Latino College Completion - California

Overview

Nationally, Latino student enrollment and degree completion continues to increase. However, different patterns emerge within each state. For example, California is home to the largest Latino population in the country. Latinos in California graduate from four-year institutions at a higher rate than Latinos nationally. However, California lags in Latinos’ degree completion and degree attainment.

To find out more, scroll below.

  

Degree Attainment for Latino Students (2017-2018), California

20%
Of Latino adults (25 and over) had earned an associate degree or higher
VS
54%
of White adults

California Fast Facts

California had the 1st largest Latino population in the U.S.

Latino Population

52%
K-12 Population
39%
Total Population

Median Age

30
Latinos
46
White

2-Year Graduation Rate

32%
Latino Students
41%
White Students

4-Year Graduation Rate

57%
Latino Students
67%
White Students

Degree Outcomes

At two-year institutions, Hispanics' graduation rate was 9%-points lower than that of their White non-Hispanic peers in California.

At four-year institutions, Hispanics' graduation rate was 10%-points lower than that of their White non-Hispanic peers in California.

Latino College Completion Degree Outcomes

Top California Institutions

Enrolling: Top Institutions (Hispanic Undergraduates) in California, 2018-2019

Rank Institution Sector Grand Total Hispanic Total % Hispanic
1 East Los Angeles College Public, 2-year 35,403 24,190 68%
2 Mt San Antonio College Public, 2-year 29,346 18,688 64%
3 California State University-Northridge Public, 4-year or above 35,051 17,308 49%
4 Bakersfield College Public, 4-year or above 24,589 17,046 69%
5 California State University-Los Angeles Public, 4-year or above 24,223 16,339 67%

Associates Degrees: Top Institutions Awarding to Hispanics in California, 2017-2018

Rank Institution Sector Grand Total Hispanic Total % Hispanic
1 Mt San Antonio College Public, 2-year 2,299 1,380 60%
2 Santa Ana College Public, 4-year or above 1,803 1,242 69%
3 East Los Angeles College Public, 2-year 1,657 1,232 74%
4 Pasadena City College Public, 2-year 2,850 1,224 43%
5 Cerritos College Public, 2-year 1,717 1,223 71%

Bachelors Degrees: Top Institutions Awarding to Hispanics in California, 2017-2018

Rank Institution Sector Grand Total Hispanic Total % Hispanic
1 California State University-Fullerton Public, 4-year or above 9,038 3,660 40%
2 California State University-Northridge Public, 4-year or above 8,806 3,573 41%
3 California State University-Long Beach Public, 4-year or above 8,615 3,417 40%
4 California State University-Los Angeles Public, 4-year or above 5,246 3,068 58%
5 San Diego State University Public, 4-year or above 7,784 2,514 32%

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.

US. Census Bureau, Projected Race and Hispanic Origin: Main Projections Series for the United States, 2017-2060.

United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. World Population Prospects: The 2019 Revision. (Medium variant). 

U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Estimates of the Resident Population by Hispanic Origin for the United States and States: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2018.

U.S. Census Bureau, 2018 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates.

U.S. Census Bureau, 2014-2018 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 

Excelencia in Education analysis using U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), 2018 Fall Enrollment, Graduation Rates Survey and Institutional Characteristics Survey.