Latino College Completion - Tennessee

Overview

Nationally, the gap in degree completion between Latinos and their White peers has increased. However, different patterns emerge within each state or location. To reach the Latino degree attainment goal by 2030, states can close the degree completion gap by accelerating Latino completion while increasing for all students and scale up programs and initiatives that work for Latino, and all, students.

To find out more, scroll below.

  

Degree Attainment for Latino Students (2021), Tennessee

26%
Of Latino adults (25 and over) had earned an associate degree or higher
VS
40%
of White adults

Tennessee Fast Facts

Tennessee had the 26th largest Latino population in the U.S.

Latino Population

10%
K-12 Population
6%
Total Population

Median Age

25
Latinos
42
White

2-Year Graduation Rate

31%
Latino Students
32%
White Students

4-Year Graduation Rate

58%
Latino Students
63%
White Students

Degree Outcomes

At two-year institutions, Hispanics' graduation rate was 1%-points lower than that of their White non-Hispanic peers in Tennessee.

At four-year institutions, Hispanics' graduation rate was 5%-points lower than that of their White non-Hispanic peers in Tennessee.

Latino College Completion Degree Outcomes

Top Tennessee Institutions

Enrolling: Top Institutions (Hispanic Undergraduates) in Tennessee, 2021-2022

Rank Institution Sector Grand Total Hispanic Total % Hispanic
1 Middle Tennessee State University Public, 4-year or above 17713 1412 8%
2 The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Public, 4-year or above 24957 1375 6%
3 University of Memphis Public, 4-year or above 14591 1195 8%
4 Vanderbilt University Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above 7104 758 11%
5 Austin Peay State University Public, 4-year or above 7490 721 10%

Associates Degrees: Top Institutions Awarding to Hispanics in Tennessee, 2020-2021

Rank Institution Sector Grand Total Hispanic Total % Hispanic
1 Austin Peay State University Public, 4-year or above 1301 133 10%
2 Nashville State Community College Public, 2-year 1025 101 10%
3 Motlow State Community College Public, 2-year 1112 96 9%
4 Pellissippi State Community College Public, 2-year 1599 88 6%
5 Volunteer State Community College Public, 2-year 1243 80 6%

Bachelors Degrees: Top Institutions Awarding to Hispanics in Tennessee, 2020-2021

Rank Institution Sector Grand Total Hispanic Total % Hispanic
1 Middle Tennessee State University Public, 4-year or above 3916 238 6%
2 The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Public, 4-year or above 5170 214 4%
3 University of Memphis Public, 4-year or above 3152 171 5%
4 Vanderbilt University Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above 1712 167 10%
5 Belmont University Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above 1536 109 7%

Examples of What Works for Latino Students

Here are some institutions showing success in enrolling, retaining, and graduating Latino students:

Sources

Excelencia in Education. (2020). Ensuring America’s Future: Benchmarking Latino College Completion to 2030. Excelencia in Education. Washington, D.C.

U.S. Census Bureau, 2021 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates.

Excelencia in Education Analysis using the U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), 2021 Fall Enrollment, Graduation Rates Survey and Institutional Characteristics Survey.

 

HSI Lists: 2022-23 graphic, including 600 HSIs, 412 eHSIs, and 252 gHSIs with "Learn more" Button