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.

This publication profiles discussions with college presidents to better understand their perspectives on what it means to be a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI). < Back Hearing from Presidents of Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) Deborah A. Santiago December 2006 DOWNLOADS/LINKS Publication SHARE RESEARCH LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter) Copy link Overview Institution presidents help to set the vision, tone, and priorities for institutional practices. Direct involvement from campus leaders proved critical to the Latino Student Success (LSS) project series. Hearing from Presidents of Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) : Defining Student Success, Measures of Accountability, and What it Means to be an HSI profiles responses from individual interviews with college presidents to better understand their perspectives on three main topics: Defining student success; Measuring institutional accountability; and, Describing what it means to be an HSI. Return to Research Library Related Research by Issue Area - Education Pathways Financial Aid Institutional Practices Student Success Workforce

Vernon B. Harper Jr. is President of California State University-Bakersfield and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page California State University-Bakersfield Vernon B. Harper Jr. President Institution website: https://www.csub.edu/ Bio Page: https://www.csub.edu/president/about-president.shtml Vernon B. Harper Jr. is President of California State University-Bakersfield and part of Excelencia in Action network.

Summary analysis and list of the top 25 institutions graduating Latino students in STEAM across science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics. < Back Finding Your Workforce: The Top 25 Institutions Graduating Latinos in STEAM Across all Degree Levels Ruyu (Iris) Yan; Lily Cuellarsola; Deborah A. Santiago March 2026 DOWNLOADS/LINKS Publication SHARE RESEARCH LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter) Copy link Overview 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 companion piece summarizes the Top 25 institutions graduating Latino students in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics) across all credential levels (certificate, associate, bachelor's, master’s, and doctorate) For the research publication and executive summary, visit: Finding Your Workforce: Linking College Completion with U.S. Workforce Needs in STEAM Finding Your Workforce STEAM Executive Summary Suggested Citation: Yan, R., Cuellarsola, L., & Santiago, D. (2026). Finding Your Workforce: The Top 25 Institutions Graduating Latinos in STEAM Across all Degree Levels. 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 Latino students' college choices, which are converting existing colleges and universities into Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs). < Back Choosing Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs): A Closer Look at Latino Students' College Choices Deborah A. Santiago July 2007 DOWNLOADS/LINKS Publication SHARE RESEARCH LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter) Copy link Overview This brief examines Latino students' college choices. While Latino students may not be aware of the HSI designation, they are in fact converting existing colleges and institutions into HSIs simply as a function of their own decisions - a trend that shows signs of continuing for several more years. To examine Latino students' college choices, we blended analysis of national enrollment patterns with data from focus groups conducted with Latino college students from different institutions across the country. The results show the impact of Latino students' emphasis on selecting colleges near their homes. This emphasis, coupled with the concentration of Latino housing patterns, leads to the concentrated enrollments of Latino students that form HSIs. Return to Research Library Related Research by Issue Area - Education Pathways Financial Aid Institutional Practices Student Success Workforce

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.

Karla Hernandez DeCuir serves as the Director of Institutional Engagement of Excelencia in Education. Karla leads strategic planning and daily operations of the Institutional Engagement portfolio, ensuring smooth and effective collaboration across the organization. < Back to Our People Page Karla Hernandez DeCuir Director of Institutional Engagement Excelencia in Education Email: khernandezdecuir@edexcelencia.org Current Position: Karla leads strategic planning and daily operations of the Institutional Engagement portfolio, ensuring smooth and effective collaboration across the organization. Working closely with the Vice President of Institutional Engagement, Karla oversees a team dedicated to engaging and sustaining a dynamic network of institutional affiliates committed to student success. Karla plays a critical role in fostering cross-functional partnerships, aligning institutional efforts, and optimizing staff resources to deliver high-impact engagement strategies that elevate institutional practice and drive meaningful outcomes for institutions within the Excelencia in Action network. Past Experiences: Karla is a seasoned higher education leader with decades of experience driving student success, enrollment growth, and institutional partnerships. Most recently, she served as Interim Vice President for Enrollment Management at the University of Houston-Victoria (UHV), where she held several leadership roles over eight years, including Assistant Provost for Distance Learning and Sr. Director of Enrollment Management and External Affairs. Throughout her tenure, she championed initiatives to expand access to higher education for underrepresented populations—particularly adult learners and Latino students—and helped grow the university’s presence in the Greater Houston area by forging key partnerships with community colleges and corporate partners. Prior to UHV, she led community partnership and enrollment efforts for the University of Phoenix across Greater Houston and South Texas. Her leadership has been recognized nationally by the National Diversity Council, the Council for Latino Workplace Equity, and locally through honors such as Houston Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 and the DiversityFIRST Award. Why are you bringing your talent to Excelencia ? I migrated from Guatemala City at age 12 and, like many first-generation students, found the path to college difficult to navigate. Earning my doctorate degree was only possible because of the mentors and leaders who helped remove barriers along the way. Meeting Excelencia Co-founder Deborah Santiago, I was inspired by her passion to transform higher education to better support students like me. I feel deeply aligned with Excelencia’s mission to elevate institutions that are not only enrolling Latino students, but truly serving them with intention and impact. How would you describe working at Excelencia ? Working at Excelencia has been an incredibly rewarding experience. What stands out most is the passion and commitment of the team. The intentionality behind everything the founders and leadership do is inspiring. They've created a culture where we all speak with one voice to amplify our shared mission and vision to intentionally SERVE Latino students. It’s clear how respected and impactful Excelencia is on a national level, and being part of that legacy is both humbling and energizing.

