Twice as many black women earn college degrees as black men, study reveals

When it comes to earning college degrees, the gender gap is growing among Black students. Black women are earning college degrees at twice the rate that Black men are, according to The African American Education Data Book.

The number of Black women earning bachelor's degrees has increased by 55 percent since the mid-'70s, the report shows. Among Black men the increase has been only 20 percent.

And the gap widens when it comes to first-professional degrees, which include law and medicine. Among Black women, the number of first-professional degree holders has increased by 219 percent. Among Black men, it has increased by 5 percent. The number of Black women earning master's degrees has increased to 5 percent, while the number of Black men earning master's degrees has declined by 10 percent.

Researchers say they are puzzled by the trends because Black women overall earn lower college admission test scores than Black men and take remedial college courses more often.

Among White males and females, there is a gap; however, it is not nearly as large as the one between Black students.