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 the District of Columbia, highlighting the need for strategies that accelerate Latino degree attainment and support success for all students. Latino College Completion - District of Columbia 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) 61% Of Latino adults (25 and over) had earned an associate degree or higher VS 95% Of White adults Fast Facts Latino Population 17% K-12 Population 12% Total Population Enrollment 20% Latino Students 24% White Students Median Age 32 Latinos 35 White Median Income $38,808 Without a college degree $91,839 With a college degree Degree Outcomes At two-year institutions, Hispanics' graduation rate was 5%-points higher than that of their White non-Hispanic peers in District of Columbia. At four-year institutions, Hispanics' graduation rate was 8%-points lower than that of their White non-Hispanic peers in District of Columbia. 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 George Washington University Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above 10,848 1,420 13% 2,721 336 12% 2 Strayer University-Global Region Private for-profit, 4-year or above 10,087 1,273 13% 1,155 153 13% 3 American University Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above 7,593 972 13% 1,833 216 12% 4 University of the District of Columbia Public, 4-year or above 3,080 859 28% 644 129 20% 5 Howard University Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above 9,604 664 7% 1,657 93 6% 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.

Emily Labandera serves as Director of Research of Excelencia in Education. Emily leads research and project coordination that furthers Excelencia’s portfolio of policy, programs, and practice to accelerate Latino student success in higher education. < Back to Our People Page Emily Labandera Director of Research Excelencia in Education Email: elabandera@EdExcelencia.org Current Position: As Director of Research, Emily leads research and project coordination that furthers Excelencia ’s portfolio of policy, programs, and practice to accelerate Latino student success in higher education. She conducts research and data analysis on topics related to Latinos in higher education; project manages several ongoing projects that inform public policy and institutional practice and develops dissemination plans for research publications; collaborates, coordinates, and supports research colleagues in their efforts as it relates to practice and research; coordinates across teams and portfolios for organizational work and deliverables; and, evolves and maintains key relationships with partner organizations, funders, practitioners, and institutions to advance Excelencia ’s research agenda. Past Experiences: Emily’s path in higher education policy was sparked by her personal experiences as a first-generation and STEM undergraduate student. Upon deciding on a career change to that of public service and being a change agent, Emily pursued public policy in her graduate studies. During her graduate studies, she focused on higher education policy and research and interned at Education Reform Now and Excelencia in Education. Emily earned her Master of Public Policy from George Washington University in 2019, which prepared her with the necessary skills to think critically and analyze higher education data and policy deeply at national, state, and local levels. Why are you bringing your talent to Excelencia ? Excelencia ’s core mission of accelerating Latino student success in higher education to enhance our workforce, leadership, and economy, the vision and leadership of Excelencia ’s leaders, and the knowledge that our efforts push the needle forward in service of our comunidad are all part of the why I bring my talent to Excelencia . Our collective effort in transforming higher education to be a more equitable place for Latino, and all, students is the factor that motivates me every day to work alongside my colleagues and our leadership. How would you describe working at Excelencia ? Working at Excelencia is an enriching, collaborative, and rewarding experience. Across the entire team at Excelencia , we share a deep-rooted stewardship of mission in serving our community. The passion and effort are palpable amongst our team, making it an honor to work here.

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 Connecticut, highlighting the need for strategies that accelerate Latino degree attainment and support success for all students. Latino College Completion - Connecticut 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 56% Of White adults Fast Facts Connecticut had the 18th largest Latino population in the U.S. Latino Population 27% K-12 Population 19% Total Population Enrollment 21% Latino Students 25% White Students Median Age 31 Latinos 48 White Median Income $37,296 Without a college degree $72,559 With a college degree Degree Outcomes At two-year institutions, Hispanics' graduation rate was 10%-points lower than that of their White non-Hispanic peers in Connecticut. At four-year institutions, Hispanics' graduation rate was 15%-points lower than that of their White non-Hispanic peers in Connecticut. 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 Connecticut State Community College Public, 2-year 32,292 10,444 32% 4,380 1,022 23% 2 University of Connecticut Public, 4-year or above 19,147 3,091 16% 5,558 804 14% 3 Central Connecticut State University Public, 4-year or above 7,670 1,534 20% 1,778 274 15% 4 Southern Connecticut State University Public, 4-year or above 6,180 1,519 25% 1,667 357 21% 5 Post University Private for-profit, 4-year or above 18,975 1,237 7% 1,956 285 15% 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.

