DISSERTATION PROPOSAL ANNOUNCEMENT Ph.D. in Higher Education Program Kevin Laurence Pitt: “Higher Education’s Role in Contributing to the Growth of the African American Upper Middle Class: A Comparative Analysis of HBCUs and PWIs for African American Students”

This dissertation investigates the pivotal role of higher education institutions, specifically Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs), in promoting the growth of the African American Upper Middle Class (AAUMC) in the United States. It scrutinizes graduation rates, intergenerational mobility, and initial post-graduation salaries of African American graduates from these institutional types. The analysis delves into how family background and institutional type influence graduation rates, how student demographics and financial aid policies shape intergenerational mobility, and whether the disparities in post-graduation starting salaries across these institutional types impact the expansion of the AAUMC. By employing quantitative methodologies (t-test, ANCOVA, linear regression), the research elucidates the varying contributions of HBCUs and PWIs to the AAUMC, thereby offering valuable insights to shape policy and practice surrounding college access and success for African American students.

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