Did you know that there are schools in the United States that have federal recognition for setting Hispanic and Latinx students up for success? These schools are called Hispanic-Serving Institutions, or HSIs, and are an excellent option for international students hoping to attend a college that feels inclusive and offers greater resources to the Hispanic and Latinx communities.
Shorelight’s newest school, The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), is one of the oldest HSIs in the country, with a long tradition of providing opportunities specific to Hispanic and Latinx students through its on-campus resources, classes, and facilities. With its focus on student success and career preparedness, UTSA supports every student in meeting their potential and succeeding in the workplace or additional study.
Another Shorelight school, the University of the Pacific, has just received HSI designation by the US Department of Education, making it the highest-ranking private HSI university in the country. According to Pacific President Christopher Callahan, the designation will help the college to “compete for special resources to even better help our Latino students succeed, and continue to recruit the best, brightest, and most deserving Latino students no matter their socioeconomic backgrounds.”
The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) established the Fulbright HSI Leaders in 2021, which “encourages administrators, faculty and students at HSIs to engage with Fulbright and highlights the strength of HSIs as destinations for international students and scholars.” Several Shorelight universities were among the 46 HIS colleges recognized in 2023.
The current White House administration also recognizes the importance of HSI universities and in 2023 proclaimed a National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week, as well as awarding significant funding to HSIs to aid in their success.
What Is an HSI?
HSIs are defined in federal law (the Higher Education Opportunity Act, Title V, 2008) 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.
According to the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, “in the 2020-21 academic year, 559 institutions met the federal enrollment criterion, enrolling 2.2 million undergraduate Hispanic students, by headcount.”
An HSI, however, is far more than just the number of Hispanic students in attendance, as a school with this designation offers a unique learning opportunity for students of that particular background. Many HSIs incorporate Hispanic and Latinx culture into the curriculum by hiring native-Spanish-speaking staff and teachers to help students learn and acclimate to campus and student life. These colleges create a welcoming environment to study, as well as provide inclusive on-campus events and activities to facilitate community.
What Sets HSIs Apart from Other Schools
Though many universities may offer some programming for Hispanic or Latinx students, HSIs are committed to the education and success of these students in particular, among other underrepresented groups. Campus opportunities and resources are greater for those who may not get as much attention or designated help at a non-HSI.
In fact, according to the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, “HSIs enroll an estimated two-thirds of today’s 3.5 million Hispanic college students, they also enroll more African Americans than all the HBCUs [historically black colleges and universities combined], more American Indians than all the TCUs [Tribal colleges and universities] together, and over 41% of all Asian Americans enrolled in college today.”
White House Recognition and Support for HSIs
In honor of the importance of HSIs, the Biden-Harris Administration proclaimed September 10 through September 16, 2023, as National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week. President Biden noted, “My administration is committed to strengthening these vital institutions and supporting their students through graduation and beyond.”
On September 21, 2023, the administration helped prove that commitment by awarding more than $40 million (US) to Hispanic-Serving Institutions.
“We’re continuing that commitment with another $40 million to drive Latino student success in higher education and help colleges and universities enroll more women and students of color in cutting-edge STEM fields,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona.
The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA)
Founded in 1969, UTSA takes pride in redefining higher education as a next-generation urban-serving university where students from all backgrounds can excel.
UTSA was one of the first colleges in the country to earn HSI designation and is now one of only 21 Hispanic-Serving Institutions in the nation that also claim a prestigious Tier One designation for research. The college also has received the Seal of Excelencia, a comprehensive certification recognizing the university’s commitment and ability to accelerate Latino student success, and ranks ninth for Highest Bachelor’s Degrees Awarded to Hispanics and 17th for Highest Enrollment of Hispanic Students at Four-Year Institutions in the US (Hispanic Outlook on Education Magazine, 2023).
UTSA represents the future of higher education, preparing students for the in-demand careers of today and tomorrow, embracing the diversity that makes San Antonio and Texas unique. With an undergraduate enrollment that’s 59% Hispanic, UTSA is a model for closing gaps in higher education.
Life at UTSA
UTSA offers a welcoming environment and a variety of resources for international students of all backgrounds. Students find a close-knit community at UTSA where differences are celebrated, in a thriving city with vast opportunities to expand their horizons and hone their talents.
The Tomás Rivera Center offers academic success coaching, supplemental instruction, and tutoring services. More than 400 student organizations also give students the opportunity to make friends and find community on campus. The UTSA Student Union provides an inclusive environment for students to relax, study, grab a bite to eat, or attend an event, such as Rowdy Gras, Light the Paseo, and the Juneteenth Celebration.
UTSA students prepare for their chosen careers and gain an advantage in the marketplace from the many experiential learning opportunities offered through Career-Engaged Learning. As a result, employer partners actively seek out and hire UTSA students and graduates for internships and jobs. UTSA also is a founding member the HSI Career Collaborative, a national consortium of 13 universities using their collective power to expand career opportunities for all students and alumni, connecting them with dynamic and innovative organizations across some of the nation’s most competitive industries.
