Black Americans, Gains in Science and Engineering Degrees, and Gender

Abstract

This article is divided into three parts. First, it presents the most recent data on Black Americans' higher education enrollment and degree attainment rates, and overall numbers of earned college degrees at all levels. Second, the article presents data on the most recent enrollment rates and total numbers of science and engineering degrees earned by Black Americans. Finally, the article presents a number of factors that have contributed to the gains in earned science and engineering degrees by Black Americans, and also factors that have contributed to their slow rate of progress in these academic fields. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]