LANSING, Mich. — Hispanic students in Michigan have posted some of the state’s strongest long-term gains in Advanced Placement participation, a trend that points to broader access to college-level coursework but also leaves room for continued growth in opportunity and support.
A 2026 Michigan Merit Curriculum legislative report found the 10-year growth in the percentage of Hispanic or Latino students in grades 10, 11 and 12 who took AP exams in Michigan reached 173%, compared with 77% nationally. The same report found participation by Hispanic students increased 3.2% over the previous year, while the number scoring 3 or higher on an AP exam rose 12.5%.
State education data put those gains in concrete terms. In 2025, 5,233 Hispanic or Latino students in Michigan took at least one AP exam, up from 5,072 the year before. The number of Hispanic students scoring 3, 4 or 5 rose from 2,976 to 3,348. A score of 3 or above often qualifies a student for college credit, making the increase significant both academically and financially for families.
The Hispanic gains came during a record-setting year for AP in Michigan overall. The Michigan Department of Education reported that 65,906 students took at least one AP exam in 2025, a 4.5% increase from 2024. Students took 118,219 AP exams, and 49,708 students earned scores of 3, 4 or 5, both statewide records.
The trend matters beyond test-taking. AP courses are one of the main ways Michigan students can access college-level work while still in high school. The state ties AP to broader goals around expanding secondary learning opportunities and increasing high school completion. Higher participation and stronger scores among Hispanic students suggest more students are entering rigorous coursework that can improve college readiness and reduce future tuition costs through earned credit.
The gains also come as Michigan’s Hispanic population continues to grow. State labor market analysis found Michigan’s Hispanic or Latino population increased 28.6% between 2013 and 2023, reaching nearly 600,000 residents. That growth makes educational attainment and access to advanced coursework an increasingly important issue for districts, colleges and employers across the state.
Even with the progress, the data point to a continuing need to widen access. Hispanic residents made up about 6% of Michigan’s population in recent Census and state analyses, while the state’s AP data show thousands of students are participating but still represent a relatively modest share of total AP test takers. Sustaining the recent growth will likely depend on whether schools continue expanding awareness, advising and course access in communities that have historically been underrepresented in advanced coursework.
