Cal State LA recognized among nation’s best colleges for Hispanic student economic mobility

Cal State LA has again ranked among the nation's best higher learning institutions for transforming the lives of its students, with the latest findings focusing on its Hispanicpopulation.

Washington Monthly and Excelencia in Education ranked Cal State LA as No. 4 among four-year institutions in economic mobility for Hispanic students. The joint analysis was released Sunday, August 30, in Washington Weekly's second annual edition of the Best Colleges for Hispanic Students.

The analysis combines the accessibility focus of Washington Monthly's college rankings with the knowledge Excelencia has built over more than two decades of listening to, learning from, and working with institutions.

"This ranking validates our mission as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) to improve academic attainment and drivesocioeconomic mobility," Cal State LA President Berenecea Johnson Eanes said. "We ensure our students are well primed in our classrooms to take on all challengesas soon as they begin their meaningful careers. We transform their lives which, in turn, allows our students touplift generations of their families."

Its impressive standing in Washington Weekly's reportearned Cal State LA the Seal of Excelencia, a rigorous, student-centered, data-informed certification that holdscolleges and universities accountable for showing momentum leading to continuous improvement in student outcomes.

Cal State LA was among 45 institutions to earn the Seal this year. Universities and colleges earned this standard of excellence through an intentional alignment of data, evidence-based practices, and leadership that lead to student success.

"The Seal of Excelencia recognizes and drives excellence at institution serving Latino students because intentional, mission-driven investment in serving this population ensures all students, communities, and country are served," said Deborah Santiago, Excelencia in Education co-founder and CEO. "For students and families, the Seal is a clear signal that an institution creates the conditions needed for them to thrive before and beyond graduation."

Cal State LA in recent years has set for its general population a high standard for upward mobility, the measurement of how effectively colleges enroll economically disadvantaged students and graduate them into high-paying careers.

In 2022, Opportunity Insights at Harvard University named Cal State LA as No. 1 in the nation for upward mobility. Two years later, the California Mobility Index's inaugural rankings of the state's institutions also placed Cal State LAin the top position.

Washington Monthly's rankings focus on HSIs, using Excelencia's data on the transfer and graduation rates of Latino students to provide unique insight. Excelenciagathers its information on institutional efforts and policies from hundreds of universities and colleges for the Seal.

Institutions also submit data about diversity among faculty and staff, along with metrics and descriptions around Hispanic education.

In its rankings, Washington Monthly includes whether an institution has earned the Seal and then adds two accessibility measures: net price of tuition and the percentage of students who receive Pell Grants.

Universities and wecolleges that have earned the Seal account for 34 of the top 100 two- and four-year institutions education Latinos across the country. Seal-certified institutions lead the nation in closing degree attainment gaps, representing less than 1% of colleges and universities, yet graduating 17% of Latino students and 7% of all students.

"It is more important than ever to recognize and celebrate colleges that are doing right by their Hispanic students," said Kainoa Lowman, Washington Monthly editor. "Considering the vital importance of the growing Hispanic student population to the overall health of America's contracting high education system, the top schools in this ranking provide a model that other institutions should look to for lessons on how to serve that population well."

California State University, Los Angeles is the premier comprehensive public university in the heart of Los Angeles. Cal State LA is ranked number one in the United States for the upward mobility of its students. Cal State LA is dedicated to engagement, service, and the public good, offering nationally recognized programs in science, the arts, business, criminal justice, engineering, nursing, education, and the humanities. Founded in 1947, the University serves more than 22,000 students and has more than 260,000 distinguished alumni.