Higher education must prepare students for a changing workforce. As more jobs require postsecondary credentials, institutions and employers must intentionally prepare, connect, and invest in Latino, and all, college students to ensure they are equipped to meet the nation’s economic and civic needs. < Back Latinos and the Future Workforce Excelencia in Education March 2026 DOWNLOADS/LINKS Fact Sheet SHARE RESEARCH LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter) Copy link Overview Higher education has a responsibility to prepare students for a competitive and evolving workforce, yet gaps in access to quality education and career pathways persist. Latino students, the fastest-growing group of college-goers, are central to the nation’s workforce and economy. As more jobs require postsecondary credentials, institutions and employers must intentionally prepare, connect, and invest in Latino, and all, college students to ensure they are equipped to meet the nation’s economic and civic needs. In this fact sheet, we provide a summary of key trends on Latinos in the workforce and the role of institutions in advancing workforce success and economic mobility for Latino, and all, students. Key Trends Latino College Enrollment & Completion : Enrollment grew from 49% to 58%, and completion grew from 23% to 41% (2000–2023). Latinos’ Labor Force Participation : Highest among racial/ethnic groups (66%) and projected to account for 91% of new workers by 2031. Latino Representation in the Workforce: A third (34%) of Latinos were employed in manual labor occupations, while only 26% are in management or professional positions (2023). The Institutional Role in Workforce Preparation Institutions are designing academic pathways, partnerships, and data-informed strategies that advance workforce success and economic mobility. As many Latino students fit a post-traditional profile—often attending part-time, working while enrolled, and balancing family responsibilities—these efforts are essential to translating education into meaningful careers. Excelencia's fact sheet highlights four ways colleges and universities advance workforce success and economic mobility for Latino, and all, students: 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 Advancing Economic Mobility Through Education-to-Career Pathways Suggested Citation: Excelencia in Education. (2026). Latinos and the Future Workforce . Washington, D.C.: Excelencia in Education. Return to Research Library Related Research by Issue Area - Education Pathways Financial Aid Institutional Practices Student Success Workforce

James Hurley is President of Tarleton State University and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page Tarleton State University James Hurley President Institution website: https://www.tarleton.edu/ Bio Page: https://www.tarleton.edu/president/about-dr-hurley-2/ James Hurley is President of Tarleton State University and part of Excelencia in Action network.

Alisa White is President of Sam Houston State University and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page Sam Houston State University Alisa White President Institution website: https://www.shsu.edu/ Bio Page: https://www.shsu.edu/academics/mass-communication/faculty-staff/faculty-bios/alisa-white Alisa White is President of Sam Houston State University and part of Excelencia in Action network.

Excelencia in Education is committed to accelerating Latino college completion while increasing for all. Our analysis shows persistent gaps between Latino and White students in Kentucky, highlighting the need for strategies that accelerate Latino degree attainment and support success for all students. Latino College Completion - Kentucky Nationally, the gap in degree completion between Latinos and their White peers continues. To make our country stronger and meet the economy’s demand for a highly educated workforce, we must ensure access to quality higher education for Latino, and all, students. This requires accelerating Latino degree completion, increasing completion for all students, and scaling programs and initiatives proven to support Latino, and all, student success. The following demographics, institutional data, and practices inform Latino degree attainment. To find out more, scroll below. DOWNLOAD FACT SHEET Degree Attainment for Latino Students (2026) 29% Of Latino adults (25 and over) had earned an associate degree or higher VS 37% Of White adults Fast Facts Kentucky had the 37th largest Latino population in the U.S. Latino Population 8% K-12 Population 5% Total Population Enrollment 19% Latino Students 19% White Students Median Age 24 Latinos 41 White Median Income $32,147 Without a college degree $56,627 With a college degree Degree Outcomes At two-year institutions, Hispanics' graduation rate was 6%-points lower than that of their White non-Hispanic peers in Kentucky. At four-year institutions, Hispanics' graduation rate was 6%-points lower than that of their White non-Hispanic peers in Kentucky. Top Institutions Enrolling and Graduating Hispanic Undergraduates, 2026 Rank Institution Name Sector Total Enrollment Hispanic Enrollment % Hispanic Enrollment Total Completions Hispanic Completions % Hispanic Completions 1 University of Kentucky Public, 4-year or above 23,189 1,492 6% 5,238 302 6% 2 University of Louisville Public, 4-year or above 14,187 1,172 8% 2,932 166 6% 3 Jefferson Community and Technical College Public, 2-year 7,105 998 14% 1,235 80 6% 4 Bluegrass Community and Technical College Public, 2-year 7,713 838 11% 1,454 94 6% 5 Western Kentucky University Public, 4-year or above 12,267 731 6% 2,689 134 5% BACK TO MAIN LCC PAGE Examples of What Works for Latino, And All, Students Looking to know what works or connect with evidence-based programs recognized by Excelencia ? Our team can work with you to identify and connect with relevant programs making an impact on student success that can help you in your efforts to intentionally serve your Latino, and all, students. Click here to contact us . Sources U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates. Excelencia in Education analysis using U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), 2023 Fall Enrollment, Graduation Rates Survey, and Institutional Characteristics Survey.

