It Made the Sacrifices Worth It The Latino Experience in Higher Education
Both young and fast-growing, the Latino population in the U.S. is enrolling in higher education in increasing numbers. Over the past decade, the rate of enrollment in higher education for Latinos ages 18 to 24 years old has increased by 15 percentage points, from 24% to 39%.1 During this same time, the average annual cost of college has more than doubled, leading students to knit together college funds from many sources, including grants, scholarships, income from jobs, and assistance from family. To provide context to existing data regarding higher education and its impact on the finances and wealth-building abilities of Latinos and their families, UnidosUS partnered with the UNC Center for Community Capital to conduct 30 in-depth interviews across six different cities.
