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What Are Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs)?

Explore Our HSI Lists, Fact Sheets and Related Resources

HSIs have become increasingly important to higher education and the U.S. workforce. This is due to the significant share of diverse student populations they educate. Currently, there are 600 HSIs that educate 5.2 million students nationwide. These institutions enroll two-thirds of all Hispanic undergraduate students and 64% of all Hispanic students in nonprofit postsecondary education.

The majority of HSIs are concentrated geographically, with 82% (489) located in just seven states and one territory: California (172), Texas (111), New York (39), Illinois (34), New Mexico (24), New Jersey (23), Florida (30), and Puerto Rico (56). Most of these institutions are situated in urban areas.

Why are HSIs important?

To better understand the contributions and challenges of HSIs, we invite you to explore our comprehensive HSI resources. These documents provide detailed insights into various aspects of HSIs.

The Higher Education Act defines HSIs as not-for-profit colleges and universities where at least 25% of the full-time equivalent (FTE) undergraduate enrollment is Hispanic (see HSI Definition for more information).

In 2023, nearly 64 million Hispanics lived in the U.S. Hispanics were 19.1% of the U.S. population in 2023.

Read more to find out facts about the Hispanic facts and other interesting information.

Rethinking Policy and Practice for STEM Education: New Hispanic Perspectives. 

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