Iowa Figures Show Blacks Have Lowest Graduation Rate

Black Issues in Higher Education, Dec 10, 1998

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- A member of the Iowa Board of Regents says a report showing that Black undergraduates are more likely than other minorities to leave the University of Iowa without a degree is cause for concern.

"Student graduation rates are a concern to us," regent Roger Lande said. "Anytime there are gaps, we would like to close those."

Figures from the Iowa Board of Regents show that 41.2 percent of Black students in the 1992 freshmen class have graduated, while the university-wide rate for the same year is 62.4 percent.

Minority groups combined have a 60 percent graduation rate over a six-year period, according to the report.

The report also said more Black students -- 21.4 percent -- left the university in their first year in 1997 compared with other minorities, including Indians, Asian-Pacific Islanders and Hispanic students. The rate for those students was more than 12 percent while the rate for White students was 15.6 percent.