Hispanic Students College: Why Latino Grads Are More Likely To Enroll For College Than Whites

A new study has found that Hispanics who graduated from high school in 2012 were more likely, when compared to whites and blacks, to enroll in college.

The report, from the Pew Research Center, found that seven of 10 Hispanics enrolled in college in 2012. This statistic was two percent higher than the data found on white high school graduates and six percentage points higher than the data found on black high school graduates.

These findings reflect huge progress in the Hispanic community, as just 13 years ago, less than half of Hispanic high school graduates enrolled in college.

An analysis of census data does show that Hispanic students are more likely than white students, but that rate has seen a steady decline since 2000. Specifically, the rate at which Hispanic students drop out has decreased by half since 2000--28 percent of students dropped out in 2000 and a mere 14 percent dropped out in 2011.

An explanation for the decrease in dropouts and the increase in college enrollment is the 2008 financial crisis and the consequent recession. Getting a job right out of high school became increasing difficult and as such, many students enrolled into college.

And if you think an improvement in the economy will result in a decline in the Hispanic college enrollment, think again! The Pew report accredits the importance Hispanic families place on education to be a reason for the change in academic decisions. For instance, a 2009 survey by the Pew Hispanic Center found that 88 percent of Hispanics of the age 16 and older believed a college degree was impertinent to make it in life, whereas another generalized Pew survey found that only 74 percent of average Americans (regardless of race) felt the same way.

The findings of the recent report reflect progress and is a great step in the right direction, but that doesn't mean everything is perfect. Hispanics are still less likely to enroll in a four-year college, attend selective schools, study full-time, and graduate with a Bachelors Degree, reports ABC.

According to a study by Caroline Hoxby of Stanford University and Sarah Turner of the University of Virginia, some of the top colleges are not doing a good job at connecting with high-achieving students from lower income households. While many of these schools offer scholarships that would make their university just as affordable as local schools, this information is not available to students. Simple measures such as offering bilingual pamphlets and waving application fees can make all the difference.