Utilizing in-depth interviews with Latino college graduates from six U.S. cities, UnidosUS collaborated with the Center for Community Capital at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to present a report examining issues of access, affordability and long-term success.
While the Latino community understands the importance and impact of higher education, they must navigate an educational system that does not fully serve the needs of its students, researchers said.
According to the report, titled “It Made the Sacrifices Worth It: The Latino Experience in Higher Education,” the rate of enrollment in higher education for Latinos ages 18 to 24 has increased by 15 percentage points from 24 percent to 39 percent over the past decade.
“We’re seeing more Latinos than ever enrolling in college,” said Samantha Vargas Poppe, associate director for policy and advocacy at UnidosUS.
Despite this optimistic statistic, Latino students are still falling short in completion.
“Latino students are facing unique challenges and they’re not faring as well as their peers in the post-secondary space,” said Vargas Poppe. “We wanted to make sure that stakeholders have the information needed to create a system that better serves all students.”
Debt from student loans can be high, which makes Latino students less likely than White students to complete their postsecondary programs. Many students also juggle multiple obligations, including school, work and family.
