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.
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 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 student success: 1) workforce, 2) institutional capacity, 3) college affordability, and 4) retention and transfer.
Research Library
Excelencia in Education accelerates Latino student success in higher education 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.
Latinos in Higher Education: Compilation of Fast Facts
April 2019
Excelencia in Education accelerates Latino student success in higher education to address the U.S. economy’s need for a highly educated workforce for civic leadership. Policy must keep up with our country’s changing demographics to serve students.
How Latinos Pay for College Fact Sheet
April 2019
Latino students make pragmatic choices to finance their college education. In this factsheet, Excelencia provides an updated summary of how Latinos pay for college to better inform financial aid policy to ensure Latino college access, retention, and success.
Examining Life Outcomes Among Graduates of Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs)
September 2018
Excelencia in Education partnered with the Strada Education Network and Gallup to examine the role of HSIs since they enroll 65% of all Latino college students. Results from the study are based on 12 HSIs from our Excelencia in Action network.