Purdue has gap in Hispanics graduating

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - The Education Trust released a study this month that showed Purdue University to have one of the largest White vs. Hispanic graduation gaps.

The study stated that among public universities Purdue did not show good numbers for graduation rates of Hispanic and Latino students.

According to the study 71% of Whites will leave the university within six years, with a degree. For Hispanics that number is 54.3%.

For some Latino students these numbers came as no surprise.

"Ever since I started Purdue University those numbers have been really high. So it's not really a surprise anymore," said Virginia Del Real, a Latino student and senior at the university.

But Purdue is trying to close this gap. The first step is to implement a series of studies for the fall to observe why Latino students are not doing as well as their non-Hispanic counter parts.

"We know the students were qualified to be here. We know that they got here and were successful in regards to staying for the first year. So the question for us to understand institutionally is what is going on after that first year and into the six year graduation date," said Vice Provost for diversity and inclusion, Gwendolyn Taylor.

Taylor said that finding the funding for a higher education may be the biggest challenge facing Latino students.

"I would suspect that finances are going to be a big issue for a lot of these students. That's what we see nationally. Finances, or the absence of funds to really be successful in completion is a challenge. Or the need to work is a challenge," said Taylor.

Del Real said she works to help fund her education. Del Real said her education is invaluable to her future.

"To me, education is the biggest thing that I have. That's the reason why I came to this country. That's the reason my parents brought me. They knew I wouldn't be able to continue an education back home, I probably would have only made it to 6th grade," said Del Real.

Del Real said that several factors helped with her success at the university, among those are the Latino Cultural Center and her sorority.

To read the full study by The Education Trust click here.