The racial gap in Iowa

Minority students at the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa especially black, Hispanic and American Indian students graduate at lower rates than their white peers, with the biggest gap between black and white students. The graduation gap is not universal across all minority groups. Asian-American students often have higher rates than white students. Officials want to improve graduation rates for black, Hispanic and American Indian students. The minority graduation gap is a crisis nationally in higher education and before students arrive at college. Nationally, high school graduation rates are about 70%, but rates for black, Hispanic and low-income students are lower, at slightly more than 50%.