Research and Policy
Since 2004, Excelencia has been the national leader in developing strategic research guided by the experiences and realities of today's Latino and other post-traditional students to inform action by community and institutional leaders and policy makers that facilitates institutional change for student success in higher education.
Excelencia uses a Latino lens to bring to the forefront what we know about Latino student success, what works to improve it, and what decision makers can do.
Excelencia in Education’s Policy Priorities: 2025
Now is a pivotal moment for our country, our students, and our institutions of higher education. Higher education remains a key driver of economic growth, civic engagement, and social mobility. For Latino students—and all students—to achieve economic prosperity, institutional, state, and federal policies must center on their realities: their needs, educational pathways, and contributions to the country’s workforce and economy.
Excelencia’s policy agenda advocates for accelerating Latino student success while increasing all student success to close gaps in degree attainment based on the current profile of Latinos in higher education. Four policy issues were continually raised among leading institutions committed to supporting Latino, and all, student success: 1) workforce, 2) institutional capacity, 3) college affordability, and 4) retention and transfer.
Applying a Latino lens to higher education policy and practice
Excelencia’s community understands and addresses contemporary higher education issues using a Latino lens. Read the latest perspectives on policies and practices impacting Latino, and all, student success from across the Excelencia network.
Research Library
Excelencia in Education accelerates Latino student success in higher education while increasing all student success by promoting Latino student achievement and informing educational policies with a Latino lens. Since the organization’s founding, Excelencia has been the leading information source on Latinos in higher education, making our research and policy priorities available for the public to inform and compel action on Latino enrollment, completion, and workforce nationally.
Find information on Latinos and education pathways, financial aid, institutional practices, student success, workforce, HSI related research, and more.
Refine your search of Excelencia’s research by using the filters on the right.
How Institutions Can Use AI to Intentionally Serve Latino, and All, Students
March 2026
Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping how institutions design pathways to opportunity, conduct research, and deliver student support. As the youngest and fastest growing, and increasingly AI-engaged population, institutions can use AI responsibly and intentionally to improve education for Latino, and all, students.
Latinos and the Future Workforce
March 2026
Higher education has a responsibility to prepare students for a competitive, evolving workforce, yet gaps in access to quality education and career pathways persist. Latino students, the fastest-growing college-going group, are central to the nation’s economy. As more jobs require postsecondary credentials, institutions and employers must intentionally prepare, connect, and invest in Latino, and all, students to meet the nation's economic and civic needs.
Latinos in Teaching and Learning
March 2026
Excellence in teaching directly impacts persistence, graduation, and post-completion outcomes for the post-traditional majority of students. Latinos represent a majority of these students–often balancing work, family, and financial responsibilities as they persist along their educational pathway. Investing in evidence-based teaching techniques, inclusive learning environments, and structured academic support prepares students with the skills and knowledge to succeed and compete in the workforce.
Finding Your Workforce: Linking College Completion with U.S. Workforce Needs in Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM)
March 2026
Latino talent is vital to our workforce—particularly in science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics (STEAM), where innovation and creativity converge to drive economic growth. As artificial intelligence (AI) accelerates changes across industries, the future of work will rely on an interdisciplinary workforce that pairs technical expertise with uniquely human capabilities like creativity and collaboration. Integrating the arts into STEM is essential for national competitiveness; however, Latinos remain significantly underrepresented in these high-wage, high-growth sectors.
Finding Your Workforce: The Top 25 Institutions Graduating Latinos in STEAM Across all Degree Levels
March 2026
Latino talent is vital to our workforce—particularly in science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics (STEAM), where innovation and creativity converge to drive economic growth. This is a summary analysis and list of the top 25 institutions graduating Latino students in STEAM across science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics.