Higher institution aspirants may have come across the acronym ‘PWI’ and wondered, ‘what is a PWI college?’ This term is usually used side-by-side to oppose HBCUs in several debates that have been on for a long time. So what is a PWI college, by the way, why should you attend one, and how does it relate to HBCUs?
The term ‘PWI’ stands for Predominantly White Institutions, which illustrates the population of white students in the school. A Predominantly White Institution is one with over 50% of its students being white people. It’s simply a college where the whites dominate, not one where every person must be a white individual. It opposes HBCUs, which have a higher black person population.
There have been attempts to bring the debates between a PWI and HBCU college to an end. Keep reading to learn more about a PWI institution and have your opinions on PWI colleges.
What Is a PWI College?
In PWI colleges, white students make up over fifty percent of the student body, hence the name – Predominantly White Institutions. Several institutions of higher education and four-year schools and colleges in the United States are PWI colleges.
PWI colleges primarily serve white students as opposed to HBCUs. HBCU is an acronym for ‘Historically Black Colleges and Universities,’ and they are colleges of black origin. Their main goal is to serve black students as well as several other ethnic and racial origins.
Which Is Preferable in a PWI and HBCU?
There is a persistent debate between PWI schools and HBCUs for different reasons. While it could seem that the main difference between HBCUs and PWIs is racial discrimination, it is not entirely the case. The interactions between instructors and students during fundamental learning are a massive contribution to the disunity.
However, times have made individuals agree that these institutions have their good and negative sides. Students simply need to be enlightened on what they think is best for them in order to make the right choices.
Why Should You Attend a PWI?
There are several opportunities awaiting students at PWI colleges. For one thing, these schools have a higher reputation than many schools in the United States. Most PWI are globally recognized institutions with very high standards of learning.
Hence, this can open doors for job opportunities and career development for both white and black students. They provide better learning facilities and the opportunity for students to truly explore.
Again, they allow students to interact with people from different backgrounds and lifestyles. They also give students the ethnic awareness they need to work with diverse individuals when they enter the workforce.
Furthermore, they offer better scholarship opportunities. That’s simply because PWI colleges receive lots of endowments – sums of money or other financial resources granted to universities or institutions. A large portion of the financial support that PWI receives from alumni enables the provision of as many scholarships to qualified students.
Colleges like Florida State University (FSU), University of Georgia (UGA), University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) offer full scholarships. Many other colleges only offer half aid.
Conclusion
PWI colleges are dominant in the United States, with several higher education institutions and four-year universities falling within this scope. Considering its numerous benefits, a PWI may be a good option. Alternatively, you can opt for an HBCU, which caters to students of color.
