Latino College Enrollment Is On The Rise

By Michael Lopez

There has been a lot of good news for young Latinos looking to further their education. For one thing, California's Dream Act moved one step closer to completion. On Wednesday, the state Senate approved a bill that would give undocumented students the opportunity to receive financial aid. And beyond that, there have been some very encouraging stats about Hispanics enrolling in U.S. universities.

According to the latest study from the Pew Hispanic Center, 1.8 million Latinos are currently pursuing a higher education. Obviously that large number is very encouraging, but what makes it even more incredible is the fact that Hispanic college enrollment is up by 24 percent since 2009.

News like this could have an extremely positive impact on the Hispanic-American culture. And if things continue with the upward trend, you can expect to see a lot more Latin doctors, lawyers, and PhD's in the workforce.

"Improving the educational attainment of young Hispanics would improve the long-term socioeconomic prospects of the nation's largest minority group," Pew researcher Richard Fry said. "It would not only be beneficial for Hispanics themselves but would also raise the education and skills of the nation's future work force."

The study also went on to illustrate how the increase of Latino college students equates to a decrease in high school dropouts. Pew Research stated that as of October 2010, the Hispanic high school completion rate was at nearly 73 percent.

Many also equate the increase to more opportunities for the modern American Latino. Following up on the study, CNN spoke with student Erica Ruiz, who seemed very grateful that she had been given educational opportunities that her parents weren't.

"My parents always encouraged me to go to college and get educated," said Ruiz, who is Mexican-American. "Because they didn’t get the opportunity."

And with September now in full bloom, expect to see a lot more Latino "Back To School" ads popping up between your favorite shows.

What do you think about the latest Hispanic education stats? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Back To School, Blogger: Michael Lopez, California DREAM Act, College, Cultura, Education, Pew Hispanic Center