Factors affecting the college choice and retention of African American gay male undergraduates: Implications for Retention

Recent national statistics call attention to the precarious predicament of African American men in college, but scholars have focused almost exclusively on “highly visible” Black male subpopulations with little to no attention given to the experiences of marginalized subgroups such as African American gay males. The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand the college decision-making process and retention of Black gay men. Qualitative data collected from seven participants reveal insights into factors considered when choosing a college and conditions perceived as critical to their success in higher education. Implications for future policy, practice, and research are highlighted in the discussion section.