The Top Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) to Recruit Entry-Level Candidates
To fill talent pipelines with high-caliber entry-level and early-career candidates from diverse backgrounds, many companies have focused on recruiting at HBCUs, Women’s Colleges, and HSIs. The latter of the three – Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) – are defined as non-profit institutions of higher learning with a full-time undergraduate population of at least 25% Hispanic. HSIs have been around since the 1980s. In 1992, the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities prompted Congress to formally recognize campuses with high Hispanic enrollment as Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) and allocate federal appropriations.
There are more than 550 HSIs in the United States, comprised of several types of colleges, including private and public institutions with two-year or four-year programs. With such a wide range of schools, HSIs offer excellent education and essential support for students who may are typically underrepresented and may even be the first in their families to attend college. Thousands of bright, talented graduates are ready to enter the workforce.
If you want to include HSIs in your list of core schools and find talented entry-level and early-career candidates, we’ve compiled a list of some of the top HSIs (listed in alphabetical order) with advanced courses, inclusive resource centers, and diverse learning opportunities that support their Hispanic and Latinx communities.
California Lutheran University
Location: Thousand Oaks, CA
Size of undergraduate student body: 2,513
Percentage of Hispanic/Latinx students enrolled: 39%
School type: Private
The students at California Lutheran University represent 59 countries, participate in 100+ student clubs and organizations, and make up 30,000 alumni around the world. It’s ranked 6th by U.S. News for Regional Universities West, and the most popular majors include business administration and management, psychology, social sciences, and communication & journalism. California Lutheran University was also ranked 3rd by U.S. News for Best Colleges for Veterans and 7th for Best Value Schools.
California State University, Dominguez Hills
Location: Carson, CA
Size of undergraduate student body: 17,778
Percentage of Hispanic/Latinx students enrolled: 67%
School type: Public
California State University, Dominguez Hills, is ranked 56th in Regional Universities West and #18 in top performers on Social Mobility. The school has a strong Chicano and Chicana Studies Program to give students a better understanding of the political, economic, and cultural perspectives of the surrounding Mexican American community. Students at Cal State Dominguez Hill also organized the Adelante activist group to strengthen the Latinx voice on campus. Additionally, in 2021, the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs named CSUDH a Fulbright Hispanic-Serving Institutions Leader in the inaugural year of this designation.
California State University, Fullerton
Location: Fullerton, CA
Size of undergraduate student body: 40,738
Percentage of Hispanic/Latinx students enrolled: 48%
School type: Public
California State University, Fullerton, was designated an HSI in 2004 by the U.S. Department of Education. They offer 55 undergraduate programs across many areas of study. The school has also created the Enhancing Postbaccalaureate Opportunities at CSUF for Hispanic Students (EPOCHS) program to provide academic workshops, tutoring, bilingual newsletters, and student handbooks to help students get accustomed to college life. Some of the most popular majors include business, health professions, communication, and psychology.
California State University, Los Angeles
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Size of undergraduate student body: 27,516
Percentage of Hispanic/Latinx students enrolled: 72%
School type: Public
California State University, Los Angeles, is ranked 24th in Regional Universities West and is known for its Chicano/a Resource Center and Department of Chicano/a and Latino/a Studies. With more than three-quarters of the student population being Hispanic and Latinx, these programs are unique for Mexican American students who are eager to learn more about their heritage in the city of Los Angeles while being surrounded by other students of the same background. Some of the most popular areas of study are business, health, social sciences, and education. The school includes some prestigious names, including tennis star Billie Jean King.
CUNY Hunter College
Location: New York, NY
Size of undergraduate student body: 24,099
Percentage of Hispanic/Latinx students enrolled: 31%
School type: Public
CUNY Hunter College is ranked 21st in Regional Universities North and has a unique Department of Africana and Puerto Rican/Latinx Studies. The curriculum explores the history of African people in the Americas, the Caribbean, and Africa. And with the school being centered in a heavily-populated Afro-Latinx area, students receive coursework that may not be offered at many other HSIs. CUNY Hunter also offers a large arts program and grants degrees in art, dance, film, music, and theater.
CUNY Lehman College
Location: Bronx, NY
Size of undergraduate student body: 14,392
Percentage of Hispanic/Latinx students enrolled: 57%
School type: Public
CUNY Lehman College is ranked 81st in Regional Universities North and #6 in Top Performers on Social Mobility, with more than half the student population being Hispanic and Latinx. The school has a wide array of cultural programs to support student diversity, including the Latino SEEK Program, Multilingual Journalism Program, and ENLACE Program to help boost student enrollment, engagement, and graduation rates. In 2022, Lehman College was a recognized driver of economic mobility, as it was ranked by Degree Choices as No. 1 nationwide among 300 “Best Hispanic-Serving Institutions” for 2022.
