In 2007, White students accounted for 64 percent of college student enrollment. In that year, 13 percent of college students were Black, 11 percent were Hispanic, 7 percent were Asian/Pacific Islander, 1 percent were American Indian/Alaska Native, and 3 percent were nonresident aliens.

This indicator examines the fall 2007 racial/ethnic distribution of students in the 4,339 public and private (both not-for-profit and for-profit) 2- and 4-year degree-granting institutions. Overall, 64 percent of college students were White; 13 percent were Black; 11 percent were Hispanic; 7 percent were Asian/Pacific Islander; 1 percent were American Indian/Alaska Native; and 3 percent were nonresident alien students (see table A-38-1). Compared with the percentages of Black students in all institutions, the percentages of Black students at public and not-for-profit 2-year institutions were higher (14 and 19 percent, respectively). Similarly, the percentage of Hispanic students at public 2-year institutions (16 percent) was higher than the percentages of Hispanic students at all institutions. The percentage of students at for-profit institutions who were White (53 percent) was lower than the percentages of students who were White at public and not-for-profit 2- and 4-year institutions (from 61 to 70 percent). In contrast, the percentage of students at for-profit institutions who were Black (26 percent) was higher than the percentages of students who were Black at public and not-for-profit 2- and 4-year institutions (from 11 to 19 percent).

About 7 percent of all college students attended the 396 institutions in which 75 percent or more of the students were Black, Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander, or American Indian/Alaska Native. This group of institutions comprised 8 percent of the enrollment at public 2-year colleges and 6 percent of the enrollment at public 4-year institutions. A higher percentage of students at not-for-profit 2-year institutions were enrolled in these institutions than the percentage of students at not-for-profit 4-year institutions (15 vs. 3 percent). At for-profit (2- and 4-year) institutions, the percentage of students at such colleges was 10 percent. Compared with other racial/ethnic groups, a relatively high percentage of Hispanic and Black students (21 and 20 percent, respectively) attended these institutions. The comparable percentages were 11 percent for American Indian/Alaska Native students, 9 percent for Asian/Pacific Islander students, and 1 percent for White students.

Examining the concentration of specific racial/ethnic groups provides a more detailed snapshot of the racial/ethnic composition of the institutions students attend. In 2007, some 52 percent of White students attended institutions where more than 75 percent of the enrollment was White (see table A-38-2). Compared with students in other racial/ethnic groups, a relatively high percentage of Black students (13 percent) attended colleges where they constituted 75 percent or more of the enrollment. Some of these institutions were historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), which are institutions established prior to 1964 with the primary mission of educating Black Americans. In fall 2006, about 11 percent of Black students attended an HBCU. Compared with Black students, a smaller percentage of Hispanic students (6 percent) attended colleges where they constituted 75 percent or more of the enrollment in 2007. Despite their small percentage of the overall population, in 2007, about 8 percent of American Indian/Alaska Native students attended colleges where they made up 75 percent or more of the total enrollment. With few exceptions, most of these institutions were tribal colleges, which are institutions that are tribally controlled and located on reservations.

Technical Notes

This indicator includes information for institutions that grant associate's or higher degrees and participate in Title IV federal financial aid programs. The percentage of Black students enrolled in HBCUs in fall 2006 was derived from data in the Digest of Education Statistics, 2008 (NCES 2009-020), tables 226 and 241. For the number of institutions in which 75 percent or more of students were Black, Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander, or American Indian/Alaska Native, see NCES 2009-020, table 230. Race categories exclude persons of Hispanic ethnicity. For more information on race/ethnicity, see supplemental note 1.