Salem State University and the University of Massachusetts Amherst became the first universities in the state on Tuesday to earn a prestigious certification that recognizes their commitment to supporting Latino students.
The certification, called the Seal of Excelencia, was awarded to 19 other institutions this year by Excelencia in Education, a national organization advocating for Latino students in higher education.
“Excelencia is proud to work with these leaders that show us how it looks when students succeed because of their institutions, not despite them,” said Excelencia CEO Deborah Santiago in a statement Tuesday. “Together, we are cultivating talent that will ensure America’s future.”
Both Salem State and UMass Amherst have increased Latino student enrollment and retention over the past decade.
In fall 2026, 11.7 percent of undergraduate students at UMass Amherst identified as Latino or Hispanic, up from 6.7 percent from fall 2016. At Salem State, 28 percent of students identified as Latino as of fall 2025, more than double the 12.1 percent reported in 2015.
In a separate statement from UMass Amherst, UMass Amherst Chancellor Javier A. Reyes said he was proud to welcome a growing number of Latino students to the university.
“This recognition affirms our efforts to ensure access, success and an inclusive campus climate for all students,” Reyes said.
Salem State University was recently recognized as the first four-year public Hispanic-Serving Institution, or HSI, in Massachusetts, a designation assigned to universities with an undergraduate enrollment of more than 25 percent Latino students. It is one of 15 other officially designated “minority-serving institutions” in Massachusetts.
Suzanne Kreiter/Globe Staff
“Because our Latino population is growing very fast, and it’s the youngest population we have, supporting our Latino student success is part of the key to the future for Massachusetts,” said Elisa Castillo, assistant vice president for HSI-MSI initiatives at Salem State. “This is just the beginning.”
In Massachusetts, only 30 percent of Latino adults earned an associate degree or higher, compared to 60 percent of white adults, Excelencia reported in 2026. Latino students’ graduation rate was 8 percentage points lower than their white peers at four-year institutions in the state.
A 2025 report from the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education found that adults with degrees from four-year public institutions earned up to $30,000 more annually compared to those with a high school diploma.
Castillo said Salem State is continuing to implement new support initiatives for Latino students, including transfer student pathways, early college programs for local students, employment guidance coaching, and multilingual programs for Spanish speakers.
“Massachusetts has been known for leadership in education for centuries and we are absolutely proud of the academic community in our area, but there have been gaps in terms of who has access to a college education and who succeeds in a college education,” Callisto said. “Through this work, we’re hoping to close those gaps, not just at Salem State, but in the Commonwealth.”
Excelencia in Education has awarded the seal to 55 colleges and universities since 2024. Schools are evaluated based on data and practices regarding Latino student enrollment, support, and representation, as well as how leadership has actively served and fostered achievement for Latino students both pre- and post-graduation.
“Seal of Excelencia certified institutions present strength of purpose and impact at a moment of great change in higher education,” said Santiago.
According to Excelencia, seal-certified institutions represent less than two percent of all colleges and universities across the country, but enroll 16 percent of Latino students in the US.
Chloe Craft can be reached at chloe.craft@globe.com.
