The Best Colleges for Underrepresented Students: How to Find Them

Every prospective college student has a lot to think about when choosing the best college to attend. Programs, cost, culture, location, and size are all important factors. Some students want a campus community that's familiar and comfortable, while others want something radically different from what they've already experienced.

Students from historically underrepresented communities have another layer of considerations to address, experts say. Whether they're attending school on campus or online, they need to feel safe, accepted, and valued — but often don't. Identifying those colleges where diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are tangible attributes, and not just marketing buzzwords takes a little extra legwork.

Why DEI Is Important On College Campuses

In recent years, virtually everyone involved in higher education has come to recognize the need to create more inclusive learning environments at universities, community colleges, and vocational and technical schools alike. Perhaps the most important motivator behind this drive is the diversity of today's college students.

A report on research spearheaded by professors at Indiana University is just one of many that emphasize how students from various underrepresented groups often feel they don't belong in college. They are more likely to disengage, achieve poor academic outcomes, and possibly drop out of school.

Numerous other studies support these findings, concluding that these students — and all others — need to live and learn in an atmosphere where they feel free to express themselves openly without fear of repercussions, whether it be microaggressions or overt acts of violence. Additionally, all students deserve to feel empowered by seeing themselves reflected in the faculty, curricula, and resources.

Not only does a welcoming campus climate improve the well-being of students while in school, but educators also agree that it helps prepare alumni for greater success in the future by enhancing professional development. For example, a campus that encourages open dialogue helps students learn to be more thoughtful and intentional when they communicate with others. Interacting with a diverse range of people inside and out of the classroom also helps students develop other valuable soft skills, such as emotional intelligence, self-analysis, collaboration, and conflict resolution. These abilities may lead to increased opportunities and a stronger workforce, which benefits everyone.

Reducing Bias In The Admissions Process

In recent years, numerous studies have identified long-hidden yet serious obstacles in the admissions process. Scott Jaschik, writing for Inside Higher Ed, notes that researchers have found that standardized test scores and college application essays are just two of several factors that tend to favor students from more affluent backgrounds. This research has prompted admissions directors at many universities to re-evaluate their review processes in an effort to level the playing field for all prospective students.

In response, a significant number of colleges have begun to modify their admissions criteria and enhance diversity in colleges. For example, many schools have gone "test-optional" or "test-blind," refusing to consider applicants' SAT or ACT scores as part of the evaluation process.

Also, admissions teams at some schools, such as Smith College and the University of Southern California, now review applications as a group and openly discuss any implicit or explicit biases on the part of reviewers before making decisions. A few schools, including Pace University, send admissions representatives to high schools in underserved communities to help build a pipeline for students who want to go to college but may not have the resources or role models to help navigate the admissions process.

Increasing Diversity Among Faculty and Staff

Although statistics show us that college student populations have become increasingly diverse in every sense — race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, economic status, and so forth — faculty and staff often do not reflect that same diversity on college campuses. These pie charts represent the disparity in ethnicity between students and faculty. According to the NCES, the same is true for gender, as approximately 48% of faculty identify as female while 57% of undergraduate students identify as female.

Many thought leaders in higher education believe that faculty diversity — hiring faculty members with all types of varied backgrounds and experiences — can shore up students' sense of belonging, allow them to understand differing perspectives, and help broaden their own perceptions by learning from the experiences of others.

Although higher education in general has been slow to adapt, some colleges and universities are making efforts to align the demographic make-up of their faculty and staff with that of their student populations. The University of Houston, for example, has earned a reputation as a strong proponent of DEI, as evidenced by its data-driven approach to hiring faculty members who reflect the school's students.

Fostering Inclusive Behavior In the Classroom

Perhaps one of the best places to implement DEI-related changes is among the educators themselves since they often set the example for students. Many college faculty are now following the lead of vocal proponents of inclusive teaching, like Deborah Willis, Shaun R. Harper, and Charles H.F. Davis III. Forward-thinking educators are adopting actions such as:

• Questioning personal behaviors to check for stereotyping and bias.
• Making sure students have fair access to materials.
• Incorporating diverse voices into lectures, readings, and other resources.
• Providing learning materials — such as audio and video — that appeal to all types of learners.
• Learning to pronounce students' names correctly and using their preferred pronouns.
• Addressing conflict responsibly among students when it arises.

Establishing Codes of Conduct

Fostering inclusive behavior on the part of educators is a smart initiative, but many schools also require students to exhibit inclusive behavior at all times on campus — from the classroom to the dormitories and beyond. Colleges often spell out their expectations in written codes of conduct, which are shared at orientation and throughout the enrollment process. The rules usually forbid abusive, hateful, or bullying language or any other forms of harassment or discrimination. Codes may also explain how students can anonymously report any type of harassment or abuse they've experienced, as well as the consequences for students who fail to follow the rules.

Michigan State University provides an excellent example of a school that has adopted numerous tactics for preventing and addressing on-campus hate crimes. These include providing specialized training for campus police officers, presenting workshops and other informative programs on discrimination, and conducting school-wide campaigns that raise awareness of DEI issues.

Providing Individual Mentors and Support Groups

One of the most popular DEI initiatives on college campuses is the creation of multicultural centers and similar types of dedicated spaces for underrepresented students. The programming at these centers is typically designed to ease students' transition into college life and reassure students that they're not alone in their feelings and experiences — two of the most important objectives espoused by Mesmin Destin and Mary Murphy in their report titled "Promoting Inclusion and Identity Safety to Support College Success.”

Part of the success of multicultural centers is that they address students' needs in both individual and group settings. Many schools have organized affinity groups for Black, Latinx, Asian, LGBTQ+, and many other groups that have been historically underrepresented. Through these centers or college academic offices, schools may also offer to pair individual students with trained mentors. Studies, such as the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine's report on mentoring, have shown that mentor relationships have the potential to improve students' academic performance and support students in completing their degrees.

Shining A Spotlight On Diversity

Another way some colleges promote awareness of cultural diversity on campus is through celebrations. The University of North Carolina and Swarthmore College, just two of many possible examples, both hold cultural appreciation events each year. Their festive atmosphere makes these events approachable and inviting, allowing all students to expand their cultural awareness in a fun and relaxing environment.

Next Steps for Students

For obvious reasons, students who identify as members of one or more underrepresented groups may want to attend a college that is actively working toward becoming more inclusive. Before investing time and money into a campus visit, there are several ways prospective students can explore the status of diversity, equity, and inclusion on college campuses:

Diversity On College Campuses

Largely motivated by students themselves, most colleges and universities are responding to the demand for greater equity and inclusivity. It's an evolutionary process, and so far some schools have been more successful than others at implementing effective initiatives.

Nevertheless, from modifying hiring practices to re-examining course syllabi to clamping down on discriminatory behavior, many schools are actively trying to right the wrongs of past injustice. One way students from underrepresented groups and their allies can continue to push for change is by enrolling in those schools that have made DEI a visible priority.