ABSTRACT
The discrepancies between public university enrollments and the percentages of Black students in each state have serious implications for racial equity in education. When African American students remain underrepresented in public colleges and universities, it stands to reason that a disparity in baccalaureate degree attainment exists between White and Black students in the settings. Racial microaggressions, institutional barriers limiting the numbers of students of color, and the value students place on racial and social diversity lead African American students to include racial diversity as an important criterion in the college choice process. Scholarship on African American students’ college search and choice stages has devoted some attention to the role of institutional factors on the college decision-making process. Researchers have documented that the presence of faculty of color is strongly linked to successful recruitment of students of color, and a more racially diverse faculty can provide a sense of belonging and community for students of color on college and university campuses.