This publication synthesizes national data and perspectives of Latino students on how they and their families view college affordability and opportunity. < Back Voces: A Profile of Today's Latino College Students Deborah A. Santiago November 2007 DOWNLOADS/LINKS Publication SHARE RESEARCH LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter) Copy link Overview This publication provides a synthesis of national data and the perspectives of Latino students amongst all, speaking in their own voices about how they and their families view college affordability and opportunity. This brief is part of Excelencia's Higher Education's Capacity and Affordability for Latino Students project supported by Lumina and offers policy makers and institutional leaders new information to better serve this generation of Latino college goers. Return to Research Library Related Research by Issue Area - Education Pathways Financial Aid Institutional Practices Student Success Workforce

Privacy Policy This privacy notice discloses the privacy practices for www.EdExcelencia.org . This privacy notice applies solely to information collected by this website. It will notify you of the following: What personally identifiable information is collected from you through the website, how it is used and with whom it may be shared. What choices are available to you regarding the use of your data. The security procedures in place to protect the misuse of your information. How you can correct any inaccuracies in the information. Information Collection, Use, and Sharing We are the sole owners of the information collected on this site. We only have access to/collect information that you voluntarily give us via email or other direct contact from you. We will not sell or rent this information to anyone. We will use your information to respond to you, regarding the reason you contacted us. We will not share your information with any third party outside of our organization, other than as necessary to fulfill your request, e.g. follow up for an event you have registered for. Unless you ask us not to, we may contact you via email in the future to tell you about specials, new products or services, or changes to this privacy policy. Your Access to and Control Over Information You may opt out of any future contacts from us at any time. You can do the following at any time by contacting us via the email address or phone number given on our website: See what data we have about you, if any. Change/correct any data we have about you. Have us delete any data we have about you. Express any concern you have about our use of your data. Security We take precautions to protect your information. When you submit sensitive information via the website, your information is protected both online and offline. Wherever we collect sensitive information (such as credit card data), that information is encrypted and transmitted to us in a secure way. You can verify this by looking for a lock icon in the address bar and looking for "https" at the beginning of the address of the Web page. While we use encryption to protect sensitive information transmitted online, we also protect your information offline. Only employees who need the information to perform a specific job (for example, billing or customer service) are granted access to personally identifiable information. The computers/servers in which we store personally identifiable information are kept in a secure environment. Cookies We use "cookies" on this site. A cookie is a piece of data stored on a site visitor's hard drive to help us improve your access to our site and identify repeat visitors to our site. For instance, when we use a cookie to identify you, you would not have to log in a password more than once, thereby saving time while on our site. Cookies can also enable us to track and target the interests of our users to enhance the experience on our site. Usage of a cookie is in no way linked to any personally identifiable information on our site. Links This website contains links to other sites. Please be aware that we are not responsible for the content or privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage our users to be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy statements of any other site that collects personally identifiable information. If you feel that we are not abiding by this privacy policy, you should contact us immediately via telephone at 202-785-7350 or via email at Contact@EdExcelencia.org

