Black College Students’ Hardship in Post-Secondary Education

Abstract

This study is designed to pinpoint the hardships Black students endure and why these students are treated differently. Some of the barriers related to college access and college environmental settings (which I label “internal issues”) that have affected Black college students include the cost of higher education, which that can lead to them dropping out due to being unable to afford their education, a lack of spaces of belonging, and difficulty finding helpful mentors for guidance. These internal issues are compounded by challenged Black students often face outside college contexts (labeled “external issues”), including raising dependents, a lack of community or family resources, and experiences of racism. Taken together, internal and external issues interact to impact Black college students’ experiences and outcomes in post-secondary education.