Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs): 2023-24

Overview

2025 marks 30 years of federal funding for Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs). HSIs were included in federal legislation in the 1992 Higher Education Act and received dedicated federal funding in 1995 to build capacity, improve academic quality, and expand access for Latino and other low-income students. HSIs are defined in federal legislation 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.

Since the organization’s founding over 20 years ago, Excelencia in Education has released its annual analysis on this critical group of institutions enrolling and graduating Latino students. There are now 602 HSIs located in 29 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. These institutions represent 20% of all colleges and universities but enroll 30% and graduate 31% of all undergraduates earning a degree in the U.S. HSIs also enroll 64% and graduate 66% of all Latino undergraduates earning degrees in the nation.