THE VALUE OF COLLEGE EDUCATION FOR URBAN LATINO STUDENTS

The Value of a College Education for Urban Latino Students

Jocelyn Perez Ramirez

Los Angeles Leadership Academy

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Abstract

Latino students in the United States strive for work and success to obtain a stable life.

Although Latinos have the highest population growth in the United States, they have the lowest

rates of college education. There are several barriers Latinos face in the educational courses and

it is important that we close these substantial educational gaps for urban Latino students.

College education brings Latinos into the social and economic mainstream of the nation. This

research report explains the barriers and educational conditions urban Latino students face and

the value of a college education.

Keywords: Urban, Latinos, students, college, education, barriers, Hispanics, United States.

The Value Of College Education For Urban Latino Students

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Most young individuals and their parents can agree that a college education is

fundamental for having a successful and stable future. However, there are several different ideas

about the importance of education for urban Latino students. Many have the opinion that a high

education should be taken seriously for some particular ethnic groups due to their socio

economic class. For the past decade, the statistics for college completion for Latinos had a

significant low comparison to non-Hispanics. Educational programs planned to help

underprivileged students have provided Latinos insufficiently. It is important that we close

educational gaps and offer better education reform that every urban student receives. The value

of a college education for Urban Latino students can be life changing economically, socially, and

academically.

BARRIERS AND EDUCATIONAL GAPS OF URBAN LATINO STUDENTS

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According to the National Research Council (2006), Mexican Americans, who are the

largest and fastest growing Hispanic subgroup in the United States, have the lowest rates of

educational attainment compared with other groups. For Urban Latinos in the United States,

receiving an education is one of the most complex obstacles they face especially for first-

generation students. Approximately, half of the Latino youth that enrolls in college, are at least

prepared academically to prosper in a four-year institution. According to a resource from the

Pew Hispanic Center, about 66 percent of Latinos enroll in open-door institutions. Less than

45 percent compared to Caucasian college students enrolled in an open-door institution.

Hispanics at all levels of preparation demonstrate a greater tendency to enroll in open-door

institutions than Caucasians. However, there is a significant gap in completing a Bachelors

degree among Latino students. Among a two-year college newcomers that are minimally

qualified for college, nearly 16 percent of Caucasians completed a Bachelors degree as

opposed to only seven percent of Hispanics.

Interestingly, according to the National Council of La Raza, researchers noted that

Hispanics aged 25 or more are less likely than both Blacks and Whites to receive a Bachelors

degree. In addition, In 2005, 12 percent of Hispanics aged 25 years [or more had] received a

Bachelors degree or higher, compared to 17.7 percent of Blacks and 30.5 percent of comparable

Whites (Kohler & Lazarn, 11). According to the data from the National Council of La Raza,

getting a higher education seems almost impossible for Hispanics. Studies indicate that

Hispanics are incapable of achieving a Bachelors degree or higher. The contrast between non-

Latino and Latino college students on completing a Bachelors degree is higher than the high

school degree gap. Its the largest fulfillment gap facing Latino youth as they proceed through

education.
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IMPORTANCE OF HAVING A COLLEGE EDUCATION/ DEGREE

Majority of Latino students believe that a college education is important. The main

priority for urban Latino students to attend college is to financially support their families. There

is a significant gap of young urban Latino students aiming for a college education. According to

an article titled, Latinos and Education: Explaining the Attainment Gap by Mark Lopez Hugo

(2009), Nearly nine-in-ten (89%) Latino young adults 1 say that a college education is

important for success in life, yet only about half that number48%say that they themselves

plan to get a college degree... According to a new national survey of Latinos by the Pew

Hispanic Center (2009), a project of the Pew Research Center, most Latinos agree that receiving

a college education is fundamental for a successful life. A person with more education normally

earns substantially higher income and is more likely to be hired than workers who have no

education beyond high school. According to recent studies from the Bureau of Labor Statistics,

an average college worker earns 84 percent more than a person with just a high school education.

