Influential Factors Why Latino Students Attain a Bachelor’s Degree

Using data from a survey conducted by the Pew Hispanic Center (n=2,012) to answer them, the study asks the following research questions: Does Latinos’ value of education increase likelihood of completing or planning to complete a bachelor’s degree among Latino students? Does Latinos’ perception of academic readiness increase the likelihood of completing or planning to complete a bachelor’s degree? In addition, do in-college rigorous, academic behaviors influence completing or planning for college completion of the Latino population? The research applied the Nora Student Engagement Model (Nora, 2002, 2003, & 2006) as a theoretical framework to analyze the factors postulated including valuing of education, academic readiness, and in-college rigorous behaviors. The outcome of interest was intent to complete or completion of a bachelor’s degree. The logistic regression (χ²= 103.97, p< .001 with df=3) indicated that the constructs of valuing of education and academic readiness were significant predictors of bachelor degree completion (p<.001). The more value of education a student has the more likely he/she is to complete a bachelor’s degree. Similarly, the better academically prepared a student perceives to be, the more likelihood of a bachelor’s degree completion. This analysis indicated that the construct of in-college rigorous behaviors was not a significant predictor. This study provides educators insight as to why there is an underrepresentation of Latinos at universities. The conclusion of this research informs educators that in order to increase representation of Latinos at universities, valuing of education must be integrated into the K-12 curricula. Since this study indicated that Latinos who value education are more likely to complete a bachelor’s degree, K through 12 institutions should promote the benefits of a college education in order to increase college enrollment post high school. According to this study, students who are knowledgeable of the college matriculation path are more likely to complete a bachelor’s degree. Therefore, K through 12 institutions should also incorporate a college seminar class where students understand the college matriculation pathway. College preparatory charter schools have provided these classes and have demonstrated high college matriculation numbers among minorities (Perna, 2000).