A Pew Research Center study finds Hispanic and black parents are much more likely than white parents to emphasize a college degree in helping their children get ahead.

Researchers found 86 percent of Hispanic parents with children under 18 admit they still feel education is important, while 79 percent of all black parents agree, compared to just 67 percent of white parents. Data also concludes the gaps between the groups could be largely attributed to differing views about the significance of a college degree in moving up the economic ladder.

Half of Hispanics Still Believe College Degree Needed to Move Into Middle-Class

Nearly half of all Hispanics surveyed responded they believe it is essential to have a college degree to move into the middle class, as do 43 percent of all blacks. By comparison, just 22 percent of whites answered in the same way.

Another factor accounting for the difference of opinion could stem from the fact that white respondents were more likely to be considered middle class and so would not emphasize college education as a means to a more stable economic future for themselves.

Over the last 20 years, research shows college enrollment has significantly increased among Hispanics, with overall enrollment figures among Latinos between ages 18 and 24 rising to as high as 2.3 million students by 2014. Among blacks in the same age group, the numbers rose to 1.5 million students over that same period.

Around that same time, the overall number of Hispanics graduating from college also hit a new high, though the group still lagged behind several other groups in that category.

Among adults ages 25 to 29, 63 percent of Asians, 41 percent of whites, 22 percent of blacks and 15 percent of Hispanics had earned at least a bachelor's degree in 2014.

Minority Students Hardest hit by Student Debt Crisis

Meanwhile, a recent Washington Center for Equitable Growth study also found Latino and African-American students have been the hardest hit by the ongoing student debt crisis, despite typically taking on lesser levels of debt than other students.

The new data is consistent with the findings of an earlier study conducted by the organization that concluded such marginalized communities have been by far the most impacted by the debt crisis.

In addition, researchers found middle-class minorities are the population most hurt by student loan delinquency.

"This debt is a drag on our economy overall, but these maps show us how much it is affecting local communities, especially communities of color, who must finance their education with debt," Maggie Thompson, the executive director of Generation Progress, said in a statement.

Despite the hardship commonly associated with paying for college, Latin Post recently reported a Gallup-Lumina Foundation poll found the majority of Hispanics in the U.S. still feel college is an affordable endeavor.

Researchers found 51 percent of Hispanics still think "education beyond high school is affordable" to anyone.

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