Historically black colleges and universities face declining enrollment, with expenses rising and the historic culture changing.

Only 13 percent of African Americans pursuing higher education are enrolled at a historically black college, reports The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Mark Gamble, an African American who attends Georgia State University, where the population is 60 percent Caucasian, told the newspaper: “I like being around whites, blacks, Asians and all other minorities.”

Indeed, students from some higher-income families are opting for a more diverse environment at schools such as Harvard, Vanderbilt and elsewhere.

Those who choose historically black institutions find that they are getting a good education, but also a debt burden.

While more and more prospective students are looking for financial aid, historically black colleges do not always have the economic resources to serve them all.

–Brittany Owens/Newsdesk.org

Source:

“Black colleges fight erosion of their niche”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, February 15, 2009