Improving College Graduation among Latina Students

8% of the nation's overall population (US Census Bureau). The largest subgroup of the Latino is individuals if Mexican origin, followed by those from South or Central America, Puerto Rico, Cuba, and other Hispanic countries. For the past four decades, immigration has been the primary contributor towards this increase. Nevertheless, it is believed that in the near future, the high rates of birth of both the second and third-generation citizens will primarily drive the Hispanic population. As projected, the Latina population will account for about 51% of the population growth in the next fifty years, forming a quarter of the nation’s total population by 2050. With the current rate of college completion, it appears that the nation will be short of the required workforce.

For the nation to achieve economic competitiveness, the number of people with degrees or higher credentials have to increase. Over the past few years, there have been inequalities of higher education attainment among various races in the United States, and the trend is worrying (Merolla and Jackson, 280). Despite the recent improvements in the rates of college-going, the low degree completion rates and disparities in the attainment of education among the underrepresented and low –income populations, Latinos included, will impede the efforts of the nation of developing an inclusive and flourishing economy. In terms of attainment of college degrees, specifically bachelor’s degrees, the Latino lag behind. Nonetheless, the overall attainment of college degrees among these communities is worrying and requires immediate attention.

The importance of reaching higher levels of academic attainment cannot be underrated. Attaining education past the high school diploma provides one with increased opportunities for career development in addition to improving the available choices for those individuals with an undergraduate degree. Most importantly, salary and advancements are highly correlated with a four-year degree. Due to low educational attainment, most of the Latinos secure the lowest skilled jobs that are lowly remunerated. Research studies have noted substantial differences between the white and Latino students in regards to precollege academic preparation. Besides, academic performance is a significant predictor of enrollment in colleges and other higher learning institutions. The academic performance of most Latina students is low and it is important for researchers, educators, and policymakers to pay attention to the non-cognitive factors that might be impeding the academic performance of this group.

Economic, cultural, and social factors are influential in denying college access. The poverty rates among the Latinos are alarming as most of them are lowly skilled and as such, the jobs that fit their qualifications are lowly remunerated. Implementation of a college-for-all policy At the federal level, a college-for-all policy will send a strong message across the continuum that postsecondary or college training is expected of all students. Such a policy will implement a workforce that is more skilled and equip individual students with additional training and skills, which are necessary to effectively compete in the global marketplace (Contreras, 152). Besides, it will increase the number of individuals with specific training or college degrees, which will allow them to sustain their families along with communities.