Maryland Finds Growing Racial Gap in Graduation Rates

In the past three years, Maryland's state university system has seen a sharp increase in the gap between the six-year black graduation rates and those of other students. The Baltimore Sun reported that the black rate is 40 percent, while the rate for all students is 65 percent. That 25-point gap is up from a 15-point gap just three years ago. System officials said that they were frustrated by the trend. In part, they said, it was because the system is recruiting more black students who are from low-income families and who may have a more difficult time, financially, staying enrolled.