- Hispanic Diaspora
- Facts
and Findings
- Latinos in Preschool
- Latinos in Elementary School
- Latinos in Secondary School
- Latinos in College
- Hispanic
Student
Organizations
- Noticias de la UC
- Pew Hispanic Center
- Mexican
American Legal
Defense and Education Fund
U.S. Latinos
and Higher Education
U.S.-born children of Hispanic immigrants are nearly as likely as Anglos to enroll in college, but less than half as likely to earn bachelor's degrees. Although there are large numbers of Latinos who are enrolled in college, many don't graduate with a degree, according to Roberto Suro, director of the USC Pew Hispanic Center.
Young Hispanics need to be encouraged to attend higher education institutions on a full-time basis, and attend in greater numbers. Latinos predomintly attend college on a part-time basis or attend junior colleges rather than four year instititions. However, only about 16 percent of second-generation Hispanic high school graduates ages 25 to 29 receive bachelor's degrees, compared to about 37 percent of Anglos in that age range. Furthermore, foreign-born Hispanics need to be given additional support in terms of the principle obstacle which keeps them from attending institutions of higher education: namely astronomical non-resident tuition fees.
Second-generation Hispanics are more likely to go to college than foreign-born Hispanics. Foreign-born Hispanics attend at the rate of 26 percent as compared to 36 percent of second or third-generation Hispanics.
Clearly, Hispanic
students who wish to pursue an advanced degree are faced with a formidable
hindrance; They do not have the necessary resources to fund an education.
Studies show, low-income students are more likely to borrow and end up
more heavily in debt than higher-income students. Fear of debt is one
reason why Hispanics still do not finish college at the same rate an Agnlos.
A recent
Hispanic graduate who hoped to go to law school said, "I would like
to attend law school in the near future, as well as the desire to assist
my family financially, makes it difficult to attend."
Lastly, it
is imperative that educational attainment is made more accessible to Hispanics
because Hispanic educational progress will greatly affect our nation's
overall economic future. Over the next 25 years, the Anglo working age
population is expected to decrease by about 5 million, but the number
of working-age Hispanics is projected to rise by 18 million, according
to Census Bureau data.
With a concerted effort on the part of the Community, the problems that are keeping Hispanics from graduating are not insurmountable. The bottom line is clear: with increased financial support for Hispanic students, more Latinos will enter and complete higher education studies. As the great advocate of education, César Chávez said. "Si se puede!" (It can be done.) Yes we can, and yes we will.
