Salem State University and the University of Massachusetts Amherst have become the first institutions in Massachusetts to receive the Seal of Excelencia, a national certification that recognizes colleges and universities for their commitment to supporting Latino students in higher education.

The certification was awarded on Tuesday by Excelencia in Education, an organization dedicated to promoting Latino student success. This year, 21 institutions nationwide earned the Seal of Excelencia.

At UMass Amherst, Latino undergraduate enrollment has nearly doubled over the past decade, rising to 11.7 percent in fall 2026 from 6.7 percent in fall 2016. Salem State University reported an even larger increase, with Latino students comprising 28 percent of the student body in fall 2025, more than twice the 12.1 percent recorded in 2015. Salem State is also recognized as the first four-year public Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) in Massachusetts, a designation given to colleges with at least 25 percent Latino undergraduate enrollment.

UMass Amherst Chancellor Javier A. Reyes praised the recognition, emphasizing the university’s focus on inclusive campus environments and equitable access to education. “This recognition affirms our efforts to ensure access, success and an inclusive campus climate for all students,” Reyes said.

Elisa Castillo, assistant vice president for HSI-MSI initiatives at Salem State, highlighted the importance of supporting Latino student success in Massachusetts, where Latinos represent one of the fastest-growing and youngest demographic groups. Castillo noted that Latino adults in the state earn college degrees at significantly lower rates than their white counterparts—30 percent compared to 60 percent—according to Excelencia’s 2026 report. Graduation rates for Latino students at four-year institutions are also approximately eight percentage points lower than those of white students.

The Massachusetts Department of Higher Education reported in 2025 that adults with degrees from four-year public institutions earn up to $30,000 more annually than those with only a high school diploma, underscoring the importance of higher education attainment for economic advancement.

To address these gaps, Salem State is expanding initiatives such as transfer pathways, early college programs, employment coaching, and multilingual support services targeted to Spanish-speaking students. Castillo described these efforts as part of a broader goal to close longstanding disparities in educational access and success across the Commonwealth.

Since 2024, Excelencia in Education has certified 55 colleges and universities nationwide. Institutions awarded the Seal of Excelencia are evaluated on their data-driven practices in Latino student recruitment, retention, graduation, and leadership engagement in fostering Latino student achievement. Although institutions with the certification make up less than 2 percent of all colleges and universities in the United States, they enroll 16 percent of Latino college students nationally, according to Excelencia.

Deborah Santiago, CEO of Excelencia in Education, said the certified institutions exemplify “strength of purpose and impact” amid significant changes in higher education. The Seal of Excelencia aims to spotlight institutional efforts that promote educational equity and prepare Latino students to contribute meaningfully to the country’s future workforce and society.