High Number of Hispanics Earning Health Care Degrees in FL

~New report highlights Florida higher education institutions ranked in the top 25 nationally for graduating Latinos in health care fields~

Tampa, FL– Florida comes out on top in a report recently released by one of Florida College Access Network’s national partners. Excelencia in Education’s “Finding Your Workforce: The Top 25 Institutions Graduating Latinos in Health Professions and Related Programs by Academic Level” provides an analysis of the top 25 institutions graduating Hispanics in health care fields nationally. The project’s goal is to help employers recruit recent Latino degree recipients in key sectors.

In the second report of the “Finding Your Workforce” series, Florida awarded the second highest total number of health care-related degrees or certificates to Latinos during the 2009 to 2010 school year. Among its national peers, Florida only followed second to Puerto Rico in this measure. Florida institutions making the top 25 in the nation include Florida International University, Miami Dade College, University of South Florida, University of Florida and University of Central Florida.

Florida International University ranks #1 in the nation for the total number of bachelor degrees it awards Hispanics in health professions or related programs. FIU also ranks second in health-related master degrees, and 24th in doctoral degrees awarded to Latinos in health professions during the 2009-10 school year.

The report also shows Miami Dade College awards more health care-related associate degrees to Latinos than any other institution in the country. Keiser University in Ft. Lauderdale ranks second in the same category.

University of South Florida’s main Tampa campus ranks high nationally on two lists: #20 in master degrees and #25 in doctoral degrees awarded to Latinos in health professions.

The University of Florida scores high in the report as well, placing 3rd for professional degrees, 13th for master degrees, 14th for doctoral degrees and 20th for bachelor degrees it awarded to Hispanics in health professions or related programs.

The University of Central Florida is in at #6 of U.S. institutions awarding the most bachelor degrees to Latinos in health fields.

Private universities round out the top 25 as well, including Nova Southeastern University which beats out all other national institutions that award health care-related professional degrees to Latinos. The University of Miami is 16th on that same list.

Other Florida institutions in the top 25 of all health care academic levels are Barry University, Broward College, Florida Career College-Miami, Florida National College, Fortis College-Miami, Medvance Institute and Professional Training Centers.

“This report highlights the tremendous achievement and success of our Hispanic students in Florida,” said Braulio Colón, Executive Director for the Florida College Access Network. “Most importantly, the report underscores the amazing talent that’s here ready to compete in the growing health care industry,” said Colón.

“Finding Your Workforce” is a project of Excelencia in Education’s national initiative “Ensuring America’s Future.” The “Finding Your Workforce” series will include future reports revealing and analyzing the top 25 institutions enrolling and graduating Latinos in other key sectors, such as science, technology, engineering, math, business, education and liberal arts.

For a complete look at the top 25 U.S. institutions graduating Latinos in health fields, click here. To download the full report click here.