9 Facts About Who Is Going to College and Where

(MoneyWatch)  Who is going to college? Who is heading to graduate school? And who is borrowing to pay for these college degrees?

The federal government has just released a new education report, which breaks down statistics by race that provides answers to these questions. In comparing the state of college admissions in 2008 with 1980, federal statisticians documented that attending college clearly skyrocketed in popularity.

You probably already knew that, but here are some statistics regarding college admissions that you probably don't know:

1. In 2008, 72% of recent white students were attending college right after they graduated from high school, up from 50% in 1980.

2. Fifty six percent of new black high school graduates were in college in 2008 compared with 44% in school 28 years earlier.

3. Hispanics were attending college immediately after high school at the same rate as white students in 1980 (50%), but not anymore. Now 62% are seeking a college degree.

4. The majority of Hispanics (81%) and American Indians (79%) were attending public colleges and universities. In comparison, 75% of Asians, 73% of white and 68% of blacks were enrolled in state schools.

5. In 2008, more women were enrolled in graduate school in significantly greater numbers than men. The size of the gap differed by race and ethnicity.

6. Women represent 60% of white graduate enrollment, 63% and 55% of Hispanic and Asian graduate students. Seventy one percent of black graduate students are women.

7. Eighty percent of all full-time undergrads were receiving financial aid through grants, loans or both.

8. The percentage of black students receiving financial aid (92%) was the highest among all groups, while Asian students (68%) were the least likely to receive financial help.

Lynn O'Shaughnessy is the author of The College Solution, an Amazon bestseller, and she also writes for TheCollegeSolutionBlog. Follow her on Twitter.
Attending college image by Rennet Stone. CC 2.0.