University faculty diversity lags behind student demographics in the U.S

U.S. college and university faculty diversity continues to lag behind the changing demographics of the student population. While faculty representation has increased since the 1970s, the pace of change has not matched the growth of minority student enrollment.

According to data from the National Center for Education Statistics, as of 2022, white individuals comprised 72% of full-time faculty nationwide. Asian professors accounted for 13%, Black professors for 7%, and Hispanic professors for 6%. In contrast, the student body shows different proportions: Hispanic students made up 21.5%, Black students 13.2%, and Asian students 7.8% of U.S.-resident students.

Beyond hiring challenges, faculty of color report additional professional barriers, including feeling that their scholarship and qualifications face higher levels of scrutiny or that they are not fully valued by their institutions and colleagues.