A new report from the Indiana Commission for Higher Education shows that Indiana is making progress in closing the college achievement gap for low-income and minority students.
The most dramatic gains are coming from students enrolled in the state’s 21st Century Scholars early promise program, according to the report.
In 2013, the commission passed a resolution to cut the state’s achievement gap in half by 2018 and close it completely by 2025. While the gap is more than halfway closed when comparing low-income and minority students with the overall student population, the 21st Century Scholars are the only group on track to closing the achievement gap by 2025, the state said.
“We’re making considerable progress toward closing Indiana’s college achievement gap, and while we celebrate this milestone, it is now more important than ever to continue the positive momentum,” said Indiana Commissioner of Higher Education Teresa Lubbers. “By every measure, 21st Century Scholars are outpacing their low-income and minority peers. I believe the program is our key to ultimately closing the achievement gap.”
In 2016, 21st Century Scholars saw the highest college going rate (82 percent) among all demographic populations, the state said. The college going rate for scholars was more than double that of their low-income peers (39 percent) and 12 percentage points higher than their higher-income peers (70 percent).
The full 2018 College Equity Report is available on the Indiana Commission for Higher Education’s website.
