Latino College Completion - Iowa

Overview

Nationally, the gap in degree completion between Latinos and their White peers has increased. However, different patterns emerge within each state or location. To reach the Latino degree attainment goal by 2030, states can close the degree completion gap by accelerating Latino completion while increasing for all students and scale up programs and initiatives that work for Latino, and all, students.

To find out more, scroll below.

  

Degree Attainment for Latino Students (2021), Iowa

26%
Of Latino adults (25 and over) had earned an associate degree or higher
VS
44%
of White adults

Iowa Fast Facts

Iowa had the 36th largest Latino population in the U.S.

Latino Population

11%
K-12 Population
7%
Total Population

Median Age

23
Latinos
41
White

2-Year Graduation Rate

31%
Latino Students
43%
White Students

4-Year Graduation Rate

59%
Latino Students
73%
White Students

Degree Outcomes

At two-year institutions, Hispanics' graduation rate was 12%-points lower than that of their White non-Hispanic peers in Iowa.

At four-year institutions, Hispanics' graduation rate was 14%-points lower than that of their White non-Hispanic peers in Iowa.

Latino College Completion Degree Outcomes

Top Iowa Institutions

Enrolling: Top Institutions (Hispanic Undergraduates) in Iowa, 2021-2022

Rank Institution Sector Grand Total Hispanic Total % Hispanic
1 University of Iowa Public, 4-year or above 21198 1811 9%
2 Iowa State University Public, 4-year or above 25537 1790 7%
3 Des Moines Area Community College Public, 2-year 10175 852 8%
4 Western Iowa Tech Community College Public, 2-year 2657 587 22%
5 Kirkwood Community College Public, 2-year 7778 548 7%

Associates Degrees: Top Institutions Awarding to Hispanics in Iowa, 2020-2021

Rank Institution Sector Grand Total Hispanic Total % Hispanic
1 Des Moines Area Community College Public, 2-year 1996 125 6%
2 Kirkwood Community College Public, 2-year 1625 110 7%
3 Eastern Iowa Community College District Public, 2-year 835 94 11%
4 Western Iowa Tech Community College Public, 2-year 417 59 14%
5 Iowa Central Community College Public, 2-year 732 48 7%

Bachelors Degrees: Top Institutions Awarding to Hispanics in Iowa, 2020-2021

Rank Institution Sector Grand Total Hispanic Total % Hispanic
1 University of Iowa Public, 4-year or above 5283 408 8%
2 Iowa State University Public, 4-year or above 6405 345 5%
3 University of Northern Iowa Public, 4-year or above 2227 92 4%
4 Upper Iowa University Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above 933 74 8%
5 Drake University Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above 628 49 8%

Examples of What Works for Latino Students

Here are some institutions showing success in enrolling, retaining, and graduating Latino students:

Sources

Excelencia in Education. (2020). Ensuring America’s Future: Benchmarking Latino College Completion to 2030. Excelencia in Education. Washington, D.C.

U.S. Census Bureau, 2021 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates.

Excelencia in Education Analysis using the U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), 2021 Fall Enrollment, Graduation Rates Survey and Institutional Characteristics Survey.