This report highlights our impact and shared commitment to transforming higher education for Latinos in ways that benefit all students, communities, and our country. Annual Impact Report DOWNLOAD 2025 Last year was marked by significant change for higher education. Excelencia in Education led through this pivotal moment — responding to and strategizing with institutions navigating our evolving national landscape. Our community of practice continued to shape a future of accountability within higher education to provide value for every student and ensure America’s future. Our 2025 Impact Report captures the progress we made last year, including: Centering post-traditional student and institutional leadership voices in new research on financial aid and college affordability; Elevating evidence-based practices increasing student success through the 2025 Examples of Excelencia ; Expanding the Excelencia in Action network, deepening our collaboration with hundreds of colleges and universities to tap the talents of the Latino community amongst all; Supporting Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) amid the elimination of their federal funding; Strengthening our affiliates’ capacity to intentionally serve Latino, and all, students and bridge their internal growth with external proof of impact; and Certifying and recertifying more colleges and universities with the Seal of Excelencia for demonstrating continuous improvement in student outcomes. This report speaks to the breadth of our impact and the depth of commitment from those who share our belief that innovating in higher education beginning with Latinos — who represent the post-traditional student majority that institutions must serve — supports transformation that benefits all students, communities, and our country. Thank you to Excelencia’s partners and supporters who helped make 2025 a year of meaningful impact as we continue advancing Latino, and all, student success in 2026.

Matt Cuozzo serves as Interim Chief Program & Innovation Officer of Excelencia in Education. < Back to Our People Page Matt Cuozzo Interim Chief Program & Innovation Officer Excelencia in Education Email: mcuozzo@EdExcelencia.org Past Experiences: I began my career as a college success program coach serving low-income and first-generation students. This led me to pursue a graduate degree in Higher Education, where I studied the systemic barriers and opportunities for equity in higher education. During that time, I interned for Excelencia , contributing to our work on College Completion through a Latino Lens. Most recently I worked at a community college implementing models of academic support, peer mentorship, engagement, and personal growth for 650+ students yearly, both dual enrollment high school students and college scholarship recipients. Why are you bringing your talent to Excelencia ? I am committed to a future that prioritizes and recognizes the strengths of Black and Brown students. While I have significant experience serving students directly, I have the opportunity in my current role to contribute to a broader awareness and help build coalitions in ways that empower Latino students and communities. In everything I do, I try to help advance racial equity on a national scale. How would you describe working at Excelencia ? Excelencia ’s power is its people. We know that the community we serve always comes first. Whether we’re collaborating to develop an innovative approach to help institutions transform, or whether we’re playing lotería during a team holiday party, we uplift, challenge, and inspire one other.

Excelencia in Education is committed to accelerating Latino college completion while increasing for all. Our analysis shows persistent gaps between Latino and White students in Idaho, highlighting the need for strategies that accelerate Latino degree attainment and support success for all students. Latino College Completion - Idaho Nationally, the gap in degree completion between Latinos and their White peers continues. To make our country stronger and meet the economy’s demand for a highly educated workforce, we must ensure access to quality higher education for Latino, and all, students. This requires accelerating Latino degree completion, increasing completion for all students, and scaling programs and initiatives proven to support Latino, and all, student success. The following demographics, institutional data, and practices inform Latino degree attainment. To find out more, scroll below. DOWNLOAD FACT SHEET Degree Attainment for Latino Students (2026) 24% Of Latino adults (25 and over) had earned an associate degree or higher VS 44% Of White adults Fast Facts Idaho had the 34th largest Latino population in the U.S. Latino Population 19% K-12 Population 14% Total Population Enrollment 21% Latino Students 21% White Students Median Age 26 Latinos 40 White Median Income $37,151 Without a college degree $58,987 With a college degree Degree Outcomes At two-year institutions, Hispanics' graduation rate was equal to that of their White non-Hispanic peers in Idaho. At four-year institutions, Hispanics' graduation rate was 11%-points lower than that of their White non-Hispanic peers in Idaho. Top Institutions Enrolling and Graduating Hispanic Undergraduates, 2026 Rank Institution Name Sector Total Enrollment Hispanic Enrollment % Hispanic Enrollment Total Completions Hispanic Completions % Hispanic Completions 1 Brigham Young University-Idaho Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above 42,090 7,802 19% 8,589 1,197 14% 2 Boise State University Public, 4-year or above 17,081 2,590 15% 4,058 580 14% 3 College of Western Idaho Public, 2-year 5,898 1,264 21% 991 162 16% 4 Idaho State University Public, 4-year or above 7,260 1,113 15% 1,640 194 12% 5 College of Southern Idaho Public, 4-year or above 3,476 1,008 29% 991 244 25% BACK TO MAIN LCC PAGE Examples of What Works for Latino, And All, Students Looking to know what works or connect with evidence-based programs recognized by Excelencia ? Our team can work with you to identify and connect with relevant programs making an impact on student success that can help you in your efforts to intentionally serve your Latino, and all, students. Click here to contact us . Sources U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates. Excelencia in Education analysis using U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), 2023 Fall Enrollment, Graduation Rates Survey, and Institutional Characteristics Survey.

