Closing the Equity Gap in Educational Attainment for Latinos

The nation can increase degree attainment for all, but closing the gap between Latinos and other groups requires an intentional and tactical strategy to accelerate Latinos’ attainment. This is not an “us vs. them” approach.

Excelencia in Education is tracking four measures of equity gaps to inform action: Latinos’ growth in: 1) enrollment, and, 2) attainment, and Latinos’ progress in: 3) graduation rates, and 4) completion rates.

While college enrollment overall has decreased, Latino enrollment has increased significantly over the past 6 years.

• From 2010-2016, enrollment decreased 6% overall - led by a 16% decrease for White and 15% for Black students - but increased 25% for Latino and 2% for Asian/Pacific Islander students.
• Almost 1 in 5 undergraduate students today are Latino. Latino students have increased representation from 14 to 19%.

Latinos’ degree attainment has grown significantly while overall degree attainment has increased more slowly over the past 6 years.

• Associate degree attainment grew 7% overall. The largest growth was by Latinos (55%), but degree attainment decreased most for White (-6%) and American Indian/Native American students (-7%).
• Baccalaureate degree attainment grew 12% overall. The largest growth was by Latinos (52%), while White students had a slight increase of 1% and American Indian/Native American students decreased significantly (-18%).

Graduation rates increased equally for White and Latino students over 10 years; therefore, the gap in educational attainment remained the same.

• From 2005 to 2014, graduation rates - degree completion of 1st time, full-time students within 150% of time from enrollment - improved 2% for both White and Latino students.
• In 2015, 54% of Latino students were enrolled full-time.

Latino students' completion rates are higher than graduation rates and include more students, but still need to increase in order to close the gap in completion rates with others overall. 

• Latino students' completion rate - including part-time, transfer, stop out, and students from both 2- and 4-year institutions - was 47% compared to 63% for White and Asian students.
• Latino students are more likely to still be enrolled  6 years after enrollment than other groups.