The economic impact of low college enrollment by undocumented students

Farida Jhabvala Romero Jul 11, 2019
HTML EMBED:
COPY
This student, an undocumented immigrant in San Jose, California, is heading off to college. Counselors say other students without legal status see no reason to go on to higher education because their job opportunities are limited. Farida Jhabvala Romero/KQED

The economic impact of low college enrollment by undocumented students

Farida Jhabvala Romero Jul 11, 2019
This student, an undocumented immigrant in San Jose, California, is heading off to college. Counselors say other students without legal status see no reason to go on to higher education because their job opportunities are limited. Farida Jhabvala Romero/KQED
HTML EMBED:
COPY

Each year, nearly 100,000 undocumented students graduate from U.S. high schools. But only a small fraction enroll in four-year colleges. Counselors in California and other states say students who are unable to legally work can get discouraged from pursuing higher education. Economists say that limits their economic mobility and the economic growth of the states they live in.

There’s a lot happening in the world.  Through it all, Marketplace is here for you. 

You rely on Marketplace to break down the world’s events and tell you how it affects you in a fact-based, approachable way. We rely on your financial support to keep making that possible. 

Your donation today powers the independent journalism that you rely on. For just $5/month, you can help sustain Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the things that matter to you.