Mark Richardson
Illinois News Connection
Latino students in Illinois and nationwide apply for financial aid at higher rates than some other ethnic groups but receive the lowest average awards. According to the most recent trend data from Excelencia in Education, 85% of Latino students applied, and 71% received college financial aid.
Emily Labandera, research director with Excelencia, said first-generation Latino students prefer to leverage grant money instead of student loans.
“They’re not as likely to accept student loans that are offered to them if they are offered as part of their package. Latino students and their families are more averse to taking out loans,” she explained. “They don’t really see loans as a financial aid award.”
According to Excelencia, 25% of Hispanic adults 25 and older in Illinois have earned an associate degree or higher, compared with 50% of white non-Hispanic adults. Labandera added that many Hispanics work at least 30 hours a week, attend part-time, and live off-campus to avoid federal financial aid.
Labandera says 45 higher-ed institutions that have earned her group’s “Seal of Excelencia” are working to make college more affordable for Latinos and all students.
“They might be offering paid internships, or they have partnerships with employers in their area that are really connecting their students to those opportunities,” she continued. “And so, the students are getting ‘real live’ skill sets, particularly in their areas of interest or in their field of study.”
She added that some colleges recognize that unexpected financial challenges – even a $500 emergency – may push students out of school, so some offer special aid for urgent needs. Many also provide full-tuition scholarships based on family income, helping lower-income students stay enrolled.
