The Lumina Foundation
Gallup and the Lumina Foundation are committed to studying perceptions around the most pressing issues facing higher education.
Balancing Act: The Tradeoffs and Challenges Facing Black Students in Higher Education
Many Black students in the U.S. face distinctive challenges to completing postsecondary programs. Six-year completion rates for any type of degree or certificate program are lower for Black students than for those in any other racial or ethnic group. Barriers to completion include the high financial cost of higher education and implicit and overt forms of racial discrimination that cause many to stop out or never enroll in the first place.
Findings from the study conducted by Gallup and Lumina Foundation highlight challenges facing Black learners pursuing different types of postsecondary education, including both short-term credentials and two- and four-year degree programs. Read the report to understand the difficulties faced by some Black learners as they pursue higher education while navigating difficult learning environments and balancing multiple responsibilities.

Additional Work Insights
Explore Past Gallup-Lumina Reports
Gallup and Lumina have partnered to measure pressing issues surrounding education since 2012. Explore past reports to see key findings and insights.
The State of Higher Education 2022 Report
Discover the array of ongoing risks to student enrollment and the perceptions of policies and programs that allowed them to remain.

Gallup State of the Student Experience: Fall 2020 Report
Understand how COVID-19 has impacted students pursuing associate and bachelor's degrees during the Fall 2020 semester.
