The three largest groups of students at UNCP, in terms of race, are Euro-American, African American, and American Indian. An analysis of first-time, full-time freshman cohorts within these groups indicates that, on average, American Indian males, African American males, and Euro-American males lag behind their female counterparts in rate of retention from first to second year, rate of retention from second to third year, rate of graduating within four years, and rate of graduating within six years. Unlike at other Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) within the UNC system, African American and American Indian male students are more successful at UNCP in terms of retention and graduation rates than are Euro-American male students.

In order to understand the factors which aid or hinder male student success at UNCP, focus groups and an online survey were used to gather information from male volunteers in the fall of 2012 and female volunteers in the spring of 2013. The study was funded by a Lumina Foundation for Education grant awarded to The University of North Carolina General Administration to increase the retention and graduation rates for students of color, especially male students of color, at all six MSIs within the University of North Carolina system. Of these six, UNCP is the only historically Native American-serving institution. Click below to read a report detailing the results of the Lumina Studies of Student Success at The University of North Carolina at Pembroke.