Definitions
Definitions of a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) can vary depending on the organization, and include technical and philosophical characteristics.
A Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) is more than a Hispanic-enrolling one. While there are many ways a campus can be Hispanic-serving, an HSI is one that creates equity for, and advances the success of, all students, and is intentional about its Hispanic/Latino students who represent a notable proportion of the student body.
For membership purposes, the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) defines HSIs as "colleges, universities, or systems/districts where total Hispanic enrollment constitutes a minimum of 25% of the total headcount enrollment."
Under federal law (Higher Education Opportunity Act, Title V, 2008), an HSI is defined as accredited, degree-granting, public or private nonprofit institutions of higher education with 25%, or more, total undergraduate Hispanic full-time equivalent (FTE) student enrollment.
Additional criteria exist for federal Title III and Title V HSI grant programs.
HSIs by the Numbers
According to Excelencia in Education, a nationally recognized and trusted resource on Latino educational achievement, reports that in 2018-2019, there were 539 institutions in 27 U.S. states and Puerto Rico that met the enrollment definition of HSI.
539 HSIs enrolled 67% of all Latino undergraduates and represented 17% of all institutions of higher education
One-third of HSIs are California campuses and include 21 California State Universities (CSUs)
Additionally, there were 352 "emerging" HSIs, defined as institutions with 15-24.9% undergraduate full-time equivalent Hispanic student enrollment.
- Over the past ten years, the number of HSIs has increased by 93%.
For learn more HSI facts, please visit Excelencia's HSI research site.
