Post-Completion Success: How Leading HSIs Are Transforming Career Readiness
Alexia Carrillo Villalobos, Emily Labandera, Deborah A. Santiago
January 2026
Overview
Higher education is a key determinant of upward economic and social mobility–the ability for students to access higher-paying jobs, increase lifetime earnings, and maximize the return on their educational journey. Yet significant gaps remain in ensuring access to quality education and career pathways for all. Latino students are one of the fastest-growing groups of college-goers and the future of our workforce. To support their success, we must be intentional about connecting them to the opportunities they need to reach their full potential and thrive.
Given the significant role Latinos play in the workforce, addressing educational disparities requires intentional action within higher education. Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) are essential in strengthening academic quality, expanding access, and building institutional capacity to close attainment gaps. Through innovative programs, strategic partnerships, and data-driven practices, HSIs–like those highlighted in this brief are going beyond preparing their students for graduation to long-term career success. By aligning academic pathways with workforce demands and fostering an inclusive learning environment for all students, HSIs are transforming higher education’s role in driving economic mobility and workforce development.
Findings
Excelencia in Education’s latest brief highlights the evidence-based practices of seven HSIs that have demonstrated strong commitment to workforce preparation, career readiness, and fostering environments where Latino, and all, students can thrive.
Excelencia in Education identified three key post-completion strategies informed by what we’ve learned from engaging with institutions and leaders in our network. These strategies include:
Preparing Students for Workforce Success by Embedding Career Development into Academics
Linking Students to Workforce Opportunities Through Partnerships and Experiential Learning
Measuring and Tracking Outcomes to Drive Data-Informed Workforce Preparation
Additional Documents:
Suggested Citation:
Carrillo Villalobos, A., Labandera, E., & Santiago, D. (January 2026). Post-Completion Success: How Leading HSIs Are Transforming Career Readiness. Washington, D.C.: Excelencia in Education.