CUNY Queens College
Location: Queens, NY
Size of undergraduate student body: 18,772
Percentage of Hispanic/Latinx students enrolled: 30%
School type: Public
CUNY Queens College offers more than 170 programs in the arts and humanities, sciences, and social sciences. It also has more computer science majors than any other university in New York City, and more than one-third of the college’s undergraduates major in the sciences. The college is located in Queens, one of the most ethnically diverse counties in the U.S., and hosts students from more than 150 nations. CUNY Queens College ranked 58th for Regional Universities North by U.S. News, and Princeton Review included it in its first-ever guide to green colleges in 2017.
Florida International University
Location: Miami, FL
Size of undergraduate student body: 56,732
Percentage of Hispanic/Latinx students enrolled: 68%
School type: Public
Florida International University will be on almost any list of top HSIs since it was named the top institution awarding bachelor’s degrees to Hispanic and Latinx students. The school is also ranked 151st among national universities and is a top 50 public research university. With more than 300 academic associations, cultural organizations, and honor and professional societies, the campus is just as diverse as its student population. The large student body also represents 142 different countries. The most popular majors include Business, Psychology, Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, and Biological Sciences.
Harry S Truman College
Location: Chicago, IL
Size of undergraduate student body: 5,186
Percentage of Hispanic/Latinx students enrolled: 34%
School type: Public, 2-year
The Harry S. Truman College has a number of programs that support students’ educational needs. The Transitional Bilingual Learning Community program was created to help immigrant students transition into college by teaching them English courses for two semesters. The two-year college has a 12:1 student-to-teacher ratio, and is one of the seven City Colleges of Chicago, is a public institution serving the Chicago community under the Master Plan for Higher Education in Illinois.
San Diego State University
Location: San Diego, CA
Size of undergraduate student body: 35,732
Percentage of Hispanic/Latinx students enrolled: 34%
School type: Public
San Diego State University is well known for its public research, and students participate in rigorous undergraduate research, internships, mentoring, and entrepreneurship training programs. Its Engineering and Interdisciplinary Science Complex allows undergraduates, graduates, and faculty to turn discoveries into real-world applications. Ranked 151st by U.S. News for National Universities, SDSU welcomes all students and recently built a Black Resource Center and an Undocumented Resource Area to serve students, in addition to the already existing support centers such as the Pride Center, the Women’s Resource Center, the Commuter Resource Center, the Veterans Center, the International Student Center, and the Student Ability Success Center. SDSU ranks No. 1 in the California State University (CSU) system for federal research support, making it a top choice for students looking to pursue research-oriented paths.
South Texas College
Location: McAllen, TX
Size of undergraduate student body: 28,233
Percentage of Hispanic/Latinx students enrolled: 95%
School type: Public
South Texas College has one of the highest populations of Hispanic and Latinx students. One of the unique offerings is the Dual Credit Pathways Departments, which gives high school students the opportunity to earn college credits and/or an Associate degree. And while being in a predominantly Hispanic and Latinx population, almost all of the students graduating from the program are Hispanic and Latinx. The school offers Meta-Majors and Programs, which offers a unique group of majors sharing common elements to explore various areas of study at once.
St. Edward’s University
Location: Austin, TX
Size of undergraduate student body: 3,577
Percentage of Hispanic/Latinx students enrolled: 49%
School type: Private
Ranked 8th by U.S. News for top Regional Universities in the West, St. Edward’s University has a robust exchange program with 18 partner universities throughout 13 countries and 5 continents. This allows students to have a longer study abroad time, gain opportunities in research overseas and gives them a broader cultural experience. St. Edward’s University has a low 14-1 student-to-faculty ratio and includes students from 45 states and territories and 62 countries that speak 38 languages on campus. In addition, 74% of students complete internships prior to graduation in the more than 50 areas of study that St. Edward’s University offers.
St. Mary’s College of California
Location: Moraga, CA
Size of undergraduate student body: 3,169
Percentage of Hispanic/Latinx students enrolled: 30%
School type: Private
St. Mary's College of California, while relatively small, has a robust history of success. This private university is ranked 4th in Regional Universities West by U.S. News, and its 1863 founding makes it one of the oldest colleges in the West. Payscale.com has recognized St Mary's as a top 6% school in the U.S. for the highest earning potential. St. Mary’s College of California offers majors in different fields, such as arts and humanities, the sciences and social sciences, and education.
Texas A&M University
Location: College Station, TX
Size of undergraduate student body: 72,530
Percentage of Hispanic/Latinx students enrolled: 25%
School type: Public
Texas A&M University, which was designated as an HSI in March 2022, is ranked 41st in the nation for best business program. The school is known for its high-impact opportunities in entrepreneurship, accounting, finance, management, marketing, and supply chain. The business school dean has also put out a joint statement on the university's commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in their programs. Texas A&M offers their Hispanic Network: HOME Summit, which brings former and current students together in a dialogue that recognizes Texas A&M University's efforts to support this population of students and identifies ways to build forward momentum.
