Are Pacific Islanders historically underrepresented in higher education?

Q. Are Pacific Islanders historically underrepresented in higher education?

A. Yes.

In addition to being currently underrepresented in U.S. higher education, Pacific Islanders are also historically underrepresented. U.S. Census data has consistently shown for over twenty years that Pacific Islanders are underrepresented among college graduates.

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Recent statistics, as we've mentioned before, indicate that while over 28 percent of the U.S. population has a bachelor's degree, the rate for Pacific Islander Americans is just 14 percent. The graduation gap is even wider for advanced degrees.

These recent figures are consistent with data over the past twenty years.

• 2010: According to data published in 2010, 28 percent of the college graduation age U.S. population had at least a bachelors degree. The rate for Pacific Islander Americans was 15 percent. In other words, Pacific Islanders were 46 percent less likely to graduate from college.
• 2000: According to data published in 2000, 24.4 percent of the college graduation age U.S. population had at least a bachelors degree. The rate for Pacific Islanders was 13.8 percent. That means that Pacific Islanders were 43 percent less likely to graduate from college in 2000.
• 1990: According to data published in 1990, 20 percent of the college graduation age U.S. population had at least a bachelors degree. The rate for Pacific Islanders was 11 percent. In other words, Pacific Islanders were 45 percent less likely to graduate from college in 1990.

As you can see here, U.S. Census data has consistently shown that Pacific Islanders are underrepresented in higher education.