Rosemary Costigan is President of Community College of Rhode Island and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page Community College of Rhode Island Rosemary Costigan President Institution website: https://www.ccri.edu/ Bio Page: https://www.ccri.edu/president/bio.html Rosemary Costigan is President of Community College of Rhode Island and part of Excelencia in Action network.

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< Back to News Page More Latino Students Apply for Financial Aid to Access College, Yet They Receive the Lowest Average Awards Mar 27, 2025 Contact: Media@EdExcelencia.org DOWNLOAD PRESS RELEASE Excelencia in Education Brief Highlights How Latinos Pay for College and Trendsetting Institutions Making Degrees More Affordable WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 27, 2025) – Excelencia in Education, the premier authority on accelerating Latino student success , while increasing all student success in higher education, released today a brief detailing how Latinos use financial aid to pay for college and ways that institutions intentionally serving them ensure a degree is affordable. The brief shows Latinos are more likely to apply for and receive financial aid than other groups, yet they receive the lowest average amount of aid. It then identifies concrete examples of how institutions financially support Latino, and all, students, including institutional aid, paid internships/on-campus employment, and robust advising services. The brief, “ How Latinos Pay for College: 2025 National Trends , ” comes in the wake of executive actions that are impacting higher education broadly, including financial aid. It reveals that 85% of Latino students applied for and 71% received financial aid, according to the most recent data from the National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS) in 2019-20. This represents the largest proportion of financial aid participation among any group except for African American students. Latinos are also more than twice as likely to receive grants (67%) than loans (27%) to pay for college. Despite demonstrating high financial need, Latinos received the lowest average amount of aid — just over $11,000, compared to almost $13,000 for all students. This is explained in part by Latinos’ pragmatic choices to access college despite a complicated financial aid system. Latino students who attended less costly community colleges (40%), worked 30+ hours per week (56%), enrolled exclusively part-time (28%), or chose to live off-campus and/or with their parents (89%) were less likely to receive federal financial aid, the most important source of aid for them to pay for college. “As the youngest, fastest-growing population in the U.S., Latinos’ increasing representation in colleges and universities provides unique opportunities for social mobility and economic growth,” said Deborah Santiago, co-founder and CEO of Excelencia . “Financial aid is critical to supporting Latino, and all, students’ access to higher education. Our brief makes this clear and informs what institutions and policymakers can do to make financial aid more effective for our students and ensure access to quality, affordable education.” In addition to detailing how Latinos finance their education, the brief identifies six practices increasing access and financially supporting Latino, and all, students at trendsetting colleges and universities that have earned the Seal of Excelencia — a national certification for institutions that strive to go beyond enrollment to intentionally serve Latinos: Align institutional aid to provide funds to mitigate students’ unexpected financial challenges. Offer paid internships or on-campus employment opportunities so that Latino students can offset the cost of their degree while simultaneously gaining transferable skills. Provide support services to help students make informed decisions about their college costs. Contain student costs by offering OER (Open Educational Resources) for courses. Advance full tuition scholarships to students with family incomes at or below a specific financial level. Facilitate and simplify access to aid by managing joint admissions and financial aid applications between two-year and four-year college partners. Findings from the brief inform Excelencia’s policy recommendations for college affordability. At the federal level, recommendations include making basic needs a part of financial aid calculations and prioritizing Pell Grants. At the state level, recommendations include investing in guaranteed tuition plans by family income and mandating FAFSA completion. “How Latinos Pay for College: 2025 National Trends” was made possible with support from Lumina Foundation. Access the full brief: EdExcelencia.org/research/publications/how-latinos-pay-for-college-2025-national-trends About Excelencia in Education Excelencia in Education leads a national network of results-oriented educators and policymakers transforming higher education to tap the talents of the Latino community and address the U.S. economy’s needs for a highly educated workforce and engaged civic leaders. With this network, Excelencia ensures access to excellence by promoting student achievement, informing educational policies, and advancing evidence-based practices to more intentionally serve Latino, and all, students. For more information, visit: EdExcelencia.org

David A. Tandberg is President of Adams State University and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page Adams State University David A. Tandberg President Institution website: https://www.adams.edu/ Bio Page: https://www.adams.edu/president/ David A. Tandberg is President of Adams State University and part of Excelencia in Action network.

