Colleges Are Offering More Financial Aid to Latino Students February 19, 2010
Ian Welham on the growth of the Latino population at colleges
Traditionally, Latino students have lagged other ethnic groups in completing high school and attending colleges away from home. In a 2007 survey conducted by the Department of Education, 27% of Latinos ages 18-24 were enrolled in college, with more than half enrolled in community colleges. Although this number has risen greatly from the 1980’s it’s still lacking when compared with white students and black students at 43% and 33% respectively.
Although Latinos are still at a lower percentage the numbers are growing. Since 1975, the percentage of Latino freshman enrolled at four year colleges who attend at least 50 miles from their home has greatly increased from 46% to 59%. Within that number the percentage of students who attend college within 10 miles from home has dramatically dropped from 30% to 15%.
Researchers say part of this change comes from the growth of the Middle Class amongst the Latino population and the rising education confidence stemming from the children and grandchildren of Latino immigrants. Another important factor is that many colleges, especially those located in the Midwest and New
England are taking new approaches to revitalize shrinking local populations by increasing their recruitment efforts of rising Latino populations in California, Texas and Florida. Some are even offering increased financial aid as an incentive.
Boston College undergraduate admissions director John L. Mahoney has indicated that his school has boosted recruitment of Latinos in the west because the Jesuit school holds appeal to Roman Catholic Latinos. He feels encouraged that Latinos are becoming more mobile and Boston College has decided to spend more on financial aid to help enroll academically qualified Latinos.
