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The report commissioned by the Sallie Mae Fund was conducted by the Frederick D. Patterson Research Institute of the United Negro College Fund (FDPRI/UNCF) to survey graduating high schools seniors and their parents from 14 high schools in five large urban cities. FDPRI/UNCF with the assistance from the University of Chicago Survey Lab tabulated student data, collected parent data and analyzed the results of both student and parent data sets. The purpose of the study was to find out more about how and when African-American high school seniors are getting information about college financial aid. The study included a follow-up with those parents who were also willing to participate in order to see whether students and parents were getting information in similar or dissimilar ways.
Research Questions
UNCF had three primary research questions:
- Does information about financial aid affect African-American students’ decisions to pursue a higher education?
- When and from what source do African-American students and their parents/caregivers find out about financial aid options available to them?
- When and from what source do African-American students and their parents/caregivers prefer to find out about financial aid options available to them?
Methodology
The Frederick D. Patterson Research Institute of the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) subcontracted with the University of Chicago Survey Lab to enter data for student cases, to collect parent information through phone surveys and to analyze the data for both sets of surveys.
In total, 1,062 African-American students in 14 schools across five states in four regions of the country (East, Midwest, South and West) were interviewed.
The study included a follow-up with those parents who were also willing to participate in order to see whether students and parents were getting information in similar or dissimilar ways. Overall, 556 of the student’s parents responded. Specifically,
African-American high school students were recruited from 14 schools in major cities in four regions:
- West (Los Angles, CA)
- South (Memphis, TN)
- Midwest (Chicago, IL)
- East (New York City and Philadelphia, PA)
- High school drop-outs were not interviewed.
Students were divided into three groups of approximately equal size by proportion who qualify for free or reduced-price school meals.
Seniors were surveyed on site as a group.
- Some administered classroom by classroom
- Some administered as a single group in a cafeteria or lecture hall
- Interviews were conducted at the end of their senior year
- The overall response rate for students was 44%
Of the total 1,062 high school seniors interviewed, 62% of the respondents were female.
Parent interviews were conducted by telephone.
- Of the 556 parents responded by telephone 87% are mothers.
- The parents who participated in the survey are concentrated in the low income categories. Only 17% of the parents in the sample report annual incomes above $50,000.
Key Findings
What were some of the results found in the recent study conducted by the UNCF?
- 96% of the parents and 92% of the students believe that a college education is very important.
- 57% of the graduating seniors and 50% of parents believe that Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are a college of choice.
- The percentage rises when the parents’ level of education increases. For instance,
- 60% of the parents with some college or Associate’s degree prefer HBCUs.
- 64% of the parents with a 4-year degree or higher prefer HBCUs.
- Students of parents with no college education need more help and information from high school teachers and counselors.
- Students and parents would like more information about college financial aid and they would like as early as junior high school.
- Dissemination of information about college financial aid may best be targeted for venues with both parents and students present such as events at church and/or neighborhood and civic organizations.
- Approximately 76% of the parents and 67% of the students predicted that their child (student) would still attend college despite not receiving any financial aid.
How do these results reflect trends in college attainment among African-Americans?
The Results are Mixed
The study reflects that HBCUs continue to be a viable option for African American high school students.
- Enrollment at HBCUs, has increased over the years, from 197,857 in 1990 to 238,800 in 2004, by 20% enrollment.
- Enrollment at UNCF member institutions increased by 21% from 1990 to 2004.
The study indicates that most of the high school graduating seniors surveyed wanted to go on to college.
- At 1.1 million, African American students represent 11% of the total enrollment at 4yr institutions.
- However, the national African American high school graduation rate is low compared to other groups. For instance,
- The percentage of entering African American graduating from high school is 50.2% compared to Asian Americans at 76.8%, Whites at 73.9% and Latinos at 53.2%.
- It is possible that early college financial aid information may increase the high school graduation rate because the high school student and their parents may view college as affordable.
- It appears that there continues to be a divide between receiving financial aid information, increasing the African American high school graduation rate and college enrollment.
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