Philomena V. Mantella is President of Grand Valley State University and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page Grand Valley State University Philomena V. Mantella President Institution website: https://www.gvsu.edu/ Bio Page: https://www.gvsu.edu/president/ Philomena V. Mantella is President of Grand Valley State University and part of Excelencia in Action network. Seal of Excelencia Intentionally Thriving Institution: 2025-2028 Grand Valley State University (GVSU), a public liberal arts university in West Michigan, serves over 19,000 undergraduates, with less than 10% identifying as Latino.

Stacy Pfluger is President of Bakersfield College and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page Bakersfield College Stacy Pfluger President Institution website: https://www.bakersfieldcollege.edu/index.html Bio Page: https://www.bakersfieldcollege.edu/directory/stacy_pfluger.html Stacy Pfluger is President of Bakersfield College and part of Excelencia in Action network.

Federal financial aid is key to higher education access and success for many students, including most Latinos, but current realities challenge its effectiveness. < Back Using a Latino Lens to Reimagine Aid Design and Delivery Deborah A. Santiago March 2013 DOWNLOADS/LINKS Publication Executive Summary SHARE RESEARCH LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter) Copy link Overview Federal financial aid is critical to student access and success in postsecondary education for many students, including most Latinos. However, current realities are challenging the effectiveness of federal financial aid policy today. This white paper uses a Latino lens to articulate challenges and opportunities for financial aid policy using both public data and input by students, institutional partners, and other stakeholders. The Latino lens is not intended to exclude consideration of other groups. Instead it offers a contemporary lens to more accurately see America’s student population and provides a fresh perspective on financial aid policy using the profile of this young and growing population as the baseline, rather than the footnote, to define the post-traditional student. Return to Research Library Related Research by Issue Area - Education Pathways Financial Aid Institutional Practices Student Success Workforce

This brief examines the profile of Latino students at the most selective institutions and reviews the institutional efforts at four universities in California. < Back From Selectivity to Success: Latinos at Selective Institutions Deborah A. Santiago ; Morgan Taylor; Emily Calderón Galdeano May 2016 DOWNLOADS/LINKS Publication Executive Summary SHARE RESEARCH LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter) Copy link Overview The most selective institutions of higher education are recognized by their competitive admissions, low admittance rates, high cost to attend, and the prestige garnered from achievements of their alumni. Latinos’ graduation rates at the most selective institutions of higher education are higher than at less selective institutions. Yet, only 12 percent of Latinos are enrolled at these institutions. At a time when more attention is given to the benefits of attending a selective institution and these institutions look to increase the diversity of their student body, it is critical to look at how they contribute to Latino, and all, student success. From Selectivity to Success: Latinos at Selective Institutions examines the profile of Latino students at the most selective institutions and reviews the institutional efforts at four universities in California to frame a better understanding of factors that might explicitly and intentionally support Latino, and all, student success. The research and analysis for this brief were supported by the Gilbert & Jacki Cisneros Foundation. CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FULL CAPITOL HILL BRIEFING Please allow a few seconds for loading of interactive infographic. Click button below to download the infographic as a PDF. Infographic - PDF - From Selectivity to Success- Latinos at Selective Institutions .pdf Download PDF • 477KB Return to Research Library Related Research by Issue Area - Education Pathways Financial Aid Institutional Practices Student Success Workforce

Veronique V. Tran is President of Gateway Technical College and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page Gateway Technical College Veronique V. Tran President Institution website: https://www.gtc.edu/ Bio Page: https://www.gtc.edu/about-gateway/college-leadership/dr-veronique-v-tran-biography Veronique V. Tran is President of Gateway Technical College and part of Excelencia in Action network.

