Nearly half of Latino students who go on to higher education attend two-year community colleges. Their reasons are basically access, cost, and culture.

Because community colleges by definition are open enrollment, access is not normally an impediment. However, in some cases, rules with respect to undocumented students remain restrictive, even exclusionary, a clear violation of the higher education mission of these institutions. Policies vary in part because, at least in New Jersey, these colleges are governed at the county level.

On the cost side, two-year schools are more affordable than four-year institut9ions, although the gap gets narrowed dramatically when the two-year school is charging an undocumented student the international rate and the private four-year college is offering a large scholarship. Of additional importance on the financial side is that the student may be working both to pay his own bills and to contribute to the household budget.

The latter situation, plus the inherent cultural aspect of the tight-knit Hispanic family, often pushes a student toward attending a nearby school. For some, a 45-minute commute is too far,, causing an undue level of homesickness.

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