Hispanics and education at a glance
Posted by Elena del Valle on October 12, 2011
In 2010, 1 million Hispanics had an advanced degree
Photo: U.S. Census Bureau, Public Information Office (PIO)
The latest United States Census has broadened our knowledge of the national population including size and demographic trends, and provided a picture of the largest ethnic group’s growth. According to the Census, last year there were 50.5 million Hispanics in the country; they represented just over 16 percent of the population.
While the Hispanic market grew 43 percent in the last decade (2000 to 2010) the fastest growth for Hispanics was in the South and Midwest. More than three quarters of Latinos live in eight states: California, Texas, Florida, New York, Arizona, Illinois, New Jersey and Colorado.
The Hispanic population is younger than the mainstream. The median age among Hispanics is 27.4 for Hispanics.
When it comes to education there is room for improvement: 64 percent of Hispanic high school graduates ages 16-24 were enrolled in college in 2008, compared to 72 percent for non-Hispanic whites. In higher education the difference was greater: 13.9 percent of Latinos had a bachelor’s degree compared to 30.3 percent for the mainstream, and 4 percent had an advanced degree compared to 10.7 percent for non Hispanic whites.
In 2010, 2.4 million Hispanics including those in Puerto Rico were enrolled in college. Almost half (49 percent) of Hispanic college students attended a two-year institution compared to 37 percent of all college students.
Seen another way, in 2010, 63 percent of Hispanics 25 and older had a high school education or higher; there were 3.9 million Hispanics 18 and older with a bachelor’s degree or higher; 1 million Hispanics 18 and older had an advanced degree (see Educational Attainment in the United States: 2010 Detailed Tables) .
In 2009, 12 percent of college students, undergraduate and graduate students, were Hispanic; and 20 percent of elementary and high school students were Hispanic (see School Enrollment – Social and Economic Characteristics of Students: October 2009).
