Excelencia's 2023 What Works for Latino Students in Higher Education compendium recognizes programs making a positive difference in their campus and community. < Back 2023 What Works for Latino Students in Higher Education Excelencia in Education September 2023 DOWNLOADS/LINKS Publication SHARE RESEARCH LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter) Copy link Overview Since 2005, Excelencia in Education has led the Examples of Excelencia , the only national data-driven initiative that recognizes programs at the associate, baccalaureate, and graduate level as well as at community-based organizations that are using evidence of effectiveness to accelerate Latino student success. Across 18 years, over 2,000 programs have been submitted for consideration and over 400 programs have been highlighted. This year, our compendium recognizes the robust efforts that practitioners across the country are making through our four Examples of Excelencia , nineteen Finalists , and eight Programs to Watch . These programs join a strong history of recognizing what works and each program described in this compendium is making a difference in the lives of their students, their campus, and their community. They show what is possible when institutions and organizations intentionally serve Latino students, while serving all students. Excelencia in Education invites you to learn more about the programs that this year best embodies the spirit of Examples of Excelencia . 2023 Examples of Excelencia ASSOCIATE LEVEL: Engineering Program at Wright | City Colleges of Chicago, Wilbur Wright College (IL) Institution/Organization: City Colleges of Chicago, Wilbur Wright College State: Illinois Issue Area: Academic Program Program Focus: Career/Workforce, Transfer BACCALAUREATE LEVEL: Spanish Community Translation and Interpreting Program | The University of Texas at Arlington (TX) Institution/Organization: The University of Texas at Arlington State: Texas Issue Area: Academic Program Program Focus: Career/Workforce, Discipline/Subject GRADUATE LEVEL: Graduate Equity Fellowship Program | California State University, Chico (CA) Institution/Organization: California State University, Chico State: California Issue Area: Retention Program Focus: Career/Workforce, Mentoring COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATION LEVEL: College and Career Success | Breakthrough Central Texas (TX) Institution/Organization: Breakthrough Central Texas State: Texas Issue Area: Support Services Program Focus: First-Year Support, Mentoring Return to Research Library Related Research by Issue Area - Education Pathways Financial Aid Institutional Practices Student Success Workforce

Excelencia partnered with CAEL (Council for Adult and Experiential Learning) to examine Latino students' experience with prior learning assessment (PLA). < Back Random Access: The Latino Student Experience with Prior Learning Assessment Council for Adult and Experimental Learning; Excelencia in Education October 2014 DOWNLOADS/LINKS Publication SHARE RESEARCH LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter) Copy link Overview Many Latinos come to higher education as adults aged 25 or older. A degree completion strategy that is particularly suited to adult students in higher education is prior learning assessment (PLA). PLA This report presents the findings from a new study by the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL), in partnership with Excelencia in Education, which examines the experience of Latino students with PLA at 10 postsecondary institutions in the U.S. between 2010 and 2013. To meet current and future labor market needs in the U.S., government leaders, philanthropic organizations, and higher education institutions have turned their attention to helping more people—both adults and traditional-aged college students—access education and succeed in completing college degrees. Through analysis of more than 32,000 student academic records, along with interviews with Latino students and PLA administrators, the study examines how Latino students engage with PLA in terms of methods used, number of credits earned, and areas of study for which credits are earned. It also investigates the role that institutions play in encouraging Latino students to take advantage of PLA. However, for PLA to be an effective strategy to help with Latino degree completion, Latino students must know about it and use it. The study’s findings suggest specific strategies for more effective outreach on PLA to Latino students, and other important target populations. This report was made possible with support from TG. Return to Research Library Related Research by Issue Area - Education Pathways Financial Aid Institutional Practices Student Success Workforce

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 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

This brief examines financial aid strategies aimed at increasing enrollment, success, and completion at 8 Texas Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs). < Back Reality Check: Hispanic-Serving Institutions on the Texas Border Strategizing Financial Aid Deborah A. Santiago January 2011 DOWNLOADS/LINKS Publication Executive Summary SHARE RESEARCH LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter) Copy link Overview As Latino representation in U.S. higher education grows, a reality check of institutional practices that support Latino students' access, persistence, and graduation is needed. This brief examines financial aid strategies aimed at increasing enrollment, academic success and degree completion at eight Texas Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) located along the U.S.-Mexico border serving low-income communities. These institutions rank among the top institutions, both statewide and nationally, in enrolling and graduating Latino students: Texas A&M International University The University of Texas at Brownsville The University of Texas at El Paso The University of Texas Pan American Laredo Community College Texas Southmost College El Paso County Community College District South Texas College Understanding what influences Latino students' financial aid choices and which institutional practices are effective in enrolling, retaining, and graduating Latino students is directly relevant to other institutions that are only beginning to experience growth in the number of their non-traditional students. The findings of this brief are intended to inform the programs and services at institutions with growing Hispanic enrollment, as well as state and federal policymakers addressing the broader growth of Hispanic students throughout higher education. Return to Research Library Related Research by Issue Area - Education Pathways Financial Aid Institutional Practices Student Success Workforce

