Georgia gets mixed grades for college grad rates of black, Latino students

The AJC Cup recognizes outstanding students in the metro Atlanta area. 10 of this year's winners are headed to historically black colleges and universities. From the future students Spelman to Alabama A&M, they've already shown incredible achievement. Congratulations to all!

Georgia received mixed grades from an organization for its efforts to help African-American and Latino students earn college degrees.

The Education Trust released a report Thursday that found African-American and Latino adults are less likely to hold a college degree today than white adults were in 1990.

While about 47 percent of white adults nationwide have earned some form of college degree, the percentages were lower for African-Americans and Latinos, 31 and 23 percent, respectively, the report found. In Georgia, the degree attainment percentages were nearly identical to the national averages, 32 percent for African-Americans and 21 percent for Latinos. The organization used U.S. Census Bureau data for its research.

FILE PHOTO

Credit: Christopher Furlong

icon to expand image

Credit: Christopher Furlong

Georgia earned its highest mark for the percentage of African-Americans who earned a degree since 2000, ranking seventh nationally. The Peach State got its lowest mark in that same category for Latinos, ranking 31st nationally.

The percentage of African-American and Latino students in Georgia's public colleges and universities has increased in recent years. Dalton State College recently became the first Georgia college to be a Hispanic-Serving Institution, which makes it eligible for federal grants for Latino students. Georgia has nine Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

The Education Trust, a nonprofit based in Washington, D.C., defines its mission as closing the education gap for students of color. The organization said in a statement that states need to do more to close the gap as more older whites leave the workforce and companies need skilled, well-educated workers to fill those positions.

About the Author

Editors' Picks