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 the United States, highlighting the need for strategies that accelerate Latino degree attainment and support success for all students. Latino College Completion - National 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 49% Of White adults Fast Facts Latino Population 26% K-12 Population 20% Total Population Enrollment 20% Latino Students 22% White Students Median Age 31 Latinos 44 White Median Income $36,058 Without a college degree $63,394 With a college degree Degree Outcomes At two-year institutions, Hispanics' graduation rate was 5%-points lower than that of their White non-Hispanic peers in the United States. At four-year institutions, Hispanics' graduation rate was 14%-points lower than that of their White non-Hispanic peers in the United States. 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 Florida International University Public, 4-year or above 38,761 26,234 68% 11,661 7,691 66% 2 The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Public, 4-year or above 27,026 25,338 94% 4,810 4,530 94% 3 Miami Dade College Public, 4-year or above 35,001 25,146 72% 9,807 7,038 72% 4 NUC University Private for-profit, 4-year or above 25,881 23,223 90% 2,702 2,531 94% 5 Southern New Hampshire University Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above 156,755 22,614 14% 24,642 2,781 11% 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.

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 Nebraska, highlighting the need for strategies that accelerate Latino degree attainment and support success for all students. Latino College Completion - Nebraska 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) 27% Of Latino adults (25 and over) had earned an associate degree or higher VS 50% Of White adults Fast Facts Nebraska had the 35th largest Latino population in the U.S. Latino Population 19% K-12 Population 13% Total Population Enrollment 15% Latino Students 26% White Students Median Age 25 Latinos 41 White Median Income $39,508 Without a college degree $59,853 With a college degree Degree Outcomes At two-year institutions, Hispanics' graduation rate was 13%-points lower than that of their White non-Hispanic peers in Nebraska. At four-year institutions, Hispanics' graduation rate was 14%-points lower than that of their White non-Hispanic peers in Nebraska. 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 Nebraska at Omaha Public, 4-year or above 11,573 1,992 17% 2,414 133 6% 2 University of Nebraska-Lincoln Public, 4-year or above 18,887 1,717 9% 4,262 303 7% 3 Bellevue University Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above 10,426 1,585 15% 1,875 238 13% 4 Metropolitan Community College Area Public, 2-year 7,629 1,456 19% 1,383 194 14% 5 Central Community College Public, 2-year 3,206 1,018 32% 702 174 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.

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 Kansas, highlighting the need for strategies that accelerate Latino degree attainment and support success for all students. Latino College Completion - Kansas 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) 25% Of Latino adults (25 and over) had earned an associate degree or higher VS 49% Of White adults Fast Facts Kansas had the 27th largest Latino population in the U.S. Latino Population 20% K-12 Population 14% Total Population Enrollment 17% Latino Students 23% White Students Median Age 26 Latinos 41 White Median Income $35,706 Without a college degree $58,070 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 Kansas. At four-year institutions, Hispanics' graduation rate was 16%-points lower than that of their White non-Hispanic peers in Kansas. 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 Kansas Public, 4-year or above 19,857 2,040 10% 4,131 379 9% 2 Wichita State University Public, 4-year or above 10,493 1,780 17% 2,227 304 14% 3 Johnson County Community College Public, 2-year 10,634 1,737 16% 1,707 194 11% 4 Kansas State University Public, 4-year or above 14,835 1,354 9% 3,440 261 8% 5 Butler Community College Public, 2-year 5,694 904 16% 1,030 108 10% 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.

