Best Colleges for Hispanic Students
Founded in 1986, the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) works to formally recognize campuses committed to higher education access and success within Hispanic communities. Today, the group maintains a membership network of more than 500 colleges and universities designated as Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs).
To be an HSI, an institution must have an undergraduate enrollment that is at least 25% Hispanic. These institutions usually offer supportive academic and student life resources developed especially for Latino/a and Hispanic students while also celebrating these cultures. Keep reading to learn about some of the country’s top HSIs and learn about the value of these important institutions.
Why Attend a Hispanic-Serving Institution?
Attending a Hispanic-serving institution offers many benefits for Hispanic students, ranging from academic support and cultural representation to resources and advocacy. We review three of these benefits below.
Academic Support
HSIs offer dedicated academic support to Hispanic students, such as customized orientations, advising, and translation services for students and their families. This kind of tailored support can be crucial to ensure Latino/a retention in college. In a study conducted by the Postsecondary National Policy Institute, HSIs maintained a substantially higher retention rate of Hispanic students than non-Hispanic-serving institutions did.
Cultural Representation
HSIs provide a unique culture that advances Hispanic achievement and provides resources specific to this population. HSI students can find plenty of tailored clubs and organizations, Hispanic or bilingual professors, and events celebrating their history and heritage. The best HSIs will also make an effort to recruit and hire Latino/a faculty and staff.
Workforce Preparation
A report by Excelencia in Education details how HSIs focus on integrated workforce preparation, including experiential learning experiences that help Hispanic students gain the tools and skills needed to find a job after graduating. Many also work with local employers to provide internship and networking opportunities.
Best Hispanic-Serving Institutions of 2023
How We Rank Schools
At BestColleges, we believe a college education is one of the most important investments you can make for yourself. We want to help you navigate the college selection process by offering transparent, inclusive, and relevant school rankings.
Our rankings are grounded in a few guiding principles and use the latest statistical data available from trusted sources. Read our ranking methodology. We hope our approach helps you find the school that’s best for you.
We ranked the U.S.’s nearly 300 accredited four-year Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) by academics to bring you this list of the best colleges for Hispanic students.
The University of Texas at Austin
- Austin, TX
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$11,448
- Out-of-state$40,032
- In-State$12,028
- Out-of-state$22,886
- Retention Rate97%
- Acceptance Rate32%
- Students Enrolled50,476
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment92%
- AccreditationYes
Hallmark University
- San Antonio, TX
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- Retention Rate71%
- Acceptance Rate41%
- Students Enrolled987
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment77%
- AccreditationYes
Florida International University
- Miami, FL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$4,721
- Out-of-state$16,529
- In-State$8,912
- Out-of-state$21,393
- Retention Rate91%
- Acceptance Rate58%
- Students Enrolled58,836
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment86%
- AccreditationYes
Pacific Oaks College
- Pasadena, CA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$11,482
- Out-of-state$11,482
- In-State$21,074
- Out-of-state$21,074
- Retention Rate0%
- Acceptance Rate27%
- Students Enrolled1,238
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment77%
- AccreditationYes
Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico-Miami
- Miami, FL
- 4 year
- Online
- In-State$12,240
- Out-of-state$12,240
- In-State$7,110
- Out-of-state$7,110
- Retention Rate100%
- Acceptance Rate0%
- Students Enrolled162
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment100%
- AccreditationYes
University of California-Irvine
- Irvine, CA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$11,442
- Out-of-state$41,196
- In-State$11,442
- Out-of-state$26,544
- Retention Rate94%
- Acceptance Rate30%
- Students Enrolled36,303
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment99%
- AccreditationYes
Texas A&M University
- College Station, TX
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$8,395
- Out-of-state$36,849
- In-State$6,775
- Out-of-state$19,048
- Retention Rate94%
- Acceptance Rate63%
- Students Enrolled70,418
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment33%
- AccreditationYes
University of Central Florida
- Orlando, FL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$4,478
- Out-of-state$19,810
- In-State$6,916
- Out-of-state$25,759
- Retention Rate92%
- Acceptance Rate45%
- Students Enrolled71,881
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment9%
- AccreditationYes
University of California-Santa Barbara
- Santa Barbara, CA
- 4 year
- Campus
- In-State$11,442
- Out-of-state$41,196
- In-State$11,442
- Out-of-state$26,544
- Retention Rate91%
- Acceptance Rate37%
- Students Enrolled26,179
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment100%
- AccreditationYes
San Diego State University
- San Diego, CA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$5,742
- Out-of-state$17,622
- In-State$7,176
- Out-of-state$16,680
- Retention Rate89%
- Acceptance Rate37%
- Students Enrolled36,334
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment99%
- AccreditationYes
5 Resources for Hispanic College Students
- Hispanic Scholarship Fund:HSF offers several scholarships each academic year, ranging from $500 to $5,000. The group also provides resources and support services to help Hispanic students and their families navigate higher education.
- League of United Latin American Citizens:LULAC offers a range of scholarships to help undergraduate and graduate Hispanic students find the funding needed to earn degrees.
- Association of Latino Professionals for America:ALPFA provides membership to students and professionals alike, offering access to job boards, programming, events, resources, and funding opportunities.
- Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers: As the nation’s largest professional body devoted to Hispanic STEM professionals, SHPE provides members access to internships, mentorships, scholarships, career services and other resources.
- National Society of Hispanic MBAs: With chapters located across the country, NSHMBA advocates for educational access while providing opportunities for professional advancement.
Frequently Asked Questions About Colleges for Hispanic Students
Which colleges are Hispanic/Latino/a-friendly?
Many colleges feature a diverse student population and provide services and support for learners from all backgrounds. However, due to their large Hispanic representation, HSIs tend to offer more specialized services, programs, and events to Hispanic and Latino/a students. Prospective students can locate HSIs in HACU’s database.
Are there any Hispanic-only colleges?
While many schools feature a predominantly Hispanic population, no schools restrict access to other races and ethnicities. However, in many schools in Puerto Rico, such as the University of Puerto Rico Arecibo, Hispanic students make up 100% of the student population, according to Excelencia in Education, a nonprofit research organization that aims to “accelerate Latino student success in higher education.
What university has the largest Hispanic population?
Florida International University boasts the largest population of Hispanic learners in the U.S.with more than 32,000 Hispanic students out of 45,400 undergraduate students.
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