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 Colorado, highlighting the need for strategies that accelerate Latino degree attainment and support success for all students. Latino College Completion - Colorado 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 61% Of White adults Fast Facts Colorado had the 8th largest Latino population in the U.S. Latino Population 32% K-12 Population 23% Total Population Enrollment 18% Latino Students 21% White Students Median Age 29 Latinos 41 White Median Income $41,250 Without a college degree $69,601 With a college degree Degree Outcomes At two-year institutions, Hispanics' graduation rate was 1%-point lower than that of their White non-Hispanic peers in Colorado. At four-year institutions, Hispanics' graduation rate was 15%-points lower than that of their White non-Hispanic peers in Colorado. 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 Metropolitan State University of Denver Public, 4-year or above 14,932 5,472 37% 2,689 779 29% 2 University of Colorado Boulder Public, 4-year or above 31,578 4,260 13% 6,965 820 12% 3 Colorado State University-Fort Collins Public, 4-year or above 25,148 3,934 16% 5,201 761 15% 4 Front Range Community College Public, 4-year or above 11,132 3,097 28% 1,937 423 22% 5 University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus Public, 4-year or above 10,686 2,956 28% 2,559 535 21% 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 Vermont, highlighting the need for strategies that accelerate Latino degree attainment and support success for all students. Latino College Completion - Vermont 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) 65% Of Latino adults (25 and over) had earned an associate degree or higher VS 52% Of White adults Fast Facts Vermont had the 50th largest Latino population in the U.S. Latino Population 4% K-12 Population 2% Total Population Enrollment 39% Latino Students 27% White Students Median Age 28 Latinos 45 White Median Income $41,691 Without a college degree $59,088 With a college degree Degree Outcomes At two-year institutions, Hispanics' graduation rate was 6%-points higher than that of their White non-Hispanic peers in Vermont. At four-year institutions, Hispanics' graduation rate was 5%-points lower than that of their White non-Hispanic peers in Vermont. 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 Vermont Public, 4-year or above 11,614 622 5% 2,603 119 5% 2 Middlebury College Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above 2,785 327 12% 611 58 9% 3 Champlain College Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above 2,870 277 10% 733 77 11% 4 Norwich University Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above 2,490 250 10% 731 68 9% 5 Vermont State University Public, 4-year or above 3,567 171 5% 1,028 29 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.

Cynthia Olivo is President of Fullerton College and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page Fullerton College Cynthia Olivo President Institution website: https://www.fullcoll.edu/ Bio Page: https://www.fullcoll.edu/president/#:~:text=About%20President%20Olivo,and%20academic%20excellence%20for%20students. Cynthia Olivo is President of Fullerton College and part of Excelencia in Action network.

Excelencia's infographic shows fast facts on Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) in 2024-25, including HSI growth and HSIs that have earned the Seal of Excelencia. < Back Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) Infographic: 2023-24 Excelencia in Education April 2026 DOWNLOADS/LINKS Infographic SHARE RESEARCH LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter) Copy link Overview This infographic shows fast facts on HSIs in 2024-25. There are now 631 HSIs. HSIs are located in 29 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Over two-thirds (70%) of HSIs are public institutions, and the majority of HSIs are four-year institutions. HSIs enroll and graduate 65% of all Latino undergraduates. HSIs enroll and graduate 32% of all undergraduates in the nation. Only 7% of HSIs (43) are Seal-certified institutions, demonstrating their higher standards and commitment to intentionally serving Latino, and all, students. See additional data related to 2024-25 HSIs: Fact Sheet List Emerging HSIs (eHSIs) List with Graduate Programs (gHSIs) List Interactive Dashboard Interactive StoryMaps Suggested Citation: Excelencia in Education. (2026). Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) Infographic: 2024-25 . 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

Mike Muñoz is Superintendent-President of Long Beach City College and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page Long Beach City College Mike Muñoz Superintendent-President Institution website: https://www.lbcc.edu/ Bio Page: https://www.lbcc.edu/office-president Mike Muñoz is Superintendent-President of Long Beach City College and part of Excelencia in Action network. Seal of Excelencia Recertified Institution: 2023-2026 Long Beach City College (LBCC) is the fourth-largest community college in California, serving nearly 24,000 undergraduate students. In 2023, over half (56%) of their students served were Latino, compared to 36% in 2010.