- Improving College & Career Readiness
- About This Report
- College Readiness
- Educational/Career Aspirations
- Access & Preparation
- Academic Performance
- Academic Achievement & Academic Behaviors
- Looking Back at the Class of 2011
- Policies & Practices to Increase Readiness
- Notes
- Resources
- 2012 ACT National and State Scores
Educational Aspirations by Race/Ethnicity
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About 87% of all 2012 ACT-tested high school graduates aspired to attain at least a 2-year postsecondary degree, regardless of race/ethnicity.
About 83% of Asian graduates aspired to earn at least a bachelor’s degree, with 54% aspiring to continue their formal education beyond a 4-year degree. American Indian graduates (30%) were the least likely to aspire to a graduate or professional degree; 34%–37% of African American, Hispanic, Pacific Islander, or White graduates aspired to a graduate or professional degree.
Note: Columns may not sum to 100% due to rounding. Race/ethnicity categories changed in 2011 to reflect updated US Department of Education reporting requirements.
Percent of ACT-Tested High School Graduates by Race/Ethnicity and Educational Aspirations, 2012
Graph reads: In 2012, 34% of ACT-tested African American high school graduates aspired to a graduate or professional degree, 46% to a bachelor’s degree, 7% to an associate’s or voc-tech degree, and 13% to another degree type (or provided no response).
| Goal | African American | American Indian | Asian | Hispanic | Pacific Islander | White | All |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Graduate/ Professional Degree | 34% | 30% | 54% | 36% | 37% | 37% | 37% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 46% | 48% | 29% | 42% | 44% | 48% | 45% |
| Associate's/ Voc-tech Degree | 7% | 10% | 2% | 6% | 4% | 5% | 5% |
| Other/ No Response | 13% | 12% | 15% | 16% | 15% | 9% | 12% |