This study examined the academic, social and economic challenges faced by Latino students to attain a college degree. In addition, of prime importance was the need for improvement and persistence, which led to retention in college enrollment rates for Latino students both at the secondary and postsecondary levels. Findings from this study indicated that college Latino students experienced cultural barriers when they arrived in the United States, specifically in schools they attended, communities where they lived and places visited. Seventeen Latino participants from one community college from various subgroups were interviewed by responding to a series of open-ended questions regarding their perceptions of the challenges faced by college Latino students from completing higher education. The participants' responses were reported verbatim, including their nonverbal cues. The study used a qualitative method to collect the data. The respondents were audio taped during their participation in this research. All interviews were transcribed preceding their analysis. All information that they provided was confidential, and the results of the interviews were used for analysis purposes only. The participants' responses were typed verbatim in a vertical cell. This study contributes to the body of literature regarding barriers faced by college Latino students to attain higher education. In addition, the study provides recommendation to education administrators, policy makers, the Latino community and researchers. Role models are needed on college campus to support the Latino students in their college education attainment. Furthermore, Latino parents need to attend seminars and workshops pertaining to college enrollment, financial aid, college tuition and scholarships that may be available to prospective college Latino students. In addition, further research needs to be conducted by interviewing mainstream and bilingual counselors at community colleges to determine their views on the motivation of Latino students to complete a college degree program and the challenges they face. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]