Authors:
Christin Shelton, PhD, DEEP Designs
Jakita Thomas, PhD, Auburn University
Wanda Eugene, PhD, DEEP Designs
Shani B. Daily, PhD, DEEP Designs

Policy Memo #3

PolicyDATEBrief #4
date

FUTURE Act a Solid Investment, HBCUs 2.5x more likely
to graduate women of color with computing degrees
SUMMARY

Computer science jobs are among the most highly compensated and in-demand careers in the United States. In fact, the
Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that computer science jobs will grow by 15% over the next nine years, far outpacing
most other fields. However, women earn just 18% of undergraduate computer science degrees and women of color, principally non-Asian women, experience even less representation. Instead of improving, the gender gap in computer science
degree completion has widened since 1985. While many colleges continue to grapple with this disparity, a new study
examining national trends in bachelor’s degree completion among women of color in computing from 2011-2018 finds that
Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) produce a higher percentage of women of color computing graduates than any other
type of university, including those with Women’s College, Ivy League, or Top 25 ranking designations. Historically Black
Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in particular outperform other MSIs for the percent of women of color earning computer
science degrees. These findings bolster the criticality of the FUTURE Act passed in 2019, which provides permanent
funding ($255 million) to MSIs. The findings from this study also warrant increased and sustained investment from philanthropy and tech in MSIs, specifically HBCUs. Further, a more nuanced understanding of the strategies these universities
employ and environments they create to support women of color pursuing computing degrees, which the authors of this
study intend to investigate, may advance broader inclusion in this lucrative and growing field.

STUDY INSIGHTS
• A regression analysis of 2011-2018 IPEDS data
determined certain characteristics predicted the
likelihood of institutions awarding computer
science degrees to women of color. Chief among
these predictors was an MSI designation
experiences in college and career.

• Among women of color, Asian women
experienced the most growth in computer science
degree completion from 2011-2018, more than
double and triple the number of degrees earned
than Latina and Black women, respectively.
• Although computer science degrees earned by
Asian women have increased exponentially, a
closer look at computer science degree
completion shows steady growth for other women
of color as well, with the exception of Indigenous
and Pacific Islander women, whose growth has
remained relatively flat

• HBCUs are the top produces, by percentage, for
computer science degree completion among all
women, women of color, and women of color
excluding Asian women

Sources

•https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/
•https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/figure/10.1080/00221546.2016.1257306
• https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED571298.pdf
•https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/2486

Although Pacific Islander and Indigenous
women earn the fewest degrees in
computer science, ANNH and NASNTI
designated institutions are more likely to
produce computer science degrees to
these women than other institutions.
For more information contact authors NAME AND EMAIL