Hispanic educational attainment: The effects of family background and nativity

We first examine the degree to which foreign birth explains the lower educational attainment of Mexicans and Puerto Ricans compared to whites. Although foreign birth is a partial explanation of group differences, family structure and parental education are more important explanatory variables. However, when we consider how the effects of nativity vary across Hispanic groups, we find that while U.S.-born Mexicans have higher educational attainment than foreign-born Mexicans, U.S.-born Puerto Ricans are no better off than foreign-born Puerto Ricans. We also find heterogeneity in the educational experiences of U.S.-born Mexicans. Those with foreign-born parents have higher educational attainment than those with U.S.-born parents.