Research examines belonging and success of Black students in higher education

Recent research highlights varying experiences regarding the sense of belonging and academic success among Black students in different higher education environments.

A landmark study of alumni from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) indicates that these graduates outperform national benchmarks in three specific areas: overall well-being, workplace engagement, and sense of belonging. Described as the largest assessment of its kind, the study suggests that HBCU graduates report higher life satisfaction and stronger connections to their workplaces compared to the broader graduate population.

In contrast, research focusing on Black students at Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs) examines the systemic challenges contributing to lower graduation rates and student attrition. One study found that while social relationships impact academic expectations, students with diverse friendship groups showed higher academic expectations when invited to study sessions by faculty. Additionally, a strong sense of ethnic identity was found to be positively related to university affiliation and relations with faculty and staff.