A new study of lagging Hispanic graduation rates in colleges finds that Hispanic students and their families often suffer from a lack of information about the true cost of college, the type of college they are qualified to attend, and college practices and culture.
This was among several findings in “Rising to the Challenge –Hispanic College Graduation Rates as a National Priority” for the American Enterprise Institute published March 18, 2010.
The authors noted Hispanic students are especially likely to be “undermatched,” or to enroll at a college that is less selective than they are qualified to attend.
“Given the relationship between selectivity and graduation rates, undermatched Hispanic students are more likely to leave college without completing their degrees than if they had attended more selective schools. Reforms that help to disseminate information about which schools are within students’ reach, both financially and academically, and which schools have a successful track record with Hispanic students could lead to a better match between the qualifications of Hispanic students and colleges and universities. This would in turn increase graduation rates. Better counseling about available financial aid also would likely lower the rate at which Hispanic students drop out of college for financial reasons.”
“Without higher retention and graduation rates on the part of Hispanic students–who will make up an increasing share of the college-age population in the years to come–the country will be hard-pressed to reach the goals set out by Obama. And without recognizing the conditions that foster high completion rates for Hispanic students and implementing the reforms outlined above, increasing Hispanic graduation rates will be difficult, if not impossible.” the authors said
WordPress | Designed by