This fact sheet provides allies on the mainland with information on enrollment and completion, funding patterns, and challenges for higher education in Puerto Rico. < Back Higher Education in Puerto Rico Excelencia in Education May 2019 DOWNLOADS/LINKS Fact Sheet SHARE RESEARCH LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter) Copy link Overview Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico, a U.S. commonwealth, almost two years ago (September 2017) and most educational institutions were severely impacted. Many are still recovering. As those on the island look to rebuild, it is important potential allies on the mainland are more aware of the enrollment and completion, funding patterns, and future challenges of higher education in Puerto Rico. Learn the facts Download the Higher Education in Puerto Rico fact sheet Learn more about Latino College Completion in Puerto Rico Support To support colleges and universities in Puerto Rico dealing with the aftereffects of Hurricane Maria, Excelencia dedicated a session during the 2018 Accelerating Latino Student Success (ALASS) Institute and joined forces with Margarita Benitez, Executive Director of the Fundación Puertorriqueña de las Humanidades. The Importance of Colleges and Universities in Puerto Rico Highlights from the 2018 ALASS Institute The Fundación Puertorriqueña de las Humanidades (FPH) / Puerto Rico Endowment for the Humanities is the equivalent of a Humanities State Council: an independent, non-profit organization affiliated with the National Endowment for the Humanities and dedicated to promoting humanistic values in its region. Margarita Benítez is the executive director. Since its creation in 1977, the FPH has significantly enabled Puerto Rico’s cultural and humanistic development by supporting organizations, communities, museums, universities and individuals as they undertake projects that reflect the diversity of the Puerto Rican experience, its heritage, traditions and history in the island and beyond. FPH’s support of research, symposia, exhibitions and multiple public programs contribute to the understanding and dissemination of the Puerto Rican humanistic experience in all its forms. For the past eight decades, higher education in Puerto Rico has been the most reliable pathway for individual and collective advancement. Puerto Rico is now facing a difficult economic situation, made more complicated by the ongoing repercussions of Hurricane Maria and demographic trends that show a reduction in the birth rate and an increase in the over 60 population Return to Research Library Related Research by Issue Area - Education Pathways Financial Aid Institutional Practices Student Success Workforce

This brief summarizes practices from 12 stop Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) improving access, retention, and academic achievement of Latino, and all, students. < Back Modeling Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs): Campus Practices That Work for Latino Students Deborah A. Santiago May 2008 DOWNLOADS/LINKS Publication SHARE RESEARCH LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter) Copy link Overview This report focuses on successful practices at 12 top-ranked Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) working to increase Latino student success. Designed to provide a closer view of effective leadership, institutional practices, and guiding principles supporting Latino student success, this report offers promising ideas and strategies for all U.S. colleges and universities to bolster results for Latino students. Return to Research Library Related Research by Issue Area - Education Pathways Financial Aid Institutional Practices Student Success Workforce

This brief examines the pragmatic choices Latinos make to pay for college and the role institutions play in ensuring a college degree is affordable for Latino, and all, students. < Back How Latinos Pay for College: 2025 National Trends Cassandra Arroyo, Emily Labandera, and Deborah Santiago March 2025 DOWNLOADS/LINKS Publication SHARE RESEARCH LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter) Copy link Overview Latinos make informed and pragmatic choices to pay for college, and the institutions intentionally serving them are making strides to ensure the price of a college degree is affordable. This brief builds on 20 years of Excelencia in Education’s research on Latino students and college affordability and lessons learned from institutional leadership and students’ experiences. Findings Many Latino students make choices with what they can control as cost-saving measures and rely on various forms of financial aid to make college more affordable. Consider the following choices Latino students make: Work 30 hours or more while enrolled in college. Enroll part-time or “swirl” between colleges to take courses needed. Decide to enroll at more affordable public colleges near where they live. Choose to live with their parents or off-campus. Rely on federal financial aid over other sources of aid. Leverage grant aid more often than loans. Leading institutions make choices with what they can control to make college more affordable. Seal of Excelencia certified institutions implement strategies and practices to help make the cost of a college education more affordable. These efforts help inform what institutions can do to increase access to a college education and financially support Latino, and all, students. Consider the following strategies and practices: 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 their 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. Intentionally serving Latino, and all, students at scale benefits from knowing and implementing what works to accelerate Latino student success at the state and federal levels based on efforts by policymakers. Learn more about ways states can lead the way and the federal role to support access to high education in this brief. Suggested Citation: Arroyo, C., Labandera, E., & Santiago, D. (March 2025). How Latinos Pay for College: 2025 National Trends. Washington, D.C.: Excelencia in Education. Made possible with generous support from Lumina Foundation Featured Publications Return to Research Library Related Research by Issue Area - Education Pathways Financial Aid Institutional Practices Student Success Workforce

