Loyola Marymount University has once again been recognized for its success in enrolling and graduating Hispanic students from its undergraduate and post-graduate degree programs.
This time, the prestigious magazine Hispanic Outlook published its rankings and LMU was the top-ranked California private university in the number and percentage of Hispanic students earning bachelor’s degrees.
Among post-graduate degree-granting institutions in the state, LMU ranked second in the number and percentage of students earning a master’s or doctoral degree. (The rankings were published this month and are derived from 2010 data compiled by the National Center for Educational Statistics, according to the magazine.)
Nationwide and including public institutions, LMU ranked 35th for the number of doctoral degrees presented to Hispanic students, 41st for master’s degrees, and 89th for bachelor’s degrees.
David W. Burcham, LMU president, frequently stresses the importance of having a diverse campus.
“Diversity stimulates debate and requires students to step out of their own shoes to consider other points of view. That is the essence of a sound, strong education,” Burcham said. ““We are extremely proud of this recognition by Hispanic Outlook. The intercultural, interreligious and interracial dialogue at LMU embodies who we are and the richness of our campus.”
LMU is diverse with 27.6 percent of undergraduates from traditionally under-represented minorities, comprised of 19.2 percent Hispanic/Latino, 7.7 percent African-American and 0.7 percent Native American in 2010. Further, LMU undergraduates include other racial and ethnic minorities, bringing the total non-Anglo enrollment to 43.5 percent of all undergraduates.
Among Jesuit colleges and universities, LMU was top-ranked in bachelor’s and master’s recipients, and second to Fordham University for doctoral degrees.
Last year, LMU was among 11 public and private universities singled out by The Education Trust for the best combined graduation rates for Hispanic and African-American students. The studies, “Big Gaps, Small Gaps,” had two components, with one study focused on Hispanic students and the other on African-American students. The studies examined the disparity in the graduation rates of Hispanic and African-American students when compared white students at the same institutions. LMU ranked No. 7 among private institutions with the most-favorable graduation rates for Hispanic students and No. 13 for graduating African-American students.