Latino College Completion - Tennessee

Overview

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

To find out more, scroll below.

  

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

22%
Of Latino adults (25 and over) had earned an associate degree or higher
VS
36%
of White adults

Tennessee Fast Facts

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

Latino Population

9%
K-12 Population
6%
Total Population

Median Age

24
Latinos
42
White

2-Year Graduation Rate

29%
Latino Students
29%
White Students

4-Year Graduation Rate

56%
Latino Students
59%
White Students

Degree Outcomes

At two-year institutions, Hispanics' graduation rate was 0%-points lower than that of their White non-Hispanic peers in Tennessee.

At four-year institutions, Hispanics' graduation rate was 3%-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, 2018-2019

Rank Institution Sector Grand Total Hispanic Total % Hispanic
1 Middle Tennessee State University Public, 4-year or above 19,252 1,156 6%
2 The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Public, 4-year or above 22,815 998 4%
3 University of Memphis Public, 4-year or above 17,233 992 6%
4 Austin Peay State University Public, 4-year or above 9,871 751 8%
5 Vanderbilt University Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above 6,861 682 10%

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

Rank Institution Sector Grand Total Hispanic Total % Hispanic
1 Volunteer State Community College Public, 2-year 1,152 69 6%
2 Pellissippi State Community College Public, 2-year 1,458 68 5%
3 Motlow State Community College Public, 2-year 986 62 6%
4 Southwest Tennessee Community College Public, 2-year 1,024 62 6%
5 Chattanooga State Community College Public, 2-year 1,132 50 4%

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

Rank Institution Sector Grand Total Hispanic Total % Hispanic
1 Middle Tennessee State University Public, 4-year or above 3,975 168 4%
2 The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Public, 4-year or above 4,698 167 4%
3 Vanderbilt University Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above 1,716 147 9%
4 University of Memphis Public, 4-year or above 3,139 146 5%
5 Austin Peay State University Public, 4-year or above 1,604 97 6%

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.