Over the past decade, the number of African American and Hispanic undergraduates enrolled in colleges and universities nationwide has increased by 32% and 98%, respectively, whereas the number of White undergraduates has declined by 1%(Nettles & Perna, 1997). Over the same period, the number of bachelor's degrees awarded increased by 43% for African Americans and 90% for Hispanics, compared with an 11% increase for Whites. Although more African Americans and Hispanics are attending college and receiving degrees than ever before (Nettles & Perna, 1997), African Americans and Hispanics continue to be underrepresented among both undergraduates (at 10.0% and 8.0%, respectively) and bachelor's degree recipients (7.0% and 4.2%) relative to their representation in the traditional college-age population (14.3% and 13.7%).

Although much is known about the factors that affect college attendance, only recently have researchers begun to explore variations in college enrollment behavior among students of different racial/ethnic groups (eg, Freeman, 1997; Hurtado, Inkelas, Briggs, & Rhee, 1997; Jackson, 1990; McDonough, Antonio, & Trent, 1997; St. John & Noell, 1989). Freeman (1997) examined the barriers African American highschool students perceive to limit access to higher education for African Americans. McDonough, Antonio, and Trent (1997) explored differ-