Furthermore, the value of a college education has an essential effect on financial incomes for all

groups of people.
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In addition, The National Center for Education Statistics states that when students earn a

college education they can make nearly double the amount a high school graduate makes in just

one year. Attaining a higher education signifies that students will earn more money and are able

to work less hours per week when compared against those who did not have a college education.

In 2013 median earnings for young adults with a Bachelors degree was $48,500, compared

with $23,900 for those without a high school credential, $30,000 for those with a high school

credential, and $37,500 for those with an associates degree, (NCES). In other words, young

adults with a Bachelors degree earned more than twice as much as those without a high school

credential (103 percent more)... (NCES). Its fundamental to understand the value of education

of all Latinos, with a Bachelors degree or higher, can be able to make as much as they would if

they didnt attend college.

ENCOURAGEMENT AND BENEFITS OF HAVING A COLLEGE EDUCATION

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College education brings Latinos into the social and economic mainstream of the nation.

"My family always instilled in me the idea that an education gets you far, and I want to go far.

I'm an aspiring dentist, and I'd like to go to OHSU. I've volunteered there a couple of times, and

I got to help out in the student clinic where they work on patients' teeth. I translated for a little

girl who only spoke Spanish. I know a couple of dental students who used to go to PSU. Having

a network of people telling you, 'You can do it,' and sharing their stories with you is really

encouraging, quote from a Latina graduate Monica Sarmiento (Exito! A Path to Latino Student

Success. Portland State University, 2010). The majority of Hispanic parents can agree that a

college education is the right path for their children; therefore, they encourage and push their

children to attend college. This attitude reflects the overall goal most parents want for their

children. According to a survey from the Pew Research Center (2009), more than three-quarters

(77%) of Latinos ages 16 to 25 say their parents think going to college is the most important

thing to do after high school. First-generation students who dont quite understand the education

system in the United States look up to their parents and families for motivation and guidance. In

addition, this benefits most urban Latino students goals of receiving a college education.

The social benefit of a college education is to benefit and bring service for other members

of society. College grads are more productive and ambitious. According to a new study from the

Pew Research Center (2011), two of three of college graduates said that college helped them

grow and prepared them for a career. College graduates make more educated political decisions

and can navigate themselves through their career paths. In addition, college helps students to

increase their knowledge and prepares them for their future occupations.

CONCLUSION
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The value of a college education is essential and life changing for Urban Latino students.

Obtaining a college education is a worthwhile benefit, despite the costs and time management

skills needed to complete it. There are varieties of opportunities available and potential benefits

from receiving a college degree. Several benefits from achieving a college degree are: job

security, career opportunities, and social relationships. Earning a college degree is not only

beneficial for economic stability; in addition, it brings self-confidence and fundamental skills

like critical thinking, time management, and tendency on which to build on. Most especially, for

Urban Latino students, the value of a college education is a journey that will lead to a secure

asset in the future.

References

Brown E., Sarita, Santiago, Deborah, Lopez Estela. (2003). Latinos in Higher Education Today

and Tomorrow. Excelencia in Education. Inc. Retrieved from

https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/09d7/cd3de77eaf4988174252aef46536147cefdc.pdf.

Craspo J., Carlos. (2010). Exito! A Path to Latino Student Success. Portland State University.

Retrieved from https://www.pdx.edu/sites/www.pdx.edu.diversity/files/exito_report.pdf.

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Gndara, Patricia. (2015). FULFILLING AMERICAS FUTURE: LATINAS IN THE U.S.

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in-the-U.S.-2015-Final-Report.pdf

Lopez Hugo, Mark. (2009). Latinos and Education: Explaining the Attainment Gap.

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http://www.pewhispanic.org/2009/10/07/latinos-and-education-explaining-the-attainmen

t-gap/.

Torpey, Watson, Elka, Audrey. (2014). Education Level and Jobs: Opportunities by State.

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https://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2014/article/education-level-and-jobs.htm

Martinez, Sylvia, Ownes, Ann, Schhneider, Barbara. (2006). Barriers to Educational

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