Washington Monthly and Excelencia in Education Recognize Seal of Excelencia-Certified Institutions’ Positive Impact
MIAMI, Fla., August 31, 2026 – Miami Dade College (MDC) has been recognized as one of the top colleges and universities in economic mobility for Hispanic students in the nation by Washington Monthly and Excelencia in Education.
MDC is No. 5 among two-year institutions in the Washington Monthly’s second annual edition of the Best Colleges for Hispanic Students. This analysis combines the accessibility focus of the Monthly’s college rankings with the deep knowledge that Excelencia has built over more than 20 years of listening to, learning from, and working with institutions.
“Miami Dade College is proud to be recognized among the nation’s leading institutions for student success. For generations, MDC has understood that access to higher education is only the beginning. Students also need the support, opportunities and clear pathways that enable them to succeed, graduate and build stronger futures for themselves, their families and their communities,” said MDC President Madeline Pumariega. “This recognition reflects our longstanding and intentional work to advance Hispanic student achievement and the promise at the heart of our mission: to ensure every student who comes through our doors has a pathway to opportunity, economic mobility and a future filled with possibility.”
MDC first received the Seal of Excelencia in 2021, and its recertification in 2024. The Seal is a rigorous, student-centered, data-informed certification that holds colleges and universities accountable for showing momentum leading to continuous improvement in student outcomes. Institutions earn this standard of excellence through an intentional alignment of data, evidence-based practices, and leadership — all resulting in student success. There are 45 institutions that have earned the Seal, spanning three progressive levels of three-year certification: Certified, Recertified, and Intentionally Thriving Institutions (ITIs).
“The Seal of Excelencia recognizes and drives excellence at institutions serving Latino students because intentional, mission-driven investment in serving this population ensures all of our 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. That’s why Seal-certified institutions feature prominently in this year’s Best Colleges for Hispanic Students.”
Washington Monthly’s ranking focuses on Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), using Excelencia’s data on the transfer and graduation rates of Latino students to provide unique insight. Excelencia gathers this information and more on institutional efforts and policies from the hundreds of institutions that apply for the Seal of Excelencia. Institutions also submit data about diversity among faculty and staff, along with other metrics and descriptions of their programming, communications, and long-range planning around Hispanic education. To reflect those nuanced evaluations, the Monthly includes in its ranking whether an institution earned the Seal. To those metrics, it adds two accessibility measures: net price (the annual amount students pay when factoring in aid), and the percentage of students who receive Pell Grants.
“It is more important than ever to recognize and celebrate colleges that are doing right by their Hispanic students,” said Kainoa Lowman, Editor at the Washington Monthly. “That’s why the Monthly is proud to bring readers our second annual edition of the Best Colleges for Hispanic Students, which combines the social mobility focus of the Monthly’s college rankings with the deep knowledge that Excelencia in Education has built over decades of studying Hispanic performance in higher education. Considering the vital importance of the growing Hispanic student population to the overall health of America’s contracting higher 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.”
Colleges and universities that have earned the Seal account for 34 of the top 100 two-year and four-year colleges and universities educating Latinos nationwide. Seal-certified institutions lead the nation in closing degree attainment gaps, representing less than 1% of colleges/universities yet graduating 17% of Latino, and 7% of all, students.
As a federally designated Hispanic-Serving Institution, Miami Dade College is deeply committed to expanding access to higher education and creating pathways to economic mobility for Hispanic and other historically underserved students. Through affordable tuition, comprehensive student support services, workforce-aligned academic programs and strong partnerships with employers and community organizations, MDC helps students earn credentials and degrees that prepare them for in-demand careers and continued educational success. MDC’s commitment to serving its Hispanic students is reflected in its continued work as a Seal of Excelencia-certified institution and its broader mission to ensure that every student can achieve their educational and career goals.
About Miami Dade College
Miami Dade College (MDC) is the most diverse institution in the nation, with 167 nations and 63 languages represented in its student body. The college’s eight campuses and outreach centers offer over 300 distinct degree pathways, including associate and baccalaureate degrees, certifications and apprenticeships. MDC is the recipient of many top national awards, including the prestigious Aspen Prize, and has been ranked #4 among Top Public Institutions in the Southern Region by U.S. News & World Report. The College changes lives through accessible, high-quality teaching and learning experiences. It is home to the Miami Culinary Institute, the Miami Animation & Gaming International Complex, the Miami Fashion Institute, The Idea Center, the Cybersecurity Center of the Americas, two AI Centers, the Center for Learning, Innovation and Simulation at the Medical Campus, the Business Innovation & Technology Center, the School for Advanced Studies and New World School of the Arts, among others. MDC has been recognized among the nation’s “Great Colleges to Work For” since the program’s inception. The College serves as an economic, cultural and civic leader for the advancement of our diverse global community. MDC alumni and employees contribute more than $5 billion annually to the local economy, and graduates occupy top leadership positions in every major industry. MDC’s renowned rich cultural programming includes the Miami Book Fair, Miami Film Festival, the National Historic Landmark Miami Freedom Tower, Koubek Center Mansion and Gardens, Live Arts Miami at MDC, the Lynn and Louis Wolfson II Florida Moving Image Archives, and the Museum of Art and Design. MDC has admitted more than 2.5 million students and counting, since it opened its doors in 1960. Approximately 125,000 students are currently enrolled. For more information, visit www.mdc.edu.
About Excelencia in Education
Excelencia in Education leads a national network of results-oriented educators and policymakers transforming higher education to tap the talents of the Latino community and address the U.S. economy’s needs for a highly educated workforce and engaged civic leaders. With this network, Excelencia ensures access to excellence by promoting student achievement, informing educational policies, and advancing evidence-based practices to serve Latino more intentionally, and all, students. For more information, visit: EdExcelencia.org
About Washington Monthly
The Washington Monthly is a nonprofit print and digital outlet devoted to ahead-of-the-curve coverage of politics, government, and public affairs. Its College Guide and Rankings, first published in 2005, has helped upend the conventional wisdom about what constitutes quality in higher education and received an Education Writers Association Award for data journalism. Learn more at: https://washingtonmonthly.com/