Federal Definition
Under federal law (Higher Education Opportunity Act, Title V, 2008), a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) is an accredited, degree-granting, public or private nonprofit institution of higher education with 25%, or more, total undergraduate Hispanic full-time equivalent (FTE) student enrollment.
- Chico State met the 25% Hispanic FTE student enrollment threshold in Fall 2014.
Additional criteria exist for an institution's eligibility for federal Title III and Title V HSI grant programs.
- Chico State became eligible for Title III and Title V HSI grants programs in Fall 2015.
Our Working Definition:
A Latinx-serving institution:
- Enrolls 25% or more Latinx students
- Produces equitable outcomes for Latinx students
- Enacts a culture that is educationally affirming, culturally responsive, and welcoming
Source: Garcia, G. A. (2017). Defined by outcomes or culture? Constructing an organizational identity for Hispanic-serving institutions. American Educational Research Journal, 54(1_suppl), 111S-134S.
Chico State's Latinx success and HSI progress are not just goals, but a shared responsibility. It is through the concerted servingness effort of all administrators, faculty, and staff, and our collective intentionality and accountability that we can ensure success for ALL.
HSIs by the Numbers
According to Excelencia in Education, a nationally recognized and trusted resource on accelerating Latino student success in higher education, reports that in 2023-2024, there were 602 institutions in 29 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico that met the enrollment definition of HSI.
602 HSIs enrolled 64% of all Latino undergraduates and represented 20% of all institutions of higher education
HSIs graduate 66% of all Latino undergraduates earning degrees in the nation.
27.7% of all HSIs are in California
21 of the 23 California State Universities (CSUs) are HSIs
Over 90% of the California Community Colleges are HSIs
257 Graduate HSIs (gHSIs), HSIs with Graduate Programs
418 emerging HSIs (eHSIs), defined as institutions with 15.0-24.9% undergraduate full-time equivalent Hispanic student enrollment.
Excelencia in Education. (2025). Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs): 2023-24. Washington, D.C.: Excelencia in Education.
To learn more HSI facts, please visit Excelencia's HSI research site.
*Analysis is based on the most recent public data available from the U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), 2023 Fall Enrollment, Institutional Characteristics, and Completions Surveys.