Get the big picture. Do the research. From 1994 to 2004, Hispanic higher education enrollment increased dramatically. At four-year institutions alone, Hispanic enrollment rose by 73 percent. Despite these increases, only 25 percent  of college-age Latinos were enrolled in college, and only 12 percent go on to complete a four-year degree. These figures underscore the attainment gaps for U.S. Latinos. To ensure the nation's economic and social vitality and provide equal postsecondary opportunity for Latinos, these gaps must be diminished. Lumina Foundation introduces Camino de la Universidad: The Road to College for Latinos, an interactive, research-based Web site that presents the current landscape for Latinos in postsecondary education.

Learn more and visit www.CaminodelaUniversidad.org.
Download the research document in PDF format.

More than 30 percent of white American adults have at least four years of college, but only 18 percent of African Americans and 12 percent of Hispanics have a four-year degree. By 2025, it is estimated that there will be a shortage of 16 million college-educated adults in the U.S. workforce. As the U.S. economy and workforce demand higher skill and knowledge levels, the number of college-educated citizens takes on increased importance. The following publications underscore the need to provide more college opportunity to meet future workforce demands.

How HSIs serve Latino students
Little research exists on Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs), yet about half of all Latino undergraduates in 2003-04 enrolled in HSIs, which represent about 6 percent of all higher education institutions. HSI designation is determined by the number of Hispanics enrolled and not by institutional mission. And most of students don’t realize they have enrolled at a Hispanic-serving college. Excelencia in Education presents an overview of HSIs in its report, Inventing Hispanic Institutions: The Basics . A second brief, Choosing Hispanic Institutions, provides insights about Latino students who enroll at HSIs.

College readiness among Latino students
A new ACT report examines Latino students' college readiness using data from the ACT and other achievement tests. The report indicates that in 2006, the percentages of ACT-tested Latino graduates who aspired to at least a bachelor’s degree were similar to that of all high school graduates nationally. However, the data also reveals a discrepancy between Latino students’ educational aspirations and the high school courses they plan to take in order to meet these aspirations. Read State of College Readiness for Latino Students.

The changing face of the community college student
Being a student of color, being a low-income student and having developmental needs can limit the likelihood of college success. Recent data shows that the share of white community college students dropped from 76 percent in 1990 to 63 percent in 2004, while the proportion of Black and Latino students increased to 28 percent. To maximize student success, college officials must react to these changes. Learn more in Achieving the Dream's latest issue of Data Notes.

California policy options for remaining competitive
To remain competitive, California's economy, like the rest of the nation's, requires a greater number of well-educated workers than currently exist. Without a concerted statewide focus to improve college attainment, accelerating California's workforce preparation will be difficult. In California Policy Options to Accelerate Latino Success in Higher Education, Excelencia in Education, working in association with the Tomas Rivera Policy Institute and the California Policy Research Center , offers policy recommendations to improve the educational attainment of California's workforce, especially Latinos. 

California workforce depends on community colleges
California's economic future depends heavily on its higher education system, and recent studies have projected a shortage of educated workers unless California universities and colleges increase degree production. For many Californians, community colleges are the only pathway to a college education. Beyond the Open Door: Increasing Student Success in the California Community Colleges, released by the Institute for Higher Education Leadership and Policy, analyzes student success factors, connects those factors to state and institutional policies, and offers policy recommendations.

Opening the door to education for immigrants
An invisible community makes up 12 percent of the U.S. undergraduate population. Opening the Door to the American Dream: Increasing Higher Education Access and Success for Immigrants, by the Institute for Higher Education Policy, exposes barriers that prevent immigrants from entering and completing college. It also warns that failure to address this issue will significantly threaten the nation's ability to remain globally competitive in less than 10 years.

Data and analysis on education around the world
More widespread university education means prosperous economies, according to a recent Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) report.  Education at a Glance examines several countries' education participation and achievement and public/private spending. The report includes findings on how socio-economic background affects college access. For example, regardless of relative academic abilities, 15-year-olds from lower socio-economic backgrounds are less likely to expect to complete higher education than those from higher socio-economic backgrounds. Listen to a report summary.