Written by: Heather Zimar
Published: 10/18/2007

Florida's Private Colleges Outpace Public Colleges in Attracting Minority Students

More minority students are attending private colleges over public colleges in Florida, reports The Sun Sentinel.   

According to a report by the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida, 44 percent of Florida’s private college undergraduates are minorities. In the public university system, minorities make up 40 percent of all undergraduates.

In fall 2006, 93,497 minority undergraduates attended public universities, and 36,387 attended private schools. While private schools have a greater proportion of minority students, the public university system serves about three times more students.

Two state institutions serve predominantly minority populations: the largely Hispanic Florida International University, and the predominantly black Florida A&M University.

The private schools’ minority enrollment includes three historically black colleges: Florida Memorial University, Edward Waters College, and Bethune-Cookman University.

Over the last decade, private universities have increased their minority enrollment at a faster pace than public schools. In 1996, minority enrollment at both public and private institutions was 34 percent.

Minorities are now the majority at seven of Florida’s 28 private universities.

One factor cited for the increase in minority enrollment at private schools is that public universities have raised their admissions requirements in recent years. Another factor is the popularity of the Bright Futures scholarships, which pay the college tuition of students who meet academic requirements in high school.

The report also showed that private college students tend to come from less affluent families than public college students. At private schools, 36 percent are from families with incomes less than $60,000, compared with 31 percent at public schools. The figures are surprising; Florida’s public universities have among the nation’s lowest tuition, about $3,200 for undergraduates, while private schools charge at least four times that amount.   

Officials say that private universities have become savvy at identifying money to help minority and income students. The state offers a $3,000 per year credit to students attending private schools, which students can combine with the $3,200 Bright Futures scholarships. Private schools also offer financial aid for low-income students.   

Related Links:

South Florida Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-flbminorities1015nboct15,0,1504271.story?coll=sofla_tab01_layout