Cerritos College has been named the #1 community college in California and #6 in the nation for serving Hispanic students, according to Washington Monthly’s Best Colleges for Hispanic Students ranking, produced in partnership with Excelencia in Education.
The report recognizes colleges closing equity gaps and expanding opportunities for Hispanic and first-generation students. This recognition places Cerritos College among the top Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) in the country and adds to a growing list of national honors, including being named a 2025 Examples of Excelencia honoree and #1 in Los Angeles County for return on investment (ROI).
Together, these distinctions highlight Cerritos College’s leadership in affordability, completion, and career outcomes. The Washington Monthly analysis, based on 2022 data from Excelencia in Education, evaluated institutions on social mobility indicators such as graduation and transfer rates, affordability, faculty diversity, and the Seal of Excelencia certification.
Among roughly 615 HSIs nationwide, only 151 submitted data for ranking consideration. This underscores Cerritos College’s commitment to transparency and student success. Cerritos College continues to deliver measurable results. In 2024–25, the college awarded a record 9,291 degrees and certificates.
A recent study by the College Futures Foundation and The HEA Group found that students recoup their educational investment in just two months and earn a median salary nearly $9,000 higher than peers with only a high school diploma.
“This recognition is not just about numbers, it’s about lives changed,” said Dr. Jose Fierro, president/superintendent of Cerritos College. “We are #1 because our students graduate, transfer, and thrive. Cerritos College is leading a movement in public higher education that puts people first and never stops delivering.”
