This study compared African-American and white college students' perceptions of the educational environment within large lecture classes. A total of 124 African-American students and 1,143 white students in 27 classes with enrollments of more than 70 students completed surveys as part of a larger study on student perceptions of postsecondary education. Ninety-one instructors also completed surveys on specific teaching and learning practices. While there were many similarities in African-American and white student perceptions, it was found that, overall, African-American students were less satisfied with large classes than were white students. African-American students also rated the affected aspects of the learning process as more important than did white students. African-American students' class ratings were more closely related to their level of satisfaction with their teaching assistants than were white students' ratings. Two appendixes provide data tables and copies of the survey instruments. (Contains 44 references.) (MDM)