Report: Progress Made in Latino College Graduation Rates, Equity Gaps Remain

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The gap in college graduation rates between Latinos and Whites across the United States dropped from 14% to 9% over the past two years, although data varied from state to state, according to a new report by Excelencia in Education.

The report collected state-level data on student populations, educational attainment of adults, multiple comparative measures of equity gaps in degree attainment, the top five institutions enrolling and graduating Latinos, and examples of promising, evidence-based practices in each state for improving Latino college completion.

Nationally, the top-five institutions awarding bachelor’s degrees to Latinos were: Florida International University, University of Phoenix (online), The University of Texas at El Paso, The University of Texas – Pan American, and Arizona State University.

Several trends emerged:

• Latinos are younger. Nationally, the median age for Latinos was 27 compared to a median age of 42 for White, non-Hispanics.
• Latinos’ share of the student population is bigger that its share of the national population. Nationally, Latino youth represent 22% of the K-12 public school population and 17% of the U.S. population overall.
• Latino adults have lower degree attainment levels. Nationally, 20% of U.S. Latino adults had a post-secondary degree compared to 36% of all adults.

The report aims to inform national and state-level action on Latino college completion.

“This important and painstaking research from Excelencia in Education on Latino college completion tells us not only where we are in each state, but provides examples of successful programs to move us in a positive direction,” said Rep. Raúl Grijalva (Arizona), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Education Task Force. “Such concise and actionable research is invaluable to policy makers and education leaders at all levels.”

View state-by-state data here.