This historical timeline graphic shows the origin of Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), including legislation and milestones from the mid-1980s to 2014. < Back HSI Origin Timeline Excelencia in Education September 2014 DOWNLOADS/LINKS Infographic PNG-HSI Origin Timeline SHARE RESEARCH LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter) Copy link Overview Origins Timeline – This graphic shows the origin of HSIs, including legislation and milestones from the mid-1980s to 2014. Suggested Citation: Excelencia in Education. (2014). Hispanic-Serving Institutions: Title V Funding Timeline . Washington, DC: Excelencia in Education. Download infographic png and pdf below. (Please allow a few seconds for loading of interactive infographic.) Return to Research Library Related Research by Issue Area - Education Pathways Financial Aid Institutional Practices Student Success Workforce

Summary analysis and list of the 257 institutions identified as HSIs with Graduate Programs (gHSIs) in 2023-24. < Back Hispanic-Serving Institutions with Graduate Programs (gHSIs): 2023-24 Excelencia in Education April 2025 DOWNLOADS/LINKS Publication SHARE RESEARCH LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter) Copy link Overview Of the 602 Hispanic-Serving Institutions in 2023-24, 257 offer graduate degrees (169 offer doctoral degrees as the highest degree, 69 offer master’s degrees, and 19 offer a post-master’s certificate). Excelencia in Education has been tracking HSIs that offer graduate degrees for over 20 years since the organization’s founding in 2004. The list of institutions identified as HSIs with graduate programs in this analysis is not intended to designate eligibility for any specific program; rather, the list is meant to assist in considering and analyzing the institutions that meet the legislative definition of an HSI and offer graduate programs. See additional data related to 2023-24 HSIs: Fact Sheet List Emerging HSIs (eHSIs) List Infographic Interactive Dashboard Interactive StoryMaps Suggested Citation: Excelencia in Education. (2025). Hispanic-Serving Institutions with Graduate Programs (gHSIs): 2023-24 . Washington, D.C.: Excelencia in Education. Learn more in Excelencia’s new HSI Factbook. Return to Research Library Related Research by Issue Area - Education Pathways Financial Aid Institutional Practices Student Success Workforce

This brief identifies the top institutions graduating and preparing Latinos to enter the workforce in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). < Back Finding Your Workforce: Latino Talent in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) 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 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 STEM 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. Latinos are the nation’s fastest growing population and are shaping the nation’s workforce. By 2031, Latinos will account for 91 percent of new workers. Although more Latinos are entering the STEM workforce, they continue to be underrepresented in STEM occupations. In 2021, Latinos represented 18 percent of the nation’s workforce yet represented less than 10 percent of all STEM occupations–presenting an opportunity to strengthen the Latino STEM talent pipeline. This brief presents Excelencia’s roadmap for both employers and institutions to take action to ensure America’s future by advancing Latino talent. The top institutions awarding credentials to Latinos at each level in STEM are: Dallas College in Texas (Certificate) South Texas College in Texas (Associate) Florida International University in Florida (Baccalaureate and Master’s) University of Michigan-Ann Arbor in Michigan (Doctorate) 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 STEM . Washington, D.C.: Excelencia in Education. 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. Hispanics’ 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 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 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

The purpose of this brief is to describe federal legislation and programs that support higher education, and to assess Latino participation in these programs. < Back Federal Policy and Latinos in Higher Education: A Guide for Policymakers and Grantmakers Deborah A. Santiago ; Sarita E. Brown February 2004 DOWNLOADS/LINKS Publication SHARE RESEARCH LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter) Copy link Overview Brief describes federal legislation and programs that support higher education and to assess Latino participation in these programs. Return to Research Library Related Research by Issue Area - Education Pathways Financial Aid Institutional Practices Student Success Workforce