Sep. 29, 2023
AUSTIN, Texas — St. Edward’s University has earned the national Seal of Excelencia for its academic success, retention and graduation rates for Latino students.
St. Edward’s is the only Catholic university, first private university in Texas and second private university in the U.S. to receive this distinguished three-year certification.
St. Edwards, a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) for more than 30 years, has developed an infrastructure and programming to support Latino student success through qualitative and quantitative data. This includes fostering an environment of belonging and support where our students feel accepted and prepared for success on the hilltop and beyond.
“Earning the Seal of Excelencia is a reaffirmation of the accountability St. Edward’s has to inspire our Hispanic and Latino students to pursue their academic goals and achieve them,” said St. Edward’s University President Montserrat Fuentes. “The Seal is a testament of our dedication to our students’ success, because they are our future.”
Commitment to the success of our Latino students begins the moment they arrive on campus and continues throughout their academic journey. The university pairs students with mentors, success coaches and tutors on their path to graduation, as well as providing students with academic opportunities that answer future workforce needs. Additionally, St. Edward’s tracks data on the debt, employment and earnings of our Latino graduates to help ensure our students are leading fulfilling professional lives and have financial stability after graduation.
St. Edward’s has increased financial support for our Latino students which provides access to scholarships, paid internships and experiential learning opportunities that put their knowledge to practice. In Spring 2023, the university received a more than $2.1 million grant from The Hector and Gloria López Foundation (HGLF) that provides full tuition assistance for first-generation Latino college students, as well as a $50,000 grant from the Hispanic Bar Association of Austin (HBAA) in Summer 2023 to establish an endowment providing future financial support opportunities for Pre-Law Hispanic students.
St. Edward’s is one of just 39 institutions, approximately 1% of U.S. colleges and universities, to earn the Seal of Excelencia from Excelencia In Education, a nonprofit with a mission to accelerate Latino student success in higher education. The Seal serves as a roadmap for universities — led by data, practice and leadership — that supports a path toward intentionally serving Latino students and preparing them for success in their professional careers.
About St. Edward’s University
St. Edward’s University is a private university in the Catholic, Holy Cross tradition with approximately 3,600 students. Located in Austin, Texas, it is one of the top universities in the state and offers more than 50 undergraduate, seven master’s degree programs and a doctorate program. St. Edward’s delivers a premier, highly personalized education that provides students distinctive academics and extensive internships, research and service learning opportunities on a vibrant and inclusive hilltop campus in a world-class city. St. Edward’s has been recognized for 21 consecutive years as one of “America’s Best Colleges” by U.S. News & World Report. In the 2024 Best Colleges rankings, St. Edward’s ranked #6 in the Best Regional University in the West category.