In this paper, fourteen white ethnic groups and racial minorities are compared on the basis of a composite Social Standing Score derived from data on per capita income, male occupational prestige, and higher education achieved for each group in the United States. The groups selected include American Indian (including native Alaskan), Black, Mexican, Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, Puerto Rican, German, Italian, Irish, French, Polish, Russian, and English/Scottish/Welsh. The findings show a very wide spread in social standing among the groups, with American Indians, Blacks, Mexican Americans, and Puerto Ricans ranked as the four lowest groups both on composite and individual indicators, and Russians, English/Scottish/Welsh, Japanese, and Chinese ranking the highest. The greatest variations among the groups occur in education. Occupational prestige levels show the least variation. Public policy implications of ethnic/racial status differences are discussed. The need for programs to promote upward mobility in education, occupational prestige, and income for the lowest groups is stressed. Also considered are possible explanations for differences in social standing among ethnic and minority groups. Data tables and a bibliography are attached. (GC)