Success in Doctoral Programs: Experiences of Minority and White Students

Individuals who have earned doctoral degrees are in a position to use that advanced knowledge to teach, perform leadership functions, and to conduct research. We know very little about the ethnic group differences among doctoral degree recipients and doctoral students beyond the fact that minorities are underrepresented. This paper examines the differences among black, Hispanic, and white doctoral students at four major universities. The results indicate that black and Hispanic doctoral students perceive more feelings of racial discrimination than do white doctoral students, and that blacks, who come from the poorest socioeconomic backgrounds, also receive the fewest teaching or research assistantships. Suggestions for action and for future research are also presented.