Excelencia established the Seal of Excelencia, a national certification for institutions that strive to go beyond enrollment to better SERVE Latino students. Seal of Excelencia Trendsetting colleges and universities across the country are taking responsibility for transformation that ensures their students earn a quality education of value. Excelencia in Education created the Seal of Excelencia as a national certification that holds colleges and universities accountable for continuous improvement in student success before and beyond graduation — reinforcing higher education’s role as an engine of social mobility, economic vitality, and workforce development. The Seal of Excelencia recognizes and drives excellence at institutions with Latino students, knowing that an intentional, mission-driven investment that includes serving this population, ensures all of our students, communities, and country are served. " The Seal of Excelencia recognizes institutions that are lifting the students that they serve. Being an institution that serves Latino learners should do more than just serving — ensuring students have everything they need when they walk out those doors to improve their lives and the lives of their families for generations to come. That intentionality was missing before Excelencia introduced the Seal. " - Eloy Ortiz Oakley, President & CEO, College Futures Foundation Continuous, Student-Centered Improvement The Seal of Excelencia is a rigorous, student-centered, data-informed certification framework that requires colleges and universities to show momentum leading to continuous improvement in student outcomes. Institutions earn this standard of excellence through an intentional alignment of data, evidence-based practices, and leadership, all resulting in student success. Is your institution ready to demonstrate intentionality and impact? The Seal of Excelencia Framework FIND OUT The Seal represents a voluntary journey of continuous improvement in student success — not a destination. Excelencia charted this journey based on 20 years of working with institutions and offers tools to assess readiness and build capacity along the way. There are 45 institutions that have earned the Seal, spanning three progressive levels of certification: Certified, Recertified, and Intentionally Thriving Institutions (ITIs). Could your institution lead alongside these trendsetters? Institutions on the Seal Certification Journey JOIN THEM The Seal and Institutional Value The Seal helps colleges and universities move beyond isolated programs toward systemic change to intentionally serve all students. Seal certification is both a national standard of excellence and proof of positive student impact to funders, accreditors, and communities. Does Seal certification align with your institution’s vision? LOOK AHEAD Expand Your Knowledge with Excelencia How does the Seal of Excelencia uphold the value of higher education? The Seal framework reinforces four essential components of higher education value: 1) Ensuring all students succeed; 2) Supporting continuous improvement institution-wide; 3) Enhancing economic/social mobility; and 4) Demonstrating effective use of public funds. Institutions that earn the Seal articulate how they deliver this value for students, communities, and our country. Does the Seal of Excelencia apply only to institutions serving Latino students? The Seal framework combines data on the educational pathway for all students served — not Latinos alone — with evidence of impact from intentional practices and leadership commitment from strategic planning. For that reason, it applies to all institutions serving post-traditional students. Excelencia focuses on Latino students because they represent the post-traditional majority, and what works for them can also work for others. What distinguishes Seal of Excelencia certified institutions from Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs)? HSIs are defined as having 25% or more undergraduate Hispanic student full-time equivalent (FTE) enrollment, and they constitute a critical set of colleges and universities expanding access to higher education. Through the Seal, Excelencia asserts the opportunity to go beyond enrollment and deconstruct the “S” in “HSI” to intentionally SERVE Latino, and all, students. An institution does not need to be an HSI to earn the Seal. Is my institution ready to start the Seal of Excelencia certification journey? Institutions must join our community of practice and affiliate with the Excelencia in Action network to be eligible for Seal certification. Applicants will tell their story of intentionally serving Latino, and all, students through data, practice, and leadership. Institutions can assess their readiness for certification with our Seal Serving Institutional Transformation Assessment (SSITA) tool and capacity building opportunities. To learn more, contact us at: Seal@EdExcelencia.org. What makes Intentionally Thriving Institutions (ITIs) stand out from other Seal of Excelencia certified institutions? ITIs have committed to the journey toward continuous improvement for more than six years, earning Seal recertification twice along the way. In addition to ensuring Latino, and all, students thrive on campus, ITIs demonstrate strong post-completion success outcomes — preparing and linking Latino, and all, students to the workforce and growing talent for America’s future.

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 Massachusetts, highlighting the need for strategies that accelerate Latino degree attainment and support success for all students. Latino College Completion - Massachusetts 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) 30% Of Latino adults (25 and over) had earned an associate degree or higher VS 60% Of White adults Fast Facts Massachusetts had the 16th largest Latino population in the U.S. Latino Population 20% K-12 Population 13% Total Population Enrollment 20% Latino Students 27% White Students Median Age 30 Latinos 45 White Median Income $38,127 Without a college degree $77,006 With a college degree Degree Outcomes At two-year institutions, Hispanics' graduation rate was 12%-points lower than that of their White non-Hispanic peers in Massachusetts. At four-year institutions, Hispanics' graduation rate was 8%-points lower than that of their White non-Hispanic peers in Massachusetts. 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 Massachusetts-Boston Public, 4-year or above 11,848 2,327 20% 2,389 377 16% 2 Bunker Hill Community College Public, 2-year 7,322 2,195 30% 945 223 24% 3 University of Massachusetts-Amherst Public, 4-year or above 23,694 2,067 9% 6,866 524 8% 4 Boston University Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above 17,850 2,018 11% 4,557 505 11% 5 University of Massachusetts-Lowell Public, 4-year or above 11,632 1,838 16% 2,943 342 12% 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.

