Latino College Completion - Illinois

Overview

Nationally, Latino student enrollment and degree completion continues to increase. However, different patterns emerge within each state. For example, Latinos in Illinois graduate at a higher rate at four-year institutions than Latinos nationally. However, Illinois lags in Latinos’ degree completion and overall degree attainment.

To find out more, scroll below.

  

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

21%
Of Latino adults (25 and over) had earned an associate degree or higher
VS
48%
of White adults

Illinois Fast Facts

Illinois had the 6th largest Latino population in the U.S.

Latino Population

25%
K-12 Population
17%
Total Population

Median Age

29
Latinos
43
White

2-Year Graduation Rate

28%
Latino Students
38%
White Students

4-Year Graduation Rate

54%
Latino Students
68%
White Students

Degree Outcomes

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

At four-year institutions, Hispanics' graduation rate was 14%-points lower than that of their White non-Hispanic peers in Illinois.

Latino College Completion Degree Outcomes

Top Illinois Institutions

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

Rank Institution Sector Grand Total Hispanic Total % Hispanic
1 University of Illinois at Chicago Public, 4-year or above 20,783 6,967 34%
2 College of DuPage Public, 2-year 24,900 6,548 26%
3 City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College Public, 2-year 9,777 6,227 64%
4 College of Lake County Public, 2-year 14,193 5,966 42%
5 City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley College Public, 2-year 6,942 5,320 77%

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

Rank Institution Sector Grand Total Hispanic Total % Hispanic
1 City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College Public, 2-year 1,250 635 51%
2 City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College Public, 2-year 1,044 580 56%
3 College of DuPage Public, 2-year 2,324 448 19%
4 Moraine Valley Community College Public, 2-year 1,996 421 21%
5 College of Lake County Public, 2-year 1,414 405 29%

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

Rank Institution Sector Grand Total Hispanic Total % Hispanic
1 University of Illinois at Chicago Public, 4-year or above 4,002 1,099 27%
2 Chamberlain University-Illinois Private for-profit, 4-year or above 8,242 945 11%
3 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Public, 4-year or above 7,821 745 10%
4 DePaul University Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above 3,548 610 17%
5 Northern Illinois University Public, 4-year or above 3,408 543 16%

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.