This monthly digest is written primarily for the staff of UC Cooperative Extension. It is produced by the staff of ANR's News and Information Outreach in Spanish (NOS) based on news reported by mainstream news media and reputable research institutions. Inclusion in the digest does not imply endorsement, nor does SBMS assume responsibility for the veracity of the information. We invite our readers to refer to the source to read more of each particular brief; we'll try to always include a link.

Cost and location, not academic prestige, tend to be the most important factors for Latino students when choosing which college to attend, according to a report released by Excelencia in Education. Researchers said that to improve recruitment, colleges and universities should use current Latino students as information resources for high school students; better explain to families what students can expect in college; and ensure that high school guidance counselors are giving quality information to all students. 

According to the study, about half of Hispanic students nationwide are concentrated at colleges and universities in urban areas, mostly community colleges or less-selective four-year public and private institutions. Hispanic-serving institutions were lower in cost and more accessible with open admissions policies and located in communities with large Latino populations. The "sticker price" of a school can be a major concern for Hispanic students, many of whom are first-generation college students. They might not be well-informed about financial aid packages and hesitate to take on heavy loans. Many want to live near their families.

Source: Excelencia in Education report, "Choosing Hispanic-Serving Institutions: A Closer Look at Latino Students' College Choices," www.edexcelencia.org/hsi, August 18, 2007.