Understanding and Supporting College Students from Immigrant Families

Title: Immigrant-Origin Students in U.S. Higher Education: A Data Profile

Authors: Jeanne Batalova and Miriam Feldblum

Source: Migration Policy Institute

Using U.S. Census Bureau data, researchers at the Migration Policy Institute found that students from immigrant families comprised 28 percent of college enrollees in 2018 and 58 percent of the increase in overall college students between 2000 and 2018.

The report includes descriptive statistics on immigrant generation composition across racial and ethnic groups, the number and share of immigrant-origin college students across states, and graduate enrollment by immigrant generation. The analysis excludes international students and focuses on U.S. residents who are in the country for reasons not limited to education.

The authors draw attention to three broad policy issues that are able to impact the success of immigrant-origin students:

• Postsecondary credential attainment policies
• Racial equity efforts in college access and completion
• Immigration policies restricting college access and affordability

Click here to read the report.

—Anna Marie Ramos