The purpose of this study was to examine past and present social, educational, and financial barriers to African American access to and success within United States higher educational institutions, and identify and recommend ways of ameliorating those barriers for African American students in the future. Based on a comprehensive literature review and analysis of responses to an author-designed survey questionnaire mailed to a cross-section of current United States African American higher education administrators, the study identified and analyzed past and present impacts, on African Americans, of social, educational, and economic factors possibly impeding their higher education entry and success. These included, among others, substandard K through 12 preparation; inadequate academic and social support; insufficient financial planning, resources, and opportunities; and affirmative action-based admissions and financial aid policies and programs (or the lack thereof). The survey questionnaire mailed to U.S. African American higher education administrators contained 12 questions in all, the first six specific and demographically based, the rest open-ended questions on the perceived nature and impact(s) of social, educational, and financial barriers on African American access to and success within higher education. Respondent answers to these twelve questions then formed the basis of information amalgamated for the latter part of the study. A numerical ranking of respondent-identified barriers based on perceived importance, combined with explanations of why respondents deemed particular barriers significant, and finally, respondent suggestions on what might be done to ameliorate each barrier, provided material for the study\u27s conclusions and recommendations
