Ensuring America’s Future: Latino College Completion 2023
Increasing Latino college completion is key to future prosperity
Excelencia in Education remains committed to ensuring America’s future by increasing Latino college completion. Excelencia’s most recent analysis of public data on enrollment, degree completion, and degree attainment shows that degree completion gaps have increased between Latino students and their White peers. To close the gap in degree completion, the United States requires a tactical plan to reach the Latino degree attainment goal of 6.2 million degrees earned by 2030. This plan must include strategies to help Latinos accelerate degree completion while supporting increased attainment for all students.
Our Tactical Plan for Latino Student Success
How does Excelencia advance Latino student success in higher education?
HSI Lists: 2023-24
What is included in Excelencia’s release and how can I learn more using this analysis?
Seal of Excelencia Certified Institutions
In 2025, five institutions earned the Seal of Excelencia, five earned recertification, and eight were recognized with the new Intentionally Thriving Institution certification, recognizing their continuing journey to intentionally serve Latino, and all, students, and emphasizing their impact in preparing students for and connecting them to the workforce. These 18 institutions belong to a community of 48 trendsetting colleges and universities that have earned the Seal by demonstrating intentionality and impact in serving Latino, and all, students through data, practice, and leadership.
2025 Examples of Excelencia Announced
After a rigorous review process, four programs are recognized as national exemplars of evidence-based practices that improve student success in higher education. Learn about the 2025 Examples:
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General Motors Automotive Service Education Program (GM ASEP), Cerritos College - Norwalk, CA (Associate Level)
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ÁNDALE Latino Research Training Program, California State University, Long Beach - Long Beach, CA (Baccalaureate Level)
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Crossing Latinidades Humanities Research Initiative, University of Illinois Chicago - Chicago, IL (Graduate Level)
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Avanza RGV, Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement (VIDA) - Mercedes, TX (CBO Level)
Learn more about the 2025 Examples of Excelencia.
Latest from Excelencia
Stay informed with the latest research and analysis from Excelencia.
College Affordability: Insights and Solutions from Texas Students and Postsecondary Leaders
This brief builds on 20 years of Excelencia in Education’s research on Latino students and college affordability, incorporating insights from Texas policy, institutional leaders, and student experiences. It provides timely information on:
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How Latino students in Texas make cost-conscious decisions and use financial aid to pay for college.
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How forward-thinking Texas institutions are working to make college more affordable for Latino, and all, students.
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How policy in Texas influences institutional practices and student access, and how it can further improve college affordability and student success.
Expand Your Knowledge with Excelencia
How does intentionally SERVING Latino students benefit our society?
Latinos are a young, fast-growing population, yet degree completion gaps have increased between Latinos and their White peers. Excelencia’s analysis shows that closing the gap in degree completion by accelerating Latino student success will strengthen America’s workforce and civic leadership.
How can we inform educational practice and policy to facilitate positive change on behalf of Latino students?
Excelencia’s research provides a basis of information on the status of Latino students in higher education from which to compel positive action by institutional leaders and measure progress toward accelerating Latino student success.
From Latino enrollment and workforce participation, to how Latino students pay for college, to mapping Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), this research informs and compels action.
What works to improve Latino degree attainment and how can we expand these practices?
In 2005, we initiated Examples of Excelencia — the only national effort to recognize and promote evidence-based practices promoting Latino student success. We have celebrated over 350 programs making a difference, all of which are featured in our Growing What Works Database.
How does Excelencia catalyze institutional transformation that produces meaningful results for Latino students?
In addition to building the Excelencia in Action network, our technical assistance opportunities and Seal of Excelencia certification support and reinforce institutional capacity to intentionally SERVE Latino students using comprehensive strategies that align data, practice, and leadership.
What are Excelencia’s policy priorities for supporting Latino student success in higher education?
Excelencia focuses on four policy priorities: affordability, institutional capacity, retention, and workforce preparation for closing gaps in degree attainment and increasing educational and economic opportunity for Latino and post-traditional students in higher education.