Investing in Higher Education for Latinos

Improving college completion has become the focus of national and state policy goals.  As the number of jobs requiring postsecondary education increases, the economic vitality of states will largely be determined by the number of citizens who earn a college degree. Latinos are the largest and fastest growing minority group in the nation, yet they have the lowest education attainment levels. The success of Latino students in our education systems is a key component in ensuring stable state economies.

With funding from the Kresge Foundation, NCSL has been engaged in a project to help state legislators become more aware of the trends and issues surrounding Latino educational attainment. As a part of this project, NCSL is releasing two new briefs.

Investing in Higher Education for Latinos: Trends in Latino College Access and Success provides state-by-state demographic and education-related data. Every state faces unique challenges and opportunities to support Latino student success and improve overall college attainment rates. This brief offers an overview of achievement gaps in each state and highlights the areas that could be targeted to improve Latino student access and success.

Investing in Higher Education for Latinos: Payoffs for State Economies focuses on how improving college completion rates for Latino students can be a catalyst for stronger economies. The brief provides examples of states that are ensuring Latinos have the education and training to find jobs in high-demand, high-paying fields and become positive contributors to the economy.