Improving Access to College for Minorities

Information is power. Yet when it comes to higher education, many students, particularly those from lower-income families, do not receive the information and resources they need to succeed beyond high school. Those same students also are more likely to be unaware of their financial aid options. These roadblocks – lack of information, financial need and poor academic preparation – can mean the dream of an improved quality of life through a college education is a dream deferred for thousands of otherwise capable and motivated individuals.

In particular, awareness of financial aid options is critically lacking in the Hispanic community, and that lack of awareness has a direct impact on college attendance. In a survey of Hispanic students and parents, which was commissioned by The Sallie Mae Fund, and conducted by the Tomás Rivera Policy Institute at the University of Southern California, research found that among Hispanics, there was a direct correlation between awareness of financial aid and college attendance, with almost 75 percent of “college potentials” indicating that they would have been more likely to attend college if they had better information on financial aid.

Moreover, Hispanic families are not adequately pre-planning for college prior to the end of high school. According to the survey, more than two thirds of Hispanic parents did not receive any financial aid information while their child was in K-12. Of those who did receive some financial aid information, more than 30 percent wanted to receive it at least two years earlier.

Even more striking, 43 percent of all Hispanic young adults and 51 percent of Hispanic parents report that they were not aware of even a single source of college financial aid.

Making a difference
This creates a number of repercussions. To begin, countless individuals will be barred from achieving their full potential and becoming contributing members of society. In turn, poorly educated students will create a drain on the nation’s economy. This is particularly troubling in that recent statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau project the number of Hispanics to almost double from 35 million to 63 million by 2030. Hispanics will make up 25 percent of the Kindergarten–12th grade population by 2025. By 2050, one in four people in the United States will be of Hispanic origin.

The Sallie Mae Fund, a charitable organization sponsored by Sallie Mae, is committed to improving the higher education landscape for Hispanics and other minorities by supporting programs and initiatives that open doors to college. One of those efforts is the On the Road: The Paying for College Tour, a 23-city, coast-to-coast bus tour designed to energize Hispanic families and students about college and educate them on their financial aid options.

The Fund embarked on its journey this fall, beginning with a stop in Los Angeles. At each stop, The Fund conducts free financial aid workshops and participates in several community outreach activities. Free materials in English and Spanish are distributed, as well.

In addition, The Fund partners with local higher education associations, school districts, universities and Hispanic community-based organizations to encourage Hispanic students and families to attend the Paying for College workshops, which feature:

“Empowering families by spreading this message is one of the most important tools in opening the doors to higher education,” said Susan Corsini, vice chair, The Sallie Mae Fund. "On the Road: The Paying for College Tour unites financial aid professionals, local and national political stakeholders and community-based groups in a journey to change the status quo for Hispanics in higher education.”

Thus far, more than 25,000 Hispanic parents and students attended the workshops and community events, and more than 5 million have heard the radio public service announcements or media coverage on the issue. In addition, approximately $40,000 in scholarships has been awarded. On the Road: The Paying for College Bus Tour will culminate with a final workshop in Miami, Fla., on Nov. 20.

For more information about the 2004 Paying for College Bus Tour or The Sallie Mae Fund, log onto www.salliemaefund.org or call 1-866-858-7166 to order free resources on paying for college.