The number of Latinx young adults attending college in the U.S. has significantly increased by 82% over the past decade, with more than a third now enrolled. The surge is largely driven by Mexican young adults, and while college attendance has improved across various income levels, low-income families have recently faced challenges in affordability. However, college non-completion rates are rising, particularly among U.S.-born Latinx individuals and with growing disparities based on gender and nativity status.

1. www.cssny.org

2. www.cssny.org
The number of Latinx young adults enrolled in college has increased
by 82 percent over the past decade.
Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey.
1.30
1.37
1.42
1.56
1.87
2.04
2.17 2.19
2.28
2.35 2.36
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Number of Latinx aged 18-24 attending college (Millions)

3. www.cssny.org
More than a third of Latinx young adults in the US are attending college, up from a
quarter a decade ago—no other subgroups show such growth.
Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey.
42%
31%
25%
55%
44%
36%
32%
58%
42%
35% 35%
58%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
White Black Latinx Asian
Share of population aged 18-24 attending college
by race/ethnicity
2006 2011 2016

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Native born: a majority of Latinx young adults enrolled in
college were born in the US.
Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey.
24% 23% 23% 21% 19% 19% 18% 18% 18% 18% 17% 17%
76% 77% 77% 79% 81% 81% 82% 82% 82% 82% 83% 83%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Nativity status of Latinx population aged 18-24
attending college
Foreign born Native born

5. www.cssny.org
The number of college-going Mexican young adults has nearly doubled over the
past decade, driving much of the growth in Latinx college enrollment.
Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey.
126
53
774
347
180
83
1,261
519
200
82
1,524
554
0
200
400
600
800
1,000
1,200
1,400
1,600
Puerto Rican Dominican Mexican Other Latino
College attendance among Latinx population aged 18-24
(Thousands)
2006 2011 2016

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College attendance has risen for Latinx families across incomes, with a recent dip
for low-income families. This may be due to increasing college affordability
challenges.
Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey.
497 500 524
620
817
936
989 998
1,035
990 972
660
731 746
778
873
925
971 979
1,014
1,108 1,128
0
200
400
600
800
1,000
1,200
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Latinx population aged 18-24 attending college,
by income category (Thousands)
Low income Moderate-higher income

7. www.cssny.org
Public students: a majority of college-going Latinx young adults
are attending a public college.
Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey.
1,062 1,120 1,162
1,278
1,550
1,701
1,818 1,852 1,921 1,977 1,985
238
248 260
280
319
342
356 340
362
370 375
0
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
School type of Latinx population aged 18-24 in college
(Thousands)
Public college Private college

8. www.cssny.org
Over the past decade, college attendance among Latinx young adults has surged in states
with large Latinx populations like California and New York, but has also seen double-digit
increases in the Pacific Northwest and Mid-Atlantic states.
Source: US Census Bureau,
American Community Survey.
27%
25% 25%
28%
10%
29%
14%
23%
16%
35%
31%
29%
35%
24%
35%
24%
28% 28%
41%
37% 37% 38%
26%
38%
34% 34%
29%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
Share of Latinx population aged 18-24 attending college
2006 2011 2016

9. www.cssny.org
More HS grads, but more college non-completers: compared to a decade ago,
young Latinx are much less likely to have less than a HS degree. But college non-
completion is a growing problem.
Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey.
38%
36%
13%
4%
8%
32%
36%
18%
4%
9%
24%
38%
20%
5%
13%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
Less than High
School
High School
graduate/HSE
diploma
Some college, no
degree
Associate's
degree
BA degree or
higher
Educational attainment of Latinx population
Aged 18-34 (not in school)
2006 2011 2016

10. www.cssny.org
College non-completion is a growing problem for both low-income young Latinx, as
well as those from families with middle to higher incomes.
Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey.
10%
13%
17%18%
22%
23%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
2006 2011 2016
Share of Latinx population aged 18-34 with some college,
no degree (among those not in school)
Low income Moderate-higher income

11. www.cssny.org
College non-completion is a bigger problem for young Latinx
born in the US, especially among Latinas.
Source: US Census Bureau, 2016 American Community Survey data.
40%
34%
17% 13%
37%
36%
42%
36%
12%
14%
24%
26%
3%
4% 5%
8%
8% 12% 12% 18%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Male Female Male Female
Foreign born Native born
Educational attainment among Latinx aged 18-34, by gender
& nativity status (among those not in school)
Less than High School High School graduate/HSE diploma
Some college, no degree AA degree
BA or higher

12. www.cssny.org
College non-completion has become increasingly common among young Latinx
across the country, especially in the Pacific Northwest and states
along the US-Mexico border.
Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey.
14%
12%
19%
14%
15%
14%
12%
16%
13%
14%
22%
18%
20%
19%
15%
22%
16%
18%
16% 16%
23%
21%
25%
22%
24% 23%
19% 20%
18%
20%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
Share of Latinx population aged 18-34 with some college, no degree
(among those not in school)
2006 2011 2016