September/October 2013 Volume 22: Number 5 White Flight Goes to College Anthony P. Carnevale & Jeff Strohl White flight from the center city tiers of selectivity since the mid- to better neighborhood schools in the ’90s, the number of four-year leafy green suburbs has finally arrived open-access colleges is declin- on the nation’s ivy-covered college ing. The result of this dynamic campuses. The racial and ethnic strati- is increased spending per student fication in educational opportunity at the most selective colleges and entrenched in the nation’s K-12 edu- overcrowding and reduced re- cation system has faithfully repro- sources per student in the open- duced itself across the full range of access sector. American colleges and universities. Similarly, the larger growth in col- African Americans’ and Hispanics’ lege seats has been at schools now in access to postsecondary education the most selective tiers, as compared over the past 15 years is a good news/ White Hispanic African with open-access colleges. American • Enrollments at the most-selec- bad news story. Though African New enrollments Americans and Hispanics scored big tive and better-resourced col- gains in access to postsecondary edu- leges grew significantly (78%), cation, both groups are losing ground students have gone to the reflecting increased demand for in their move up to the most selective country’s 468 most selective col- high-quality postsecondary edu- colleges relative to their growing leges, while more than 7 in 10 cation. The vast majority of the population shares. of net new African-American new seats at top schools went to The absolute numbers of African and Hispanic students have gone (Please turn to page 2) Americans and Hispanics going on to to the 3,250 two- and four-year postsecondary institutions have in- open-access colleges. Whites are abandoning the open- creased markedly, but whites, Afri- NEW BOOK can Americans and Hispanics are on access institutions and moving up into separate and unequal pathways. the selective college tiers and gaining See inside back cover • Between 1995 and 2009, more the advantages those schools provide. for reproducible flyer than 8 in 10 of net new white • Between 1995 and 2009, the white share of enrollments in the CONTENTS: two- and four-year open-access Anthony P. Carnevale is Direc- colleges declined from 69% to Segregating Colleges . 1 tor of the Georgetown Univ. Ctr. on 57%. Marginalization .......... 3 Education & the Workforce. He has Affluent white students, higher tu- Concentrated served as senior staff in both the U.S. itions, and prestige-seeking four-year Poverty....................5 Senate & House and was Political colleges are all moving to the top tiers Housing Director for AFSCME. of selectivity, while lower-income mi- Discrimination ....... 14 Jeff Stohl is Research Director of nority students are left with the less Same-Sex Marriage/ the Georgetown Univ. Ctr. on Edu- prestigious, lower-spending, poorly cation & the Workforce. funded open-access institutions. Equal Rights .......... 17 Both can be reached at cew. • While more than 140 institutions Resources ................ 19 [email protected]. have moved up into the top three Poverty & Race Research Action Council • 1200 18th Street NW • Suite 200 • Washington, DC 20036 202/906-8023 • FAX: 202/842-2885 • E-mail: [email protected] • www.prrac.org Recycled Paper (COLLEGES: Continued from page 1) college-age population. and their share of enrollment at • In 1995, the African-American the 3,250 two- and four-year white students. Among open- and Hispanic share of the col- open-access colleges was 24%, access, four-year colleges, lege-age population was 27%, a 3 percentage point deficit of growth has been significantly and their share of enrollments enrollment relative to population slower (just 21%), but the net at the top 468 colleges was 12%, share. increases in minority enroll- a 15 percentage point deficit of • By 2009, the African-American ments were concentrated at those enrollment compared with popu- and Hispanic share of the col- schools, resulting in more lation share. lege-age population was 33%, crowding and fewer resources • By 2009, the African-American and their share of enrollment at per student. and Hispanic share of the col- the 3,250 two- and four-year The most telling metrics of racial lege-age population was 33%, open-access colleges was 37%, polarization in postsecondary educa- and their share of enrollment at a 4 percentage point excess of tion are comparisons of white, Afri- enrollment relative to population can-American and Hispanic enroll- Whites, African Ameri- share. ments to their respective shares of the cans and Hispanics are These trends show that the higher college-age population. Whites have education system is more and more increased their enrollment share in the on separate and unequal complicit as a passive agent in the top 468 colleges relative to their share pathways. systematic reproduction of white ra- of the college-age population. cial privilege across generations. The • In 1995, the white share of the the top 468 colleges was 15%, higher education system is colorblind college-age population was an 18 percentage point deficit of —in theory—but in fact operates, at 68%, and the white share of en- enrollment versus population least in part, as a systematic barrier rollments at the top 468 colleges share and a 3 percentage point to opportunity for many African was 77%, a 9 percentage point drop within the college-age Americans and Hispanics, large num- advantage of enrollment share population. bers of whom are qualified but tracked over population share. The white share of enrollment in into overcrowded and underfunded • By 2009, the white share of the the 3,250 two- and four-year open- colleges, where they are less likely to college-age population was 62% access colleges has declined relative develop fully or to graduate. and the white share of enroll- to the white share of the college-age The tracking of white students into ments at the top 468 colleges population. the top-tier colleges perpetuates was 75%, a 13 percentage point • In 1995, the white share of the greater rates of white college comple- advantage of enrollment over college-age population was 68% tion, especially at the elite colleges. population share and a 4 per- and the white share of enroll- Consequently, more college comple- centage point increase within the ment at the 3,250 two- and four- tion among white parents brings college-age population. year open-access colleges was higher earnings that fuel the Over the same period, the enroll- 69%, reflecting a balance be- intergenerational reproduction of ment shares of African Americans and tween enrollment and population privilege by providing more highly Hispanics in the top 468 colleges de- shares. educated parents the means to pass clined relative to their shares of the • By 2009, the white share of the their educational advantages on to college-age population was 62% their children. Higher earnings buy Poverty and Race (ISSN 1075-3591) and the white share of enroll- more expensive housing in the sub- is published six times a year by the Pov- ment at the 3,250 two- and four- urbs with the best schools and peer erty & Race Research Action Council, year open-access colleges was support for educational attainment. 1200 18th Street NW, Suite 200, Wash- 57%, a 5 percentage point defi- The synergy between the growing ington, DC 20036, 202/906-8023, fax: cit of enrollment relative to economic value of education and the 202/842-2885, E-mail: [email protected]. Chester Hartman, Editor. Subscriptions population share and a 6 per- increased sorting by housing values are $25/year, $45/two years. Foreign centage point decline within the makes parental education the stron- postage extra. Articles, article sugges- college-age population. gest predictor of a child’s educational tions, letters and general comments are Over the same 15 years, the Afri- attainment and future earnings. As a welcome, as are notices of publications, can-American and Hispanic share of result, the country also has the least conferences, job openings, etc. for our Resources Section. Articles generally enrollment in the 3,250 open-access intergenerational educational and in- may be reprinted, providing PRRAC colleges increased relative to their come mobility among advanced na- gives advance permission. share of the college-age population. tions. © Copyright 2013 by the Poverty & • In 1995, the African-American The American postsecondary sys- Race Research Action Council. All and Hispanic share of the col- tem increasingly has become a dual rights reserved. lege-age population was 27%, (Please turn to page 12) 2 • Poverty & Race • Vol. 22, No. 5 • September/October 2013 Deepening Our Understanding of Structural Marginalization john a. powell Over the last decade, there has address. The first is the overuse of from disparities may be stigmatized been a growing appreciation and un- disparities in understanding and ad- unless we are exceptionally careful. derstanding of the force I call struc- dressing structural racialization and Research suggests that disparity data tural racialization or structural structural marginality. The second is are as likely to reinforce negative ste- marginalization. While there is not yet the inadequate attention that racial reotypes as engender support for firm consensus what this term means, resentment or other forms of anxiety structural interventions. While this there is broad and substantial agree- play in generating structural arrange- use of disparities is a mistake, they ment. Structural marginality is a shift ments. may still be useful in terms of mea- in focus from people and individuals suring and analyzing structural to structures and institutions. Struc- racialization. Disparities may suggest tures are not neutral, and require care- The Overuse of areas of focus or investigation as well ful intervention and vigilant monitor- Disparities as evaluate the efficacy of structural ing if they are to serve justice and pro- interventions.