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Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) feed the intellectual contributions and achievements of Hispanic and Latinx communities. By definition, HSIs are required to have a full-time, undergraduate enrollment of at least 25 percent Hispanic students to be eligible.
The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) represents over 500 institutions committed to the success of Hispanic students. This network provides resources for students and alumni, holds relationships with government offices and nonprofits, and maintains the HACU advocacy center to promote awareness of opportunity for Hispanic citizens. The HACU also issues calls to action and works with federal elected officials for progress.
Join us as we celebrate 20 of the top Hispanic-Serving Institutions in the U.S. based on a rigorous analysis of key statistics and millions of reviews from students by Niche.com. Salary and employment data sourced from Steppingblocks.
1. UC Santa Barbara
Students rate this school highly for its campus, competitive admissions and highly lauded sociology and economics programs. With a competitive acceptance rate of 30 percent, UC Santa Barbara is a Hispanic-Serving Institution with excellent returns.
Average Alumni Salary: $96,074
Top Employer: Google
Top Major for Employer: Computer Science
2. UC Irvine
An accessible campus and an acceptance rate of 27 percent makes UC Irvine a highly desirable school in the University of California network, with 29,000 undergraduates and a Hispanic-Serving Institution designation.
Average Alumni Salary: $96,480
Top Employer: Amazon
Top Major for Employer: Computer Science
3. University of Central Florida
Here's another Florida school with significant Hispanic enrollment and an acceptance rate of 44 percent. Students target an SAT range of 1170 to 1340.
Average Alumni Salary: $74,869
Top Employer: Lockheed Martin
Top Major for Employer: Mechanical Engineering
4. Texas Tech University
Texas Tech in Lubbock has competitive online degrees, a high acceptance rate and boasts the Big 12 athletic conference membership. Significant Hispanic enrollment is part of what makes this a desirable choice for in-state or out-of-state students.
Average Alumni Salary: $85,768
Top Employer: Lockheed Martin
Top Major for Employer: Mechanical Engineering
5. California State University, Long Beach
Yet another California State University is a Hispanic-Serving Institution with an acceptance rate of 39 percent and a Hispanic population that makes up 42 percent of the student body.
Average Alumni Salary: $83,565
Top Employer: Kaiser Permanente
Top Major for Employer: Healthcare
6. University of Arizona
Students cite a good undergraduate experience at this Arizona school with an acceptance rate of 85 percent, significant Hispanic enrollment and an SAT target range of 1110 to 1360.
Average Alumni Salary: $89,044
Top Employer: Raytheon
Top Major for Employer: Mechanical Engineering
7. Florida International University
67 percent of around 50,000 enrolled are Hispanic, and the school ranks No. 19 on Niche.com’s Best College Campuses in America.
Average Alumni Salary: $79,011
Top Employer: Baptist Health South Florida
Top Major for Employer: Healthcare
8. San Diego State University
With a full slate of online programs, acceptance rate of 34 percent and a competitive SAT target range, this Hispanic-Serving Institution is among the favorites in Southern California.
Average Alumni Salary: $87,728
Top Employer: Qualcomm
Top Major for Employer: Electrical Engineering
9. University of Houston
This school in the major Texas Metro area has an acceptance rate around 65 percent and a popular honors college.
Average Alumni Salary: $90,578
Top Employer: Schlumberger
Top Major for Employer: Supply Chain Management
10. Rutgers University, Newark
Students describe this institution as diverse and friendly. With an acceptance rate of 72 percent, a good athletic program and popular degree offerings, such as criminal justice and accounting, Rutgers-Newark is a popular Hispanic-Serving Institution in the New Jersey/tri-state area.
Average Alumni Salary: $105,123
Top Employer: Prudential Financial
Top Major for Employer: Accounting/Finance
11. New Mexico Tech (New Mexico Institute of Mining & Technology)
This is one of the top New Mexico schools for Hispanic students, with an acceptance rate of 80 percent and an SAT target range of 1170 to 1380.
Average Alumni Salary: $92,231
Top Employer: Sandia National Laboratories
Top Major for Employer: Mechanical Engineering
12. John Jay College (CUNY)
For specialization in criminal justice in the New York area, this Hispanic-Serving Institution has an acceptance rate of 41 percent.
Average Alumni Salary: $76,504
Top Employer: New York City Police Department
Top Major for Employer: Criminal Justice
13. New Mexico State University
This Hispanic-Serving Institution gets an A for diversity with 59 percent of the total student population Hispanic. 81 percent of students feel confident they'll find a job in their field after graduation, making NMSU a valuable choice.
Average Alumni Salary: $79,752
Top Employer: Los Alamos National Laboratory
Top Major for Employer: Mechanical Engineering
14. University of Illinois, Chicago
This institution makes the top 100 for Niche.com's Most Diverse Colleges in America. Acceptance is somewhat competitive at a rate of 73 percent and most students rate their classes and professors highly.
Average Alumni Salary: $94,772
Top Employer: Walgreens
Top Major for Employer: Pharmacy/Pharmacology
15. University of St. Thomas Texas
Acceptance rate for this school is 87 percent and student to faculty ratio is low at 12:1. Niche.com ranks this Hispanic-Serving Institution in the top 40 for Best College Locations in America.
Average Alumni Salary: $91,715
Top Employer: Houston ISD
Top Major for Employer: Education
16. California Baptist University
With a 78 percent acceptance rate and SAT range of 990 to 1210, this private, Christian university gets high rankings as a Hispanic-Serving Institution.
Average Alumni Salary: $70,901
Top Employer: County of Riverside
Top Major for Employer: Public Administration
17. California State University, Fullerton
The acceptance rate is a bit lower at 53 percent, but CSU-Fullerton has a diverse student body and a college featuring competitive programs in business communications and psychology with a graduating rate of 69 percent.
Average Alumni Salary: $81,676
Top Employer: The Walt Disney Company
Top Major for Employer: Communications
18. University of North Texas
This Dallas-area Hispanic-Serving Institution gets an A for diversity, athletics and party scene. UNT also ranks in Niche.com’s top 40 for Best College Food in America.
Average Alumni Salary: $78,087
Top Employer: Fidelity Investments
Top Major for Employer: Finance
19. Mount Saint Mary’s University
Mount Saint Mary’s University is ranked No. 12 by Niche.com for Best Women’s Colleges in America. With a 63 percent Hispanic student body and highly rated classes, this HSI is a top choice for prospective students.
Average Alumni Salary: $79,711
Top Employer: Kaiser Permanente
Top Major for Employer: Nursing
20. University of the Incarnate Word
Students at this Hispanic-Serving Institution rank their professors high. A low student to faculty ratio of 11:1 contributes to in-class success.
Average Alumni Salary: $83,699
Top Employer: USAA
Top Major for Employer: Business Management
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