Texas Border Business
By Amanda Sotelo
McALLEN, Texas – Continuing in tradition, South Texas College has once again been ranked among the nation’s top institutions in economic mobility for Hispanic students – a ranking recently published by Excelencia in Education and Washington Monthly.
“STC’s continued recognition as a national leader in economic mobility for Hispanic students reflects our commitment to transforming lives through quality, accessible education,” said STC President Ricardo J. Solis, Ph.D. “It is our responsibility to ensure that our students have the resources and support they need to succeed, and this recognition is a testament to the impact our faculty and staff have on our students, and it reinforces our mission to create pathways that empower and strengthen our communities to build a brighter future for South Texas.”
This classification by Washington Monthly, focuses on Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), like STC, using transfer data and graduation rates of Latino students to provide unique insight into these rankings. Additionally, other metrics such as programming, communications, long-range planning around Hispanic education, net price and Pell grant recipient participants, play a role in evaluation.
According to the report, 39% of students at STC are awarded Pell grants, tuition is around $1,844, making STC one of the most affordable colleges in the state and the Hispanic graduation rate sits at 42%.
“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.”
STC boasts a Seal of Excelencia, a rigorous, student-centered, data-informed certification from Excelencia, that holds colleges like STC accountable for showing momentum leading to continuous improvements in student outcomes.
“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.”
With a Hispanic student population of 95%, STC has long committed to becoming a place where all students thrive. Since its inception in 1993, the college continues to make a positive impact on the communities it serves within Hidalgo and Starr Counties and nationally through innovative programming and technological advances.
STC’s apprenticeships, dual credit programs, new programming such as Artificial Intelligence and Avionics Technician, among other major achievements such as being named the Nation’s No. 1 Hispanic-Service Institution last year, has kept STC on the national map.
“This new ranking reinforces STC’s regional and national impact. Over the last three decades, STC has remained steadfast to meeting the growing needs of our students, workforce and communities through bold solutions and cutting-edge programs, emerging technologies and meaningful educational opportunities,” said Solis. “Our work here in South Texas has become and remains a national model that promotes success for Latinos, and all, students.”
