Race / Ethnicity Definitions | Office of Admissions (2024)

FAQs

What do I fill out for race and ethnicity? ›

The ethnicity question must come first, followed by the question on race. The race question must ask respondents to select one or more of the five racial groups. The ethnicity question is: What is this person's ethnicity?

Here's an example: Question: What would you consider yourself as? (followed by a list of racial-ethnic categories). Black (followed by categories that apply: African American, Afro-Caribbean, Black British, etc. )

The federal government considers "Hispanic/Latino" to be an ethnicity, not a race. Consequently, "Hispanic/Latino" is not a selection in the race part of the question. The CDE supports self-identification, so the correct answer is whatever the person indicates in both parts of the question.

If you are unsure, autosomal DNA testing is available that can help you to learn more about your ethnic background.9 Autosomal DNA testing looks at combined ancestry from both parents that can identify population groups with which you share portions of your autosomal DNA.

First ask, “Are you of Hispanic, Latino, or of Spanish origin?” (ethnicity), followed by a race identification question like, “How would you describe yourself?” The first question can be a simple Yes/No radio button; the second should include these commonly accepted options: American Indian or Alaska Native. Asian.

The OMB minimum categories for race are: American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Black or African American, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, and White.

Hispanic refers to a person with ancestry from a country whose primary language is Spanish. Latino and its variations refer to a person with origins from anywhere in Latin America (Mexico, South and Central America) and the Caribbean.

What does please indicate your ethnicity race mean? ›

Race refers to the concept of dividing people into groups on the basis of various sets of physical characteristics and the process of ascribing social meaning to those groups. Ethnicity describes the culture of people in a given geographic region, including their language, heritage, religion and customs.

If you do not wish to answer questions on race and ethnicity, you can select “Prefer not to answer.” Note: The answers to these questions will not affect the student's eligibility for federal student aid, be used in any calculations, or be shared with the schools to which the student applies.

OMB requires federal agencies to use a minimum of two ethnicities in collecting and reporting data: Hispanic or Latino and Not Hispanic or Latino. OMB defines "Hispanic or Latino" as a person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin regardless of race.

OMB's minimum categories for race:

American Indian or Alaska Native. Asian. Black or African American. Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander.

Examples of ethnic groups include Hispanics and Han Chinese. Some diseases or genetic conditions may be more common in certain ethnic groups than in others.

The revised standards contain five minimum categories for race: American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Black or African American, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, and White. There are two categories for ethnicity: "Hispanic or Latino" and "Not Hispanic or Latino."

White/Caucasian is a term used to describe "a person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa" (NCBI, 2022). This language was adopted from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) DIRECTIVE NO.