In Bay County, according to the 2020 Census, the Hispanic or Latino population counted for 6.7% of 175,000, or roughly 10,500. Exhaustive research did not render any statistics on Bay County’s Hispanic education level; however, with the national average being 5%, we can estimate that close to 500 Latinos in Bay County will enroll in one of the five institutions offering post-high school education.
Ector Gonzales, a high school student on a transfer program to Gulf Coast State College, said that “there are a few opportunities for Hispanics but…there should be more”. This is the general feedback coming from students of Hispanic descendant. Tristan Costales, a first-year student, commented that “there are not very many opportunities as far as getting assistance specifically for the Hispanic community”.
The Bay County median household income is $54,000; however, students of Hispanic background often come from low-income families and search for financial and/or educational benefits to accomplish their goals. Hispanic students make up for 48% of 2-year public college and 52% of Hispanics attend four-year schools. Plus, lack of money is the main reason Hispanic students don’t complete a bachelor’s degree. Recent Pew Research data shows that about 6 in 10 Hispanics look for a job right after high school.
In the Fall semester of 2019, Gulf Coast State College enrolled 4,927 students of which 7% were Hispanic. GCSC carries the lowest tuition cost for Florida residents in the area, around $4,000 for the academic year (not including housing or cost of living); for this reason, Hispanic students are drawn to enroll in this college. The 345 students of Hispanic background enrolled in GCSC have to compete for scholarships with the other 93%, as the institution does not sponsor Hispanic-specific scholarships.
A faculty member, who preferred to be anonymous, said that the College accepts all students that meet the admission requirements, regardless of their ethnicity. She added that there are clubs where groups, such as Hispanics, can meet, but the scholarships offered by the GCSC Foundation are not for any specific group or race because the college’s policy is about being inclusive and equal across the board.
Even though there are no scholarships specific for minority groups in GCSC, there are many opportunities for the college’s students. These scholarships are listed on the college’s website under Foundation Scholarships. In addition to this, a quick web search revealed many other scholarship opportunities, not affiliated with GCSC but available for students to apply. Other institutions within the College promote diversity and inclusion. The best source for this is the Diversity and Inclusion Engagement Program. Here students can find trusted information about opportunities for Hispanic minorities.
Axel Feliciano
Student Writer - Fall of 2021
