Statement from HACU on President Obama’s free tuition announcement 

The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities’ (HACU) President and CEO Antonio R. Flores has issued the following statement on President Obama’s proposal “America’s College Promise to make two years of community college free for students.

 “The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities applauds President Obama's endorsement of the Tennessee plan as model for the nation to offer a free community college education for all eligible high school graduates. Investing in this initiative would strengthen the country's workforce and increase opportunities for underrepresented populations to seek a college education. Hispanics would particularly benefit from such initiative as a majority of those in college attend community colleges.”

According to Hispanic higher education fact sheet published by HACU, 51.0% (1,308,703) of Hispanic undergraduate students attend two-year institutions (compared to 41.7% of all undergraduates). Of the 370 HSIs in 2012, 178 (48%) were public two-year institutions.

Related:

HACU Interview on Obama's free tuition announcement, Luis Maldonado, HACU Chief Advocacy Officer speaks to Univision