Geography and Hispanic Community College Enrollment

Abstract

This study explored the relationship between Hispanic students' enrollment in community colleges and their geographic location. As the majority of Hispanics in the United States is concentrated in four states (New York, Texas, Florida, and California), this study looked into the effect of residence in one of these four states on community college enrollment. Controlling for academic, geographic, and background variables, bachelor's-aspiring Hispanic students were significantly more likely to enroll in a community college compared to White and Black students. Interestingly, this study found that Hispanic students who resided in New York, Texas, Florida, or California, were significantly more likely to enter the system of higher education through a four-year school and not a two-year school, when compared to White or Black students. The study suggests several explanations for the unique interaction of ethnicity and geography, including the higher availability of community colleges outside these four states. Together with the preference of Hispanic students to live at home while in college, this availability may be the most plausible explanation.