A Call to Action: Supporting Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) Over the past few months, the constitutionality of HSIs has been challenged and there have been mixed messages from all branches of the federal government as to higher education’s ability to serve all students, including Latino students. As Excelencia in Education continues our commitment to meet our mission with clarity and purpose in serving Latino, and all, students with intentionality, we see three primary areas that require being informed to compel action: 1 Constitutional overreach: The Administration submitted its FY2026 budget request in May that level funds HSI programs, and both the Senate and House Appropriations Committees did the same as recently as last week. However, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) also announced last week that it would withhold Congressionally authorized and appropriated funds to institutions that had effectively competed for resources to provide a quality education. To be clear, the Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) programs are still Constitutional and legal. Determining the Constitutionality of Congressional legislation is the responsibility of the Judicial branch, not the Executive branch. To stop funding and consider redistribution of Congressionally appropriated funds represents significant overreach from the Executive branch without regard to Congressional intent and due process for the hundreds of institutions and millions of students negatively impacted. 2 All means all: While some believe a focus on race and ethnicity divides us as a society, Excelencia in Education believes that acknowledging racial and ethnic trends describes our society in constructive ways. The use of data to identify factors affecting the success of specific student populations establishes a base of information from which to develop more effective policies, invest limited public resources, engage diverse stakeholders, and inform institutional transformation to more intentionally serve the evolving profiles of all students. As the fastest-growing segment of the college-going population, Latino students embody a post-traditional experience, navigating multiple pathways through higher education while balancing work, family, and other responsibilities. Institutional efforts that evolve to support their success advances higher education in ways that can benefit all students. However, to know if we are actually serving all, we need to disaggregate data; if we see gaps in access or attainment, we need to address these gaps to ensure access to opportunity and accountability for outcomes truly represents all students. 3 HSIs fulfill a national need for an educated citizenry and workforce: The HSI programs fulfill a clear federal responsibility articulated in the Higher Education Act to expand opportunities for students across the country. Further, the amount of federal funds allotted for competitive HSI grants are small relative to the transformational work invested for innovation that improve educational outcomes for all enrolled students, regardless of race. HSIs operate with fewer resources yet serve the fastest-growing segment of the college-age population. Supporting HSIs is therefore a strategic investment in America’s competitiveness, democracy, and shared prosperity . Ending HSI support would not erase racial disparities; it would ignore them and weaken the nation’s ability to develop the educated workforce and informed citizenry it needs. Call to Action Serving Latino, and all, students remains our shared goal to keep our country strong. Today’s challenges are happening on our watch and we must take action to ensure our students have access to the quality education they deserve to strengthen their families, communities, and country. Contact your Congressional representative and let them know how this action is directly affecting your community, students, and families. If you don’t know who your representative is, look it up here . You can also call (202) 224-3121 to reach any congressional office. Share the positive impact HSI funds have made and be explicit of what will change without funds with the media, your constituents, and with Excelencia so that we can all bring attention to the value provided with the limited federal investment made in your institution to provide access to a quality education. If you don’t know if there is an HSI in your area, review the HSI list here. Inform and encourage your supporters, including community leaders, business partners, alumni, students, and others who also believe every student deserves equal opportunity to a quality education to reach out to their representatives on behalf of you and other institutions to put a voice to what will be lost if support of HSI funding is withdrawn. Your network of supporters has seen the impact your institutions have on students and the community. Excelencia Taking Action To support our community of common cause, Excelencia will also take action and continue to: Develop an agenda that includes new approaches to policy and practice that advances opportunity for Latinos and all. Articulate the value of intentionally serving Latino, and all, students to ensure equal opportunity and strengthen our communities, workforce and our country. Make the case about the importance of HSIs with data and promote the value add of limited federal resources in ensuring opportunity meets the talent in our communities. Promote the value of institutions that have earned the Seal of Excelencia . These are institutions taking responsibility and holding themselves accountable to intentionally serve Latino, and all, students to improve their access, persistence, degree attainment, and link to the workforce using data, practice, and leadership. Collaborate with other national organizations to offer resources and support to our communities. Inform philanthropy and funders of the current and evolving impact of federal decisions on the network and community and mobilize opportunities for financial support. Learn More About HSIs The Case for Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs): Opportunity Meeting Talent By: Deborah A. Santiago, CEO, Excelencia in Education In recent weeks, we’ve seen the current administration refuse to defend and, later, seek to end funding for Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) grant programs, arguing that they are racially discriminatory. Read Excelencia's latest case for HSIs and learn more about how these programs constitute a strategic, competitive, capacity-building investment in institutions that disproportionately educate America’s fastest-growing student population and why supporting them is a strategic investment in our democracy. Read Now | Sep 15, 2025 · 4 min read

