The Geography of Underrepresentation: Latino Student Success and Absence at a Predominantly White Public University

This study examines the reasons for underrepresentation in enrollment of Latinos in comparison with all students at a predominantly White public university. Using a quantitative analysis of student enrollment data, including residential location and grade point average, combined with a more qualitative analysis of household survey responses, this study finds that academic obstacles are not among the primary reasons for relatively low Latino student enrollment. The underrepresentation of Latinos can mostly be explained by the high cost of a university education for lower income families, especially those from high-poverty neighborhoods