paul Gearan, Director of Research for Maguire Associates, a higher-education research and consulting firm.
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NRCCUA
The National Research Center for College & University Admissions (NRCCUA) is a non-profit education research organization based in Lee's Summit, Mo. For over 32 years, NRCCUA has conducted the largest nationwide survey of high school students, which serves as a communications link between college-bound high school students and public and private colleges and universities. For more information, visit www.nrccua.org.
Maguire Associates
Founded in 1983, Maguire Associates of Bedford, Mass., has worked with over 350 educational institutions worldwide. The firm has established itself as a leader in enrollment management, strategic pricing and financial aid, institutional marketing, image and communications, and strategic planning.