WASHINGTON. The Latin community positioned itself as the minority group in the United States with more students enrolled in four-year college degrees in 2011 with a total of 1.2 million passing the African-Americans.

A study by the Pew Hispanic research center revealed today this educational milestone for the Latin community adding that last term had 265,000 more students from Hispanic descent than the previous one.

The data gathered by the center, was obtained from the US Census Bureau and it confirms the growing presence of Latin students: between 2009 and 2010 the number of students enrolled in higher education courses went up a 24 percent, and between 2010 and 2011, it increased and additional 15 percent.

White Americans, being the majority with 7.9 million college students, grew a 3 percent during last term.

On the other hand, the African-American and Asian enrollees went down a 3 percent and an 8 percent, respectively.

The 1.2 million of Hispanics registered in four-year degrees (16.5 percent of the total) beat the 1.1 million of African-Americans who are now the second minority regarding number of students in professional degree courses.

The outlook for the coming years is a positive one according to the Pew Hispanic center: 76 percent of Latinos between 18 and 24 years finished high school and have the option to begin their college education.

Never before had such a high percentage of young Hispanics completed its higher education.

In elementary schools, Latin children also set a new record being now around 25 percent of the total of students.

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Original Text : EFE Agency

Translation: Karen.Balderas@sandiegored.com