The College of William and Mary has the smallest gap between white and black students’ graduation rates at selective public universities, according to a recent report from the Journal of Blacks in Higher Education.
Taking into account the number of students who earned a degree within six years, the report showed a 9 percent difference between white and black students’ graduation rates at the College in 2013. Last year, according to the report, 93 percent of white students graduated, while 84 percent of black students did.
Overall, the College was ranked 48 out of 58 schools on The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education’s list. Wellesley College holds the top spot, where 89 percent of white students and 92 percent of black students graduated in 2013. In terms of public schools, the University of Virginia and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill were the second- and third-highest ranked institutions behind the College. Each had an 11 percent gap.
“This is one of those moments where it is important to pause and recognize the success for what it is, and it’s significant. We have a reason to be proud,” Vice President for Student Affairs Ginger Ambler ’88, Ph.D. ’06 said in a press release. “At the same time, there’s also a goal for us that’s clear: We need to close the gap. We don’t want any gap for students based on their backgrounds or ethnicity. The demographics of our graduating students should mirror the demographics of our student community overall. We want all students to be graduating at the highest rate.”
