The State of Higher Education for Latinx Californians
New Report Finds Progress for Latinx Students, but College Readiness and Degree Attainment Gaps Threaten California’s Future
- New research from The Campaign for College Opportunity, commissioned in partnership with the Latino Working Class Project, examines Latinx college preparation, access, completion, and economic mobility.
- While 87% of Latinx seniors graduate from California public high schools, 46% graduate without completing coursework required for UC or CSU admission.
- Only 18% of Latinx working-age adults hold a bachelor’s degree, compared with 37% statewide average.
Sacramento, Calif., Sept. 30, 2026 — A new report commissioned by the Campaign for College Opportunity and the Latino Working Class Project (LWCP) finds meaningful progress for Latinx students alongside persistent barriers to college access, degree attainment, and economic mobility. With nearly 15 million Latinx residents, California cannot reach its 70% postsecondary attainment goal or meet workforce needs without improving these outcomes. The State of Higher Education for Latinx Californians, the final report in the Campaign’s three-part 2026 series, examines the pathway from high school preparation through college completion and employment.
Key findings include:
- Latinx undergraduates face a 10 percentage-point gap in four-year university enrollment compared to their peers.
- Following Equitable Placement Reform, completion of transfer-level community college courses increased 16 percentage points in English and 37 points in mathematics.
- Latinx UC and CSU graduates exceed California’s median annual earnings within five years, and public four-year graduates recoup their educational investment in less than one year.
“California has proven that when we remove barriers and invest intentionally in students, we change lives. Now we must build on that progress by bringing proven reforms to scale and creating clear, connected pathways that ensure Latinx students not only get to college, but thrive, earn a degree, and turn their talent into economic opportunity and a better future.”
—Jessie Ryan, President, The Campaign for College Opportunity.
“Higher education is a powerful pathway to economic mobility, but that promise remains out of reach for too many Latino working-class Californians. This research offers a roadmap for removing barriers and expanding opportunity.”
—Mike Madrid, Executive Director, Latino Working Class Project
“As a first-generation Latina student, pursuing higher education has always meant creating opportunities not just for myself, but for my family. Transitioning into a four-year university, I faced challenges related to finances, navigating complex systems, and balancing responsibilities, but mentorship and culturally affirming spaces reminded me that I belonged. My goal is to use my education to uplift my community and advocate for more equitable opportunities for students like me.”
—Naomi Hernandez, Santa Clara University Graduate and Master’s Student in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Palo Alto University; Former LEAF Student
The report calls on California to expand A–G and dual-enrollment access, preserve test-free admissions, simplify transfer, improve financial aid completion and affordability, expand work-based learning, and strengthen institutional accountability and Latinx representation.
The full report is available on The Campaign’s website at: https://collegecampaign.org/the-state-of-higher-education-for-latinx-californians-2026
###
About the Campaign for College Opportunity
The Campaign for College Opportunity is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) broad-based, nonpartisan coalition of
business, education, and civil rights leaders, committed to advancing racial and economic justice in
California. Through advocacy and research, the Campaign works to build a more equitable, affordable,
and workforce-connected higher education system. The Campaign champions student-centered higher
education policy transformation and the dismantling of inequitable systems to eliminate educational, income, and wealth inequities and achieve racial equity and economic justice for Californians. For more
information, visit www.CollegeCampaign.org, or follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn.
About the Latino Working Class Project
The Latino Working Class Project is a nonpartisan initiative dedicated to understanding, elevating, and advancing the priorities of California’s Latino working-class communities. Through research, polling, regional convenings, coalition building, and public policy development, LWCP works to ensure their voices and lived experiences help shape California’s economic future. It brings together leaders across sectors to develop practical solutions that expand economic opportunity and upward mobility.
Learn more at latinoworkingclass.com Follow LWCP on LinkedIn, Instagram (@latinoworkingclassproject), and X (@LatinosWorking).
Media Contact
Loni Swain | Director of Communications | Campaign for College Opportunity | loni@collegecampaign.org