Report Finds Gains in Minority Enrollments, Graduation

              Contact: Don Sevener, 217.557.7334
Cell: 217.836.7395
sevener@ibhe.org
May 31, 2005
REPORT FINDS GAINS IN MINORITY ENROLLMENTS, GRADUATION
SPRINGFIELD – Minority students throughout Illinois higher education continue to
register progress in enrollments and degree completions, according to a report to the Illinois
Board of Higher Education. There remains, however, room for improvement in sustaining
college opportunity for some minority groups.
The annual Underrepresented Groups Report headlines a noteworthy array of
informational reports to the Board at its regular meeting scheduled for June 7 at the University of
Illinois at Chicago. In addition to the survey of campus diversity, Dr. Jennifer Presley, a noted
researcher on trends in educational attainment, will address Board members on a study of college
readiness and retention. The Board also will consider a report on progress in gender equity in
intercollegiate athletics.
In fall 2004, there were 75,279 African American undergraduates at Illinois colleges and
universities, an increase of 2 percent over a year earlier and of 17 percent since 1994. Enrollment
of Hispanic undergraduates totaled 48,023 in fall 2004, an increase of 4 percent over fall 2003
and more than 63 percent over a decade earlier. Enrollments of undergraduate Asian students
rose nearly 22 percent over the 10-year period, and 14 percent for Native American students.
At community colleges, Native American students were the only minority group to
experience an enrollment decline (3.6 percent) between 1994 and 2004, while others posted
increases, ranging from 8 percent for Asian students to 61 percent for Hispanics. At public
universities, African American enrollment declined by 6 percent between 1994 and 2004. Both
Hispanics (36 percent) and Asians (22 percent) gained enrollment while Native Americans had no
change.
Bachelor’s degrees awarded to African American students in 2004 increased just over 1
percent while the 10-year increase was nearly 46 percent. Baccalaureate degrees declined for
Hispanic students in 2004, compared with a year earlier, but over the 10-year period rose 95
percent. Asian students also experienced a decline in bachelor’s degrees in 2004, compared with
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