The Path to Graduate School in Science and Engineering for Underrepresented Students of Color

Over the past decade, the numnber of Black, Hispanic, and American Indian/Alaska Native students attaining bachelor's degrees in science and engineering fields has increased substantially. In 2004, 13.9% of all bachelor's degrees in science and engineering fields were awarded to students from these three groups, up from 11.2% in 1995 (Hill & Green, 2007). Although Blacks, Hispanics, and American Indians continue to be underrepresented among bachelor's degree recipients in science and engineering fields relative to their representation among all bachelor's degree recipients (13.9% versus 16.9% in 2004, Hill & Green, 2007), these trends suggest that progress is being made.