Latino College Completion - Florida

Overview

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

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

35%
Of Latino adults (25 and over) had earned an associate degree or higher
VS
44%
of White adults

Florida Fast Facts

Florida had the 3rd largest Latino population in the U.S.

Latino Population

32%
K-12 Population
26%
Total Population

Median Age

36
Latinos
50
White

2-Year Graduation Rate

60%
Latino Students
64%
White Students

4-Year Graduation Rate

49%
Latino Students
56%
White Students

Degree Outcomes

At two-year institutions, Hispanics' graduation rate was 4%-points lower than that of their White non-Hispanic peers in Florida.

At four-year institutions, Hispanics' graduation rate was 7%-points lower than that of their White non-Hispanic peers in Florida.

Latino College Completion Degree Outcomes

Top Florida Institutions

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

Rank Institution Sector Grand Total Hispanic Total % Hispanic
1 Miami Dade College Public, 4-year or above 54,973 38,213 70%
2 Florida International University Public, 4-year or above 48,818 32,877 67%
3 Valencia College Public, 4-year or above 46,521 16,327 35%
4 University of Central Florida Public, 4-year or above 58,821 16,169 27%
5 Broward College Public, 4-year or above 40,784 14,976 37%

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

Rank Institution Sector Grand Total Hispanic Total % Hispanic
1 Miami Dade College Public, 4-year or above 9,594 6,670 70%
2 Valencia College Public, 4-year or above 7,864 2,574 33%
3 Broward College Public, 4-year or above 6,492 2,256 35%
4 Palm Beach State College Public, 4-year or above 4,211 1,189 28%
5 Hillsborough Community College Public, 2-year 3,894 1,051 27%

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

Rank Institution Sector Grand Total Hispanic Total % Hispanic
1 Florida International University Public, 4-year or above 10,261 6,764 66%
2 University of Central Florida Public, 4-year or above 13,127 3,145 24%
3 University of Florida Public, 4-year or above 8,295 1,787 22%
4 Florida State University Public, 4-year or above 8,627 1,691 20%
5 University of South Florida-Main Campus Public, 4-year or above 8,079 1,554 19%

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.