Driven to Success: A Geospatial Analysis of Transportation and College Access in Detroit
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| Title: | Driven to Success: A Geospatial Analysis of Transportation and College Access in Detroit |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Stacey L. Brockman (ORCID |
| Source: | Journal of Diversity in Higher Education. 2026 19(3):243-260. |
| Availability: | American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 18 |
| Publication Date: | 2026 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Education Level: | Higher Education Postsecondary Education Two Year Colleges |
| Descriptors: | Access to Education, Transportation, Equal Education, Higher Education, Commuting Students, Proximity, College Enrollment, Academic Persistence, Barriers, Geographic Location, Community College Students, Student Attitudes, Community Colleges |
| Geographic Terms: | Michigan (Detroit) |
| DOI: | 10.1037/dhe0000645 |
| ISSN: | 1938-8926 1938-8934 |
| Abstract: | In Detroit, the region's fragmented and inadequate public transportation infrastructure presents a particular barrier to higher education access and equity. This article presents the results of quantitative and geospatial analyses, which were part of a broader, mixed-method study, of Detroit students' access to community colleges. Findings show that Detroit students bear substantial commuting burdens which reinforce existing geography-based racial and economic inequities in educational opportunity resulting from the city's built social environment and racialized history. Until recently, research on college access and success has not paid much attention to geographic proximity as a factor shaping whether and where students enroll in college and their likelihood of success. In this study, we apply Dache-Gerbino's (2018) Critical Geographic College Access framework and show that commuting burden can be one way to conceptualize what is proximal. While this study cannot establish a causal relationship, it highlights patterns worthy of further research and discussion. We conclude that policies or programs which make transportation more accessible or affordable could be an avenue to addressing educational inequities in Detroit, but that decision-makers must consider the mode of transportation students are most likely to use. Longer term, cross-sector collaboration would ideally focus on expanding the existing transportation systems or investing in region-wide infrastructure to help more Detroit students get to college. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2026 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1507852 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | In Detroit, the region's fragmented and inadequate public transportation infrastructure presents a particular barrier to higher education access and equity. This article presents the results of quantitative and geospatial analyses, which were part of a broader, mixed-method study, of Detroit students' access to community colleges. Findings show that Detroit students bear substantial commuting burdens which reinforce existing geography-based racial and economic inequities in educational opportunity resulting from the city's built social environment and racialized history. Until recently, research on college access and success has not paid much attention to geographic proximity as a factor shaping whether and where students enroll in college and their likelihood of success. In this study, we apply Dache-Gerbino's (2018) Critical Geographic College Access framework and show that commuting burden can be one way to conceptualize what is proximal. While this study cannot establish a causal relationship, it highlights patterns worthy of further research and discussion. We conclude that policies or programs which make transportation more accessible or affordable could be an avenue to addressing educational inequities in Detroit, but that decision-makers must consider the mode of transportation students are most likely to use. Longer term, cross-sector collaboration would ideally focus on expanding the existing transportation systems or investing in region-wide infrastructure to help more Detroit students get to college. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 1938-8926 1938-8934 |
| DOI: | 10.1037/dhe0000645 |
