Black Male Graduation Rates in Community Colleges: Do Institutional Characteristics Make a Difference

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate Black male graduation rates in public two-year, degree-granting institutions. Specifically, the researchers were interested in determining the influence (if any) of select institutional characteristics (e.g., attendance intensity, degree of urbanization, geographic region, institutional size) on graduation rates among this populous. Using data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from 646 public two-year, degree-granting institutions, findings illustrated that Black male graduation rates differed by institutional characteristics. Black males are more likely to achieve at institutions with higher full-time attendance and institutions that have smaller enrollments. Rural and town colleges were found to have higher graduation rates than suburban and city colleges. Further, findings from this study also indicated that Southeast colleges have higher graduation rates than are seen in several other regions (e.g., New England, Mid-East, Great Lakes, Southwest). Implications for practice and policy are extended.