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Latino Students: No Free College Ride


Jeff Watts, American University photographer
Based on Census Bureau data, the cost of a year of undergraduate education at a public university in 2003 was nearly $10,000 – up 87% since 1990. A year at a private university costs nearly $30,000 -- up 93 % since 1990.
Isabel M. Estrada Portales
Washington's Voz
08/12/05

Perceptions and prejudices aside, a report reveals that Latino students lag behind in financial aid for college, and receive less than any other racial or ethnic group in U.S.

The study released this week by Excelencia in Education and the Institute for Higher Education Policy shows that although the percentage of Latino students receiving financial aid for college is at an all-time high, Latinos receive the lowest average federal aid awards of any racial or ethnic group.

“Financial aid is critical for all students but more so for the Latino community, given the percentage of which come from modest financial backgrounds,” said Sarita Brown, president of Excelencia. “This report dispels the myth that Hispanic students are getting a free ride.”

According to the report, How Latino Students Pay for College , Latino students received an average financial aid award of $6,250 in 2003-04. Asian students received the highest average award of $7,260, and the national average award was $6,890.

The study, the first to analyze participation rates for Latino students in financial aid programs, found that while Latino participation has increased in the last decade, the disparity in average amounts received has remained unchanged since 1995-96.

“We know that Latino students are not entering and completing college at rates similar to other groups,” said Jamie Merisotis, president of the Institute. “Addressing economic disparities is one of the biggest steps we can take to improve success rates for the Hispanic community.”

Latino students rely heavily on federal aid and on grants in particular, according to the report, given that they are more likely to be first-generation college students (49 percent) and to have relatively low family incomes. Nearly 80 percent of Latino undergraduates applied for aid and 63 percent of those received some form of aid in 2003-04.

While Latinos were more likely to receive federal aid (50 percent) than all groups except African American students (62 percent), Latinos received the lowest average federal awards. However, only 16 percent of Latinos received state aid, and 17 percent received aid from postsecondary institutions.

“The normal conversations around the dinner table “who was your roommate? Did you stay on the dorms? Where did you go to college?” are brand new in the Hispanic community. They don't have access to much of the practical information of how to go about getting access to financial aid, and other aspects of the college experience,” explains Brown.

At the same time, the report cites the need for further research into factors that may influence the findings, including the relationship between the amount of aid awarded to Latino students and their enrollment patterns. For example, Latino students were more likely to enroll on a part-time basis than any other group (51 percent).

Almost half of Latino undergraduates were enrolled at public two-year institutions in 2003-04, according to the report, and only one-quarter of Latino students (25 percent) attended four-year campuses. In addition, 40 percent of Latino students enrolled at institutions with tuition and fees of less than $1,000, and 36 percent were enrolled at campuses with costs between $1,000 and $5,000.

“Are the institutions were Latino students go in a worst position to provide financial aid, like it is the case on the community colleges? Or is it that Latinos don't apply for it?” Brown wonders. “The research can only show so much about why.”