** is President of Weber State University and part of Excelencia in Action network.  < Back to E-Action Main Page Weber State University ** President Institution website: https://www.weber.edu/ Bio Page: https://www.weber.edu/PresidentsOffice ** is President of Weber State University and part of Excelencia in Action network.

Glena Temple is President of Dominican University and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page Dominican University Glena Temple President Institution website: https://www.dom.edu/ Bio Page: https://www.dom.edu/about-dominican/office-president Glena Temple is President of Dominican University and part of Excelencia in Action network.

Excelencia in Education is committed to accelerating Latino college completion while increasing for all. Our analysis shows persistent gaps between Latino and White students in Maine, highlighting the need for strategies that accelerate Latino degree attainment and support success for all students. Latino College Completion - Maine Nationally, the gap in degree completion between Latinos and their White peers continues. To make our country stronger and meet the economy’s demand for a highly educated workforce, we must ensure access to quality higher education for Latino, and all, students. This requires accelerating Latino degree completion, increasing completion for all students, and scaling programs and initiatives proven to support Latino, and all, student success. The following demographics, institutional data, and practices inform Latino degree attainment. To find out more, scroll below. DOWNLOAD FACT SHEET Degree Attainment for Latino Students (2026) 54% Of Latino adults (25 and over) had earned an associate degree or higher VS 48% Of White adults Fast Facts Maine had the 49th largest Latino population in the U.S. Latino Population 3% K-12 Population 2% Total Population Enrollment 39% Latino Students 21% White Students Median Age 33 Latinos 46 White Median Income $38,411 Without a college degree $57,908 With a college degree Degree Outcomes At two-year institutions, Hispanics' graduation rate was 8%-points lower than that of their White non-Hispanic peers in Maine. At four-year institutions, Hispanics' graduation rate was 8%-points lower than that of their White non-Hispanic peers in Maine. Top Institutions Enrolling and Graduating Hispanic Undergraduates, 2026 Rank Institution Name Sector Total Enrollment Hispanic Enrollment % Hispanic Enrollment Total Completions Hispanic Completions % Hispanic Completions 1 Unity Environmental University Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above 5,619 699 12% 225 14 6% 2 University of Maine Public, 4-year or above 8,341 393 5% 1,833 82 4% 3 Southern Maine Community College Public, 2-year 5,279 253 5% 684 17 2% 4 Bowdoin College Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above 1,846 248 13% 480 59 12% 5 University of Southern Maine Public, 4-year or above 4,245 193 5% 934 32 3% BACK TO MAIN LCC PAGE Examples of What Works for Latino, And All, Students Looking to know what works or connect with evidence-based programs recognized by Excelencia ? Our team can work with you to identify and connect with relevant programs making an impact on student success that can help you in your efforts to intentionally serve your Latino, and all, students. Click here to contact us . Sources U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates. Excelencia in Education analysis using U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), 2023 Fall Enrollment, Graduation Rates Survey, and Institutional Characteristics Survey.