Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs)
For over 20 years, Excelencia in Education has conducted and released its annual analysis that provides insight on Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), Emerging HSIs (eHSIs), and HSIs with Graduate Programs (gHSIs).
Excelencia in Education leadership has worked with, studied, and learned from institutions meeting the HSI criteria over the years. Along the way, Excelencia:
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developed a methodology for creating a list of HSIs;
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created and popularized the category of Emerging Hispanic-Serving institutions (eHSIs);
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added the development of lists for Hispanic-Serving Institutions with Graduate programs (gHSIs);
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produced analysis, lists, and briefs to better understand Latino, and all, student success; and,
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engaged communities of HSIs committed to more intentionally serve their students.
HSI Lists: 2024-25
What is included in Excelencia’s release and how can I learn more using this analysis?
Expand Your Knowledge about HSIs with Excelencia
What are Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) and how have they evolved?
Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) first received federal funding in 1995–three years after being initially included in the Higher Education Act. 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, Excelencia in Education has released its annual analysis on this critical group of institutions enrolling and graduating Latino and other post-traditional students. In 2024-25, there were 631 HSIs, located in 29 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. These institutions represent 21% of all colleges and universities, yet enroll 65% of Latino, and 32% of all, undergraduates.
What is the purpose of HSIs?
The classification of HSIs was formally recognized in federal legislation for capacity-building support to improve academic quality and access to excellence at institutions with a high concentration of Latino students. While HSIs, by definition, have student bodies that are at least 25% Hispanic, they serve students of various backgrounds.
How are HSIs funded?
Institutions are not guaranteed any funding because they meet HSI enrollment criteria. Rather, they are eligible for competitive grants and must demonstrate the quality and merit of their work. Federal funding earned through competitive HSI grants does not require use exclusively or specifically for Hispanic students. It may be used to serve all students. In 30 years, only about one-third of institutions that meet the enrollment definition of HSIs have received funding under Title V.
What have we learned about HSIs from Excelencia?
Excelencia in Education’s first publication in 2004 was “Latino Student Success at Hispanic-Serving Institutions.” And we have continued examining HSIs and their role in Latino, and all, student success in higher education ever since to frame issues, contexts, understanding and opportunities. For example, we created the emerging HSI indicator in 2009 based on our analysis of concentrated enrollment and institutional effort for intentionally serving Latinos amongst all.
What data can researchers access to do their own research on HSIs?
Excelencia in Education is making three datasets available over the years of HSIs, Emerging HSIs, and HSIs with Graduate programs for researchers to conduct their own analysis for a nominal fee.
Where are HSIs located now and and how has this evolved?
Excelencia's interactive StoryMap provides an interactive set of story maps that visualize the representation of HSIs by growth, sector, and geography.
What are Emerging Hispanic-Serving Institutions?
Excelencia in Education created the term "Emerging HSIs" as a way to track institutions on their way to becoming an HSI. Emerging HSIs are defined as public or not-for-profit degree granting institutions with 15-24.9% Latino undergraduate full-time equivalent enrollment.
What are Hispanic-Serving Institutions with Graduate Programs?
Of the 631 Hispanic-Serving Institutions in 2024-25, 276 offer graduate degrees (184 offer doctoral degrees as the highest degree, 70 offer master’s degrees, and 22 offer a post-master’s certificate).
All HSIs Resources
Since the organization’s founding, Excelencia has released its annual analysis on this critical group of institutions enrolling and graduating Latino, and all, students, including research on:
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The latest list of HSIs, Emerging HSIs, and HSIs with Graduate Programs
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Excelencia’s methodology for creating a list of HSIs
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The 2024-25 data on HSIs in Excelencia’s HSI interactive dashboard
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The evolution of HSIs through Excelencia’s HSI StoryMap
Scroll by using the arrows below to navigate through all research available.
