by Lis Estefany Ramos Martinez, Enlace Latino NC
May 6, 2026
Lea esta historia en español aquí
In North Carolina, the growth of the Latino community is no longer reflected only in demographic figures — it is also transforming the state’s universities.
Over the past decade, the state’s largest public system, the University of North Carolina System (UNC), nearly doubled the proportion of Latino students, increasing from 5.2% in 2014 to 9.2% in 2023, according to data from Media Hub UNC.
This increase is reshaping classrooms, residence halls, and university services, while also highlighting a more complex reality: access has expanded, but challenges related to institutional support remain part of the college experience.
Growth is visible across the state’s universities
That growth is evident across several public institutions in the state.
At UNC Charlotte, about 13% of the student body identifies as Hispanic or Latino, which, given the institution’s size, translates into one of the largest total Latino student populations in the state.
Meanwhile, UNC Greensboro has a higher proportion of Latino students, who make up 17.9% of the undergraduate population — the highest percentage among four-year institutions in the UNC system.
The numbers continue to rise across the university system.
At UNC Charlotte, where the Latino community has grown steadily, the impact is clear. An institutional report indicates that the incoming class of 2024 was more diverse, with 14.9% Hispanic students.
UNC Greensboro also reported that Hispanic and Latino students were the fastest-growing group in its fall 2024 enrollment, increasing by about 23% year over year.
According to UNCG staff, one key factor has been the trust built with Latino communities over the years.
“We’ve worked within these communities for years… The trust has been there for a long time,” Augusto Peña, director of the Office of Intercultural Engagement at UNCG, told Enlace Latino NC, highlighting the role of both the university and local organizations in the Triad.
At UNC-Chapel Hill, the share of students identifying as “Hispanic, Latino, or Latina” in the incoming class rose from 10.1% in 2024 to 11.1% in 2025.
At private institutions such as Elon University, reports show that about 7.3% of first-year students identified as Hispanic or Latino.
“You learn everything from scratch”
This growth is not just “diversity” in numbers. It also means more students who work, translate for their families, and take on responsibilities such as paying rent, caring for siblings, and handling paperwork — all while keeping up with their studies and adjusting to college life.
For many of these students, especially first-generation college students, arriving on campus involves much more than attending classes. They are the first in their families to navigate processes such as admissions, financial aid, FAFSA and academic expectations, often without clear guidance.
One of the biggest challenges is impostor syndrome.
“It’s a major issue, especially for Latino students,” said Marisa González, an educational developer at the University Teaching and Learning Center, who also emphasized the importance of building community to combat that insecurity.
This is compounded by unfamiliarity with the “codes” of college life. Concepts such as office hours, tutoring, or professional development are not always familiar to these students.
“Understanding how the university works can be a challenge,” González told Enlace Latino NC.
Víctor Barbosa, secretary of the student organization Latin American Student Organization (LASO) at UNC Charlotte, is a first-generation student who describes his experience as a constant learning process.
Barbosa explained that, in addition to academic demands, many Latino students face family responsibilities that affect their time and performance.
“Many of us work, help at home, or even serve as translators for our parents,” he told Enlace Latino NC. “That creates extra pressure that isn’t always visible in the classroom.”
Barriers can also be economic and linguistic.
Margarita Kerkado, director of undergraduate admissions at UNCG, told Enlace Latino NC that being a first-generation student becomes even more difficult when combined with financial pressure, family responsibilities and language barriers.
This context aligns with student experiences at other universities across the state.
As Barbosa, a student at UNC Charlotte, explained: “You learn everything from scratch… many times it’s not that we lack the ability, it’s that we don’t know how to access opportunities.”
More representation, same challenges
Recent research at UNC Charlotte shows that Latino students in North Carolina face tensions between family expectations and academic demands. This can affect their sense of belonging and emotional well-being.
First-generation students often face structural barriers that impact their college trajectory. Among them, financial pressure is one of the most significant. Many work long hours, which reduces their access to tutoring, extracurricular activities and networking opportunities.
This raises a key question: not only who makes it to college, but also who graduates.
Latino students in the UNC system had a four-year graduation rate of about 54.2%, below white students (62.4%) and Asian students (66.4%), but above Black students (50.4%), according to recent institutional data.
What is needed to close the gap
For the growth of the Latino population in universities to translate into academic success and social mobility, experts point to several key areas.
Barbosa emphasized the importance of programs that connect students with professional opportunities.
“We need more workshops, more connections with employers and more information in Spanish for our families,” he said. “It’s not just about getting into college — it’s about knowing how to make the most of it.”
Likewise, culturally competent university services — from counseling to academic advising — can help close information and support gaps.
More Latino students and the urgency of supporting them
North Carolina is changing: there are more Latino students in both public and private universities, and more of them are first-generation students.
The challenge now is ensuring that this growth goes beyond numbers — that it translates into graduation, social mobility and family stability.
As Barbosa summed it up: “Getting to college is a huge achievement, but the real challenge is everything that comes after.”
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