21 colleges just earned a seal for actually moving Latino students forward

A seal is easy to print; outcomes are harder. Excelencia in Education has awarded its 2026 Seal of Excelencia to 21 colleges and universities, and the certification — valid for three years — is based on demonstrated, continuous improvement in outcomes for Latino students, and for all students. Co-founder and CEO Deborah Santiago said the certified institutions present strength of purpose and impact at a moment of great change in higher education, showing what it looks like when students succeed because of their institutions, not despite them. The network's aim is practical: use evidence-based practices to tap the talents of the Latino community and meet the country's workforce needs, and show other institutions how it is done.

SDG 4 · Quality education — Mechanism: institutional program