This brief identifies the top institutions graduating and preparing Latinos in health, and highlights evidence-based practices to increase Latino student success. < Back Finding Your Workforce: Latino Talent in Health Excelencia in Education March 2024 DOWNLOADS/LINKS Publication SHARE RESEARCH LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter) Copy link Overview For 20 years, Excelencia in Education has served its mission to accelerate Latino student success while increasing all student success in higher education in order to address the country’s need for a highly educated workforce and civic leadership. Finding Your Workforce: Latino Talent in Health represents the latest extension of Excelencia’s hallmark work of bringing national attention to higher education institutions and practices advancing Latino talent, strengthening our economy, and ensuring America’s future. Healthcare occupations are projected to increase over the next decade. As the demand for healthcare professionals increases, Latinos are increasing their representation in healthcare positions. Despite their increased representation, Latinos are more likely to be in healthcare support occupations rather than in healthcare management or professional occupation that offer higher salaries. This brief presents Excelencia’s roadmap for both employers and institutions to take action to ensure America’s future by advancing Latino talent in health. The top institutions awarding credentials to Latinos at each level in health are: NUC University in Puerto Rico (Certificate and Associate) Western Governors University in Utah (Baccalaureate) Miami Regional University in Florida (Master’s) Rutgers University-New Brunswick in New Jersey (Doctorate) Nova Southeastern University in Florida (First Professional) Strategies for institutions and employers to link Latino graduates to the workforce include: Invest in high-wage, high-demand career pathways by developing stackable credentials in collaboration with employers and funding short-term career programs. Provide transition services between completion and employment or graduate school, including financial and mental health support. Connect the Latino talent pipeline to employers by recruiting graduates for internal employment opportunities and leveraging partnerships with employers. Suggested Citation: Santiago, D., Labandera, E., Arroyo, C., & Nour, S.R. (February 2024). Finding Your Workforce: Latino Talent in Health . Washington, D.C.: Excelencia in Education. Return to Research Library Related Research by Issue Area - Education Pathways Financial Aid Institutional Practices Student Success Workforce

Latino talent is vital to our workforce—particularly in science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics (STEAM), where innovation and creativity converge to drive economic growth as AI and emerging technologies reshape work. < Back Finding Your Workforce: Linking College Completion with U.S. Workforce Needs in Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) Ruyu (Iris) Yan; Lily Cuellarsola; Deborah A. Santiago March 2026 DOWNLOADS/LINKS Publication SHARE RESEARCH LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter) Copy link Overview For over 20 years, Excelencia in Education has served its mission to accelerate Latino student success while increasing all student success in higher education in order to address the country’s need for a highly educated workforce and civic leadership. Finding Your Workforce: Linking College Completion with U.S. Workforce Needs in STEAM represents the latest extension of Excelencia’s hallmark work of bringing national attention to higher education institutions and practices that advance Latino talent, strengthen our economy, and ensure America’s future. Latino talent is vital to our workforce—particularly in science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics (STEAM), where innovation and creativity converge to drive economic growth. As artificial intelligence (AI) accelerates changes across industries, the future of work will rely on an interdisciplinary workforce that pairs technical expertise with uniquely human capabilities like creativity and collaboration. Integrating the arts into STEM is essential for national competitiveness; however, Latinos remain significantly underrepresented in these high-wage, high-growth sectors. This brief presents Excelencia's insights on Latino participation in the STEAM education-to-workforce pipeline and actionable strategies for institutions and employers to close persistent gaps. The top 5 institutions awarding STEAM credentials to Latinos across all credential levels are: Miami Dade College in Florida (FL) Dallas College (TX) Central New Mexico Community College (NM) Valencia College (FL) Lone Star College System (TX) Institutions can ensure Latinos are included among our future STEAM workforce by: Including the arts in STEM curricula. Assessing and increasing Latino participation in STEM and STEAM programs. Expanding post-completion STEAM support for graduates. Evaluating and deepening industry partnerships. Tracking how Latino alumni apply their education in the workforce and using those insights to refine programs and strengthen career readiness. Collaborating with other stakeholders to strengthen the STEAM talent pipeline. Employers can ensure Latinos are included among our future STEAM workforce by: Recruiting from the top institutions graduating Latinos in STEAM. Investing in interdisciplinary Latino talent ecosystems. Aligning workforce and academic goals. Collaborating on data and insight sharing. Engaging faculty as innovation partners. Connecting Latino professionals as mentors to support current students’ transitions into STEAM careers. For the executive summary and lists of Top 25 institutions graduating Latinos in STEAM, visit: Finding Your Workforce STEAM Executive Summary Top 25 Institutions Awarding Degrees to Latinos in STEAM - Companion piece Suggested Citation: Yan, R., Cuellarsola, L., & Santiago, D. (2026). Finding Your Workforce: Linking College Completion with U.S. Workforce Needs in Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) . Washington, D.C.: Excelencia in Education. Return to Research Library Related Research by Issue Area - Education Pathways Financial Aid Institutional Practices Student Success Workforce

