Number of Latinx Students Earning College Degree Up Dramatically, But Still Lagging Behind Other Races

The number of Latinx Americans over the age of 25 who have earned at least a bachelor’s degree increased by 30% over the past 15 years, according to new data from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. However, despite the massive climb, that number still lags behind white, Asian American and Black degree holders in the same demographic, the survey revealed.

“In 2005-09, 30.6% of non-Latino whites 25 or older had a bachelor’s degree or higher, while just 12.6% of Latinos did,” reported Suzanne Gamboa of NBC News.

“By the years 2015-19, the share grew to 35.8% for white, non-Hispanics with a bachelor’s or more, compared to 16.4% of Hispanics.”

Asian Americans remain the demographic group with the highest number of degree earners — 49.6% in 2005-09 and 54.3% in 2015-19.

Black people “rose from 17.2% to 21.6% in the five-year period of 2015 to 2019,” according to Gamboa.

Native Americans remained the group least likely to graduate from college with a degree, the survey showed, with just 15% of individuals earning a degree in the period between 2015 and 2019. That number was up slightly from 12.8% in 2005-2009.

Among all races, the census figures showed the number of people attaining a college degree in the country continues to increase, with an estimated 22% of the population having graduated college (up from 18.7% in the prior period). College degrees are most abundant in the Northeast (29.8% of the population) followed by the West (25.4%), Midwest (21.9%) and South (19.7%).

 

Related: For more recent diversity and inclusion news, click here.

 

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