In a first, Latinos represent largest group of freshmen admitted to University of California
For the first time in the University of California’s history, Latino students represent the largest ethnic group of admitted freshmen this fall, surpassing Asian American students.
Latino students account for 36% of admitted freshmen, followed by 35% of Asian Americans, according to admissions data released Thursday.
Last year, Latinos made up 34% of admitted college freshmen. White, Black and American Indian students made up 21%, 5% and 0.5% of admitted freshmen, respectively.
“This has been an incredibly challenging time as many students have been making their college decision in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said UC President Janet Napolitano in a statement. “The incoming class will be one of our most talented and diverse yet.”
Admission of low-income and first-generation students also increased at the university. First-generation students, or students first in their family to attend college, accounted for 45% of admitted students and low-income students made up 44% of admitted students.
In recent weeks, most UC undergraduate schools have announced plans for hybrid instruction this fall to stem the spread of COVID-19. Due to uncertainty fueled by the pandemic, UC officials stated they were seeing an increased use of waitlists this year as students decide whether to enroll in the fall.
Ofelia Ferreyra, 20, is one of the students who will have to navigate college during the coronavirus pandemic at UC Davis this fall and is the first in her family to attend college.
Racing to complete her undergraduate degree in psychology and gender studies, Ferreyra said she didn’t want to let the pandemic get in the way of her four-year plan to earn her degree. She anticipates she’ll graduate next spring.
Ferreyra hopes her decision to attend college influences her three younger brothers to pursue a higher education.
“I’ve had conversations with them about higher education and they have … expressed how they see me as a role model,” Ferreyra said, whose parents are from Mexico.
A 2017 Pew Research Center study found college enrollment rates are increasing among U.S. Hispanics, while high school dropout rates among Hispanics continue on a 20-year downward trend.
Despite an increase in college enrollment, Hispanics are less likely to obtain a four-year college degree, according to the study. Nearly half of Hispanics attend public two-year schools or community colleges.
The number of transfer students from California community college slightly increased among Latinos.
Latinos, 32%, made up the largest portion of California Community College transfers this year, according to the data. Latino students transferring from a California community college increased by 1% compared to last year. White and Black students made up 29% and 5.6% of community college transfers, respectively.
“This year reflects our continued commitment to having one-third of our new students comprised of transfer students, despite challenges from the pandemic,” Han Mi Yoon-Wu, UC executive director of undergraduate admissions, said in a statement. “We have seen steady increases over the past several years of admitted transfer students and will work hard to continue this upward trend.”
Data shows UC Merced admitted the highest proportion of Latino freshmen at 54%, followed by UC Riverside at 37%. The school with the least number of admitted Latino freshmen was UC San Diego at 23%. Currently, California Latinos represent 39% of the state population.
