Conclusion: The Meaning of College and the Economics of Choice

Abstract

Though the 50 mostly low-income Latino/a respondents considered in this book remained optimistic about the future, even those who completed a four-year degree graduated into uncertain futures. These 50 individuals cannot reveal the story about college pathways in the college-for-all era; still, their stories provide a lens for better understanding some of the effects of the current higher education landscape. The Great Recession and stagnant recovery have exacerbated both the importance of a college degree and the financial barriers to attaining it. Latino/a respondents’ optimistic expectations for college seldom burn out, due in part to the perception that a college degree means something more than “just” a higher paycheck. Their experiences illuminate troublesome practices in higher education that are worth targeting for reform.