Boston has a higher education equity problem

Massachusetts must do more to help Black and Latinx students finish college. That is one of the findings of a recent Excelencia Education report, which states that “while some two- and four-year institutions are contributing to the success of Latinos in Massachusetts, degree attainment is not reflective of their enrollment.” With 12% of Massachusetts residents identifying as Latinx, a major demographic is being underrepresented in the path to secondary education.

Boston has an equity problem on many levels, and these obstacles are playing out in our state’s higher education system. Only 24% of Boston's Black and Latinx population have a degree – compared to 56% of Boston's white population. Why is that? The cost of education, commitments to family and work, and – as highlighted in the report – institutions not adjusting to meet the needs of minority students are all contributing to the gap in degree attainment for Black and Latinx students. With 7.1 million jobs currently open in the United States, there are more than enough unemployed or underemployed workers to fill these posts. Higher education should not be the obstacle to their success.

In a workforce environment where more and more job postings require a degree or specialized training, we clearly have more work to do to boost access to available jobs to those who identify as Black and Latinx. Non-degree holders continue to be overlooked for skilled technical careers – a growing pocket of the economy that is exponentially expanding with new industries like clean technology, automation, and robotics.

Simply put, Massachusetts cannot build a more equitable region without upskilling more Black and Brown residents with college credit bearing credentials like degrees and certificates.