As more opportunities have become available for Black students to attend institutions of higher education, an increasing number of Black students have chosen to attend predominately white institutions (PWIs). However, degree attainment rates are much lower for Black students when compared to their White counterparts. Furthermore, research concludes that the Black experience at PWIs is particularly negative even when compared to other underrepresented racial groups (Museus, Nichols, and Lambert, 2008; Suarez-Balcazar et al., 2005; Ancis, Sedlacek and Mohr, 2000). It is for these reasons that this paper focuses on racial climate on campus and its potential connections to Black student persistence at PWIs.

This paper is a synthesis of twenty original research studies completed in the past decade and a half and is analyzed in three seperate categories. These categories include perception of race relations among White and Black students at PWIs, the effects of reported prejudicial treatment and racism on campus, and the effects of cross-racial engagement on campus. I also use these research studies and other supporting literature to examine how race relations on campus potentially impacts Black student persistence at PWIs. Lastly, this study covers implications these research studies have for PWIs, remaining questions, and potential areas for future research regarding the topic of race relations and Black student persistence.