< Back to News Page Leaders Join Excelencia’s Board and Expand Capacity to Advance National Talent Feb 25, 2026 Contact: Media@EdExcelencia.org DOWNLOAD PRESS RELEASE Excelencia in Education Elevates Leadership with New Higher Ed and Workforce Visionaries on Board WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 25, 2026) – Excelencia in Education, a national organization catalyzing institutional transformation for Latino, and all, student success in higher education, announced today that three distinguished visionaries in education, policy, and workforce development have joined its Board of Directors . Together with the full Board, they are elevating Excelencia’s leadership in helping colleges and universities embed student-centered, data-informed, continuous improvement into their strategies and practices — and prove their positive student impact to funders, accreditors, and communities. The new directors bring a powerful combination of experience and commitment to ensuring Latino, and all, students earn a quality college education, and to upholding higher education’s role as an engine of social mobility, workforce development, and economic vitality. They include an executive in a community college system innovating to facilitate access to excellence, a longstanding expert on education and workforce development, and a president who has led institutions transforming to intentionally serve their students in multiple states. Excelencia will leverage their perspectives to inform and drive the organization’s efforts to design, scale, and certify institutional solutions that produce measurable outcomes for Latino, and all, students. The new directors joining the Excelencia Board are: Verónica Herrero , Executive Vice Chancellor, City Colleges of Chicago, and President, City Colleges of Chicago Foundation Verónica provides leadership for the City Colleges of Chicago district in the areas of strategy, institutional effectiveness, external affairs, advancement, and marketing and communications. Jane Oates , Senior Policy Advisor, WorkingNation Jane previously served as President of WorkingNation following a decades-long career as a thought leader in education and workforce. Cynthia Teniente-Matson , President, San José State University Cynthia’s leadership at San José State University has been marked by strategic growth, national recognition, and facilities initiatives, repositioning the university as a premier public urban research institution. Most recently, she served as president of a university in Texas. “ Excelencia continues to transform higher education for Latino, and all, students, growing excellence for America’s future,” said Massey Villarreal, Excelencia in Education Board Chair. “We are honored that the new and continuing board members are strengthening our impact, each bringing a proven commitment to producing meaningful results for students, institutions, and our nation’s workforce.” “The Directors on the Excelencia Board know first-hand that what works to intentionally serve Latino students in higher education can also work for others,” said Sarita E. Brown, Excelencia in Education Co-founder and President. “They are holding themselves accountable for delivering access and value that matters for the success of our students and country — and calling on others to do the same.” Meet the Excelencia in Education Board of Directors: EdExcelencia.org/about/our-people About Excelencia in Education Excelencia in Education leads a national network of results-oriented educators and policymakers transforming higher education to tap the talents of the Latino community and address the U.S. economy’s needs for a highly educated workforce and engaged civic leaders. With this network, Excelencia ensures access to excellence by promoting student achievement, informing educational policies, and advancing evidence-based practices to more intentionally serve Latino, and all, students. For more information, visit: EdExcelencia.org