This book examines issues of race in college admission through analysis of data from the College and Beyond database, a study of the college careers and subsequent lives of over 45,000 students of all races who had attended academically selective universities between the 1970s and early 1990s. The book examines how much race-sensitive admissions increase the likelihood that blacks will be admitted to selective universities and demonstrates what effect the termination of these policies would have on the number of minority students attending selective institutions. The book also examines how well black students have performed academically, their career success, and their later civic and community participation. The book finds that the overall record of accomplishment by black students has been impressive and finds that arguments against considering race in admissions generally lack substance. It urges clearer articulation of the meaning of "merit" in the admissions process and the importance of fostering institutional autonomy in admissions decisions, and finds that academically selective colleges and universities have been highly successful in using race-sensitive admissions policies to advance both educational and societal goals. Appendices provide information on the College and Beyond database, methodology notes, earnings data, and additional tables. (Contains approximately 175 references.) (DB)