College enrollment drives greater outcomes for Black Florida students and Florida
There is a robust amount of research that shows college is worth it. However, there is comparatively little research focused on the value of college for Black students. Helios Education Foundation and the Institute of Higher Education at the University of Florida released a two-part research study that seeks to better understand the advantages to college enrollment for Black students in Florida, how the state can benefit as a result, and the role of Florida’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in educating Black students.
The first research brief, "College is a Net Positive for Black Students in Florida," examines 96,710 Black Florida high school students who took the SAT between 2004 and 2010. The findings show clear and compelling advantages associated with college attendance that not only benefit Black students, but the state of Florida as well. From the research we saw that enrolling initially at a four-year institution is the most viable pathway for Black students to earn a bachelor’s degree. Doing so leads to a 42.9 percentage point increase in the probability of earning a bachelor’s degree when compared to students who did not initially enroll in college, and an approximate 30 percentage point increase when compared to students who initially enrolled in a two-year college.
The research also shows that college is a long-term investment that turns from negative to positive around 20 years after college. For Black students who initially enroll in a four-year college or university, they are expected to see a $130,000 positive net present value after 35 years from initial college enrollment. In other words, the research shows college is worth the investment.
Net present value is a measure that captures the total value for a student investing in going to college. Net present value is the discounted sum of streams of estimated income in years not enrolled in college less net tuition for each year enrolled in college. A positive net present value means that students will likely benefit financially from investing in going to college.
The second research brief, "The Importance of HBCUs for Florida," examines Black Florida student enrollment at HBCUs. The study revealed that HBCUs are associated with an increase in likelihood that a Black student will complete college and earn a degree.
Among the 96,710 Black high school students who took the SAT and graduated from a high school in Florida between 2004 and 2010, approximately 35% (35,380 individuals) sent an application to at least one HBCU in the U.S. Of these applicants, 40% initially enrolled at an HBCU.
The research shows Black students attending HBCUs have a 40% increase in probability of earning a bachelor’s degree. Additionally, Florida’s four HBCUs, including Bethune-Cookman University, Edward Waters University, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, and Florida Memorial University, graduate more Black students in STEM disciplines than all other Florida universities combined.
Furthermore, the research revealed that Black Florida students who enroll at HBCUs can expect to see a $60,000 positive net present value after 35 years from initial college enrollment.
The findings from the research briefs suggests increasing college enrollment rates among Black high school graduates in Florida has the potential to generate upward shifts in degree completion rates, increased earnings over time, and increased likelihood of in-state students remaining in state. The findings also show that HBCU enrollment has significant beneficial impacts for Black students and for Florida, including higher degree completion rates, higher annual earnings, and corollary social and economic benefits.
About the research
Our core research questions centered on the impact of college enrollment among Black students in Florida including: