Judging by recent statistics, education is playing a far more vital role in the lives of Hispanic students. More Hispanic students are pursuing their studies more fervently and the results are a significant decrease in the drop out rate that began in 1990 and slowly declined until the year 2000. From that point, the number of Hispanics dropping out of school fell even more dramatically and by 2014, the rate had lowered to half of what it once was just two decades earlier. In 1990 the percentage was as high as 12.4% and fell all the way to 6.5%. Best of all, the trend seems to be continuing downward.

With these dropout rate dropping, that means there has been a marked increase in college enrollment for Hispanic students. Getting a good education has grown more important in the Hispanic community in recent years, it’s even become a defining component of how this group plans on voting in the upcoming presidential election with eight out of ten claiming it has as much weight in their decision as fears of terrorism and the economy. So it’s no surprise that 35% of Hispanics in the 18-24 age range had enrolled in some type of college institution at a two or four year program. This number was an increase from the previous 22% in 1993. That 13 point jump was equal to black and white students combined and still more than Asian students who saw a 9 point rise in the same time-frame.

However, while these numbers all point to signs of upward progress, Hispanics are still trailing all three groups in earning a bachelor’s degree. Only 15% who enroll in college come out with this accreditation which is far fewer than black students at 22%, whites at 41%, and Asian students at 63% as of 2014. The main factor could be as a result of economics as Hispanic students tend to enroll in two year programs, choose to do part-time course work, and attend community colleges. Due to these reasons, fewer bachelor’s degrees are obtained. Hispanics are also far less likely to have any student debt once they complete their schooling. Only 22% of Hispanic households have some form of student loan debt while that percentage is nearly doubled in black and white households, according to recent studies.