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 Mississippi, highlighting the need for strategies that accelerate Latino degree attainment and support success for all students. Latino College Completion - Mississippi 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 41% Of White adults Fast Facts Mississippi had the 41st largest Latino population in the U.S. Latino Population 5% K-12 Population 4% Total Population Enrollment 23% Latino Students 22% White Students Median Age 27 Latinos 42 White Median Income $30,191 Without a college degree $50,776 With a college degree Degree Outcomes At two-year institutions, Hispanics' graduation rate was equal to that of their White non-Hispanic peers in Mississippi. At four-year institutions, Hispanics' graduation rate was 17%-points lower than that of their White non-Hispanic peers in Mississippi. 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 Mississippi Public, 4-year or above 18,995 1,002 5% 3,887 121 3% 2 Mississippi State University Public, 4-year or above 18,092 761 4% 4,547 135 3% 3 University of Southern Mississippi Public, 4-year or above 9,899 466 5% 2,551 102 4% 4 Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Public, 2-year 6,231 453 7% 2,075 133 6% 5 Northwest Mississippi Community College Public, 2-year 5,181 339 7% 1,099 67 6% 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.

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 Iowa, highlighting the need for strategies that accelerate Latino degree attainment and support success for all students. Latino College Completion - Iowa 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) 25% Of Latino adults (25 and over) had earned an associate degree or higher VS 45% Of White adults Fast Facts Iowa had the 36th largest Latino population in the U.S. Latino Population 12% K-12 Population 7% Total Population Enrollment 18% Latino Students 22% White Students Median Age 26 Latinos 42 White Median Income $37,424 Without a college degree $60,498 With a college degree Degree Outcomes At two-year institutions, Hispanics' graduation rate was 11%-points lower than that of their White non-Hispanic peers in Iowa. At four-year institutions, Hispanics' graduation rate was 16%-points lower than that of their White non-Hispanic peers in Iowa. 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 Iowa Public, 4-year or above 21,691 1,985 9% 5,180 405 8% 2 Iowa State University Public, 4-year or above 25,033 1,803 7% 6,011 375 6% 3 Des Moines Area Community College Public, 2-year 10,406 1,112 11% 2,020 164 8% 4 Western Iowa Tech Community College Public, 2-year 2,589 594 23% 435 85 20% 5 Kirkwood Community College Public, 2-year 7,438 564 8% 1,614 94 6% 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.

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 Montana, highlighting the need for strategies that accelerate Latino degree attainment and support success for all students. Latino College Completion - Montana 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) 33% Of Latino adults (25 and over) had earned an associate degree or higher VS 47% Of White adults Fast Facts Montana had the 45th largest Latino population in the U.S. Latino Population 7% K-12 Population 5% Total Population Enrollment 21% Latino Students 20% White Students Median Age 28 Latinos 42 White Median Income $36,748 Without a college degree $55,502 With a college degree Degree Outcomes At two-year institutions, Hispanics' graduation rate was 24%-points lower than that of their White non-Hispanic peers in Montana. At four-year institutions, Hispanics' graduation rate was 12%-points lower than that of their White non-Hispanic peers in Montana. 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 Montana State University Public, 4-year or above 14,472 834 6% 2,659 123 5% 2 The University of Montana Public, 4-year or above 7,079 433 6% 1,432 92 6% 3 Montana State University Billings Public, 4-year or above 2,710 212 8% 586 36 6% 4 Carroll College Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above 1,052 79 8% 279 11 4% 5 Montana Technological University Public, 4-year or above 1,428 68 5% 284 5 2% 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.