Latinos are surging ahead in college degree achievement, marking a significant stride according to a recent report. The analysis by Excelencia in Education sheds light on the remarkable progress Hispanic students have made, driving a 4% overall increase in degree attainment over the past five years.
Impressively, Hispanic students contributed a whopping 79% to this growth. However, while celebrating this achievement, it’s crucial to acknowledge that Latinos still face challenges in catching up with other demographic groups. Only 27% of Hispanics attained an associate degree or higher in the 2021-22 academic year, trailing behind the 44% of other Americans.
Sarita Brown, co-founder and president of Excelencia in Education, emphasized the necessity of boosting Latino college completion rates to align with the nation’s workforce and labor objectives. She expressed pride in collaborating with institutional leaders committed to accelerating Latino student success in higher education.
The report, spanning almost 50 pages, highlights that Latino college students predominantly belong to the first-generation category, being the first in their families to pursue higher education. Despite many receiving financial aid, Latino students exhibit caution towards student loans, with only a quarter opting for federal loans, reflecting one of the lowest borrowing rates among all racial and ethnic groups.
Although Latinos demonstrate the highest labor force participation rate, with over two-thirds engaging in the workforce, they find themselves disproportionately represented in low-paying industries. The report underscores the significance of where Latino students attend college, pointing out that Hispanic-Serving Institutions educate over 60% of Latino students in the U.S., despite constituting only 20% of all colleges and universities.
Moreover, Excelencia’s analysis underscores the impact of programs aimed at ensuring Latino student success in college. Institutions recognized with Excelencia’s Seal of Excelencia, which acknowledge programs supporting Hispanic student enrollment, retention, and completion, exhibit higher graduation rates among Latino students compared to other educational institutions.