University of California, Santa Barbara
Location: Santa Barbara, CA
Size of undergraduate student body: 26,124
Percentage of Hispanic/Latinx students enrolled: 25%
School type: Public
Ranked #32 by U.S. News and World Report for National Universities, the University of California, Santa Barbara, offers more than 200 majors, degrees, and credentials. UC Santa Barbara is known for being a research-intensive institution, and six Nobel Prize winners for research in chemistry, physics, and economics serve as faculty there. Additionally, 90+ companies have been established based on technology developed or discovered there. The most popular majors include social sciences, biological and biomedical sciences, mathematics and statistics, journalism, and multi/interdisciplinary studies.
University of California, Riverside
Location: Riverside, CA
Size of undergraduate student body: 20,069
Percentage of Hispanic/Latinx students enrolled: 41%
School type: Public
The University of California, Riverside, offers an HSI-STEM Pathways Program that provides support and opportunities to Hispanic or low-income students pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering or math fields. Upperclassmen who meet the criteria and are in good academic standing can apply for research stipends paying up to $1,200 each quarter, and have the opportunity to participate in hands-on research projects. It’s ranked 89th National University by U.S. News and is known for having a long record of closing achievement gaps across income levels and ethnicities. The university also offers a well-regarded graduate program through the Bourns College of Engineering and Graduate School of Education. Notable alums include Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Steve Breen, best-selling author Elizabeth George and Nobel Prize-winning chemist Richard Schrock.
University of California, Santa Cruz
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
Size of undergraduate student body: 17,492
Percentage of Hispanic/Latinx students enrolled: 27%
School type: Public
The University of California, Santa Cruz, has been ranked first nationwide by BestColleges.com for its degree programs, scholarships, and other support provided to Hispanic students. Its Health Sciences program places student interns in local agencies and offices, helping to fulfill a community in need. It’s also rated 83rd among National Universities by U.S. News and was designated first in the nation by the National Research Council for the publication impact of its computer engineering Ph.D. program. UC Santa Cruz is committed to sustainability and environmental protection. It supports local farmers through collaborative research and a curriculum in sustainable agricultural practices and works to preserve ocean health, establishing and monitoring California’s Marine Protected Areas.
University of Houston
Location: Houston, TX
Size of undergraduate student body: 47,031
Percentage of Hispanic/Latinx students enrolled: 45%
School type: Public
The University of Houston is ranked top 100 in most academic programs, including Business, Social Work, Pharmacy, and more. And since the campus is located in one of the most diverse cities in the U.S., the school has created a Center for Latino Studies and a Latinx Lounge for students to engage with other scholars and strengthen their language skills. With more than 25 centers, the University of Houston is devoted to research and community initiatives.
University of Illinois Chicago
Location: Chicago, IL
Size of undergraduate student body: 34,199
Percentage of Hispanic/Latinx students enrolled: 35%
School type: Public
University of Illinois at Chicago is known for promoting diverse leadership. In 2018, it received the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award from INSIGHT into Diversity magazine. UIC was also named one of the nation’s best 25 campuses for LGBT students by Campus Pride. UIC is an acclaimed research institution and is ranked 97th by U.S. News for National Universities. It is the largest university in Chicago, offering 95 bachelor's programs and the opportunity to pair up with faculty mentors and create a research project in a variety of academic areas.
Whittier College
Location: Whittier, CA
Size of undergraduate student body: 1,325
Percentage of Hispanic/Latinx students enrolled: 53%
School type: Private
Whittier College is nationally recognized for its Whittier Scholars Program, which allows selected students to design their own major, minor, or course of study around a traditional major in collaboration with faculty advisors and peers. The college’s small class sizes allow students to immerse themselves in extensive undergraduate research opportunities, primarily in the natural and physical sciences but also in the social sciences, humanities, and the arts. Whittier College is ranked 107th by U.S. News for National Liberal Arts Colleges, and most students major in social sciences, business, management, marketing and related support services, parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies, psychology, and biological and biomedical sciences.
The list of HSIs in the U.S. will grow exponentially over the next decade, which means the schools on this list are laying down the framework for future programs. Their academic courses, on-campus cultural organizations, and commitment to creating an inclusive atmosphere will appeal to more Hispanic and Latinx students as time goes on – get acquainted with these top-ranking HSIs and be sure to incorporate them into your university recruitment strategy now.
Download our guide “Beyond The Ivy League” for more information on expanding your recruitment reach and finding students at the top public schools, HBCUs, and HSIs.
This article was written by Shweta Karikehalli and Gabriela Julia.