The University of the Pacific
As California’s first college, the University of Pacific proudly ranks #7 for Ethnic Diversity in California — tied with UC Berkeley and University of Southern California (U.S. News & World Report, 2023) and #11 for Best Private University in the West (Wall Street Journal/College Pulse, 2024).
Recently designated an HSI, the college is also an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution. The new designation gives Pacific the opportunity to “better prepare students for the workforce after graduation and make Pacific an even more attractive place for employers to recruit the best and most diverse workforce,” said Provost and Executive Vice President Gretchen Edwalds-Gilbert.
Mary Lomax-Ghirarduzzi, Pacific’s inaugural vice president for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, said, “research shows HSI universities measurably improve the retention and graduation rates of other underserved student populations, as well as Latinos.” She believes that the HSI designation “is really about how to make all students more successful.”
Life at Pacific
With three campuses located across Northern California — San Francisco, Sacramento, and Stockton — the University of the Pacific offers students the opportunity to study in a dynamic environment.
“We are enormously proud of our history of being an institution that provides rigorous, high-quality academic programs coupled with access for qualified and deserving students, regardless of background,” Callahan said. The student body is comprised of 26.7% Hispanic or Latino, 33% Asian, and 7.6% international students (2023 admissions). The school also boasts a 14:1 student/faculty ratio, which guarantees that each student receives individual attention.
The Center for Identity and Inclusion is a gathering space for students from different backgrounds, and is home to El Centro, Native American Student Services, Black Student Services, Asian, Pacific Islander and Desi Student Services, and the LGBTQ+ Resource Center.
El Centro is where Hispanic and Latino students will find resources devoted to their success. Additionally, the center is also responsible for helping Latino-focused student organizations develop events and programming, as well as educating the “campus about Latinx issues and the ethnic diversity represented within the community by offering programs and services that focus on intersectionality.”
Faculty, staff, and student members who serve as the University Committee for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (UCDEI) are devoted to developing programs, projects, and policies that will “create and sustain a culture that consistently reflects DEI as a core value that informs how we work, interact and support one another and those we serve.”
International students can also engage with their communities and others by joining one of the 12 sport clubs or 150 student clubs or organizations on campus.
Learn more about the University of the Pacific >
University of Illinois Chicago (UIC)
It isn’t surprising the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) has been recognized as a Fulbright HSI Leader since the initiative was founded in 2021: The university’s Department of Latin American and Latino Studies (LALS) focuses solely on enhancing “its status as an international hub for the study of Latin American and Latino issues.”
“UIC is proud to partner with the Fulbright Program to help bring important cultural, educational, and research opportunities to our students and faculty, as well as to those visiting the only public research university in Chicago,” said UIC Chancellor Marie Lynn Miranda.
The university has also created the Chancellor’s Committee on the Status of Latinos (CCSL), which “was established to advise the Chancellor, and through its various subcommittees made up of faculty, staff, and students, it promotes educational, professional and career opportunities for Latinas/os at UIC.”
Life at UIC
UIC proudly claims to be “one of the most ethnically and culturally diverse universities in the country,” which makes it a welcoming atmosphere for international students from around the world.
Latinx students will find a wide range of support through the many programs, services, and opportunities listed in UIC Latino Resource Guide, including the Rafael Cintrón Ortiz Latino Cultural Center at UIC, the Hispanic Center of Excellence, and Latin American Recruitment and Educational Services, among others.
Learn more about UIC >
Florida International University
With more than 25,000 undergraduate and 3,000 graduate Hispanic students among its student body of 58,000, Florida International University (FIU) is the largest HSI in the country. The university is first in the nation in awarding bachelor’s and master’s degrees to Hispanic students. According to the America’s Best Colleges 2024 rankings from the Wall Street Journal, FIU is also the #29 university in the nation and the fourth-ranked public university.
FIU recently partnered with the tech-talent company Skillstorm to “help students access the skills and credentials necessary to succeed in high-demand technology career.” Students can participate in the Accelerator Program, which can provide certification in AWS, Salesforce, CompTIA, and Pega.
Life at FIU
Home to students from 142 countries, FIU offers a diverse and welcoming atmosphere for international students.
With its main campus in vibrant Miami, Florida, FIU offers a wide variety of student organizations, including the Latin Student Union that “aspires to create an environment for Latin-identifying students of all intersectional identities to find community and resources for educational support, belonging, and empowerment.” The university also recognizes Hispanic Heritage Month each year with events and celebrations throughout the month.
Learn more about FIU >
More Shorelight HSI Universities
With more than 500 HSI-designated colleges and universities across the US (and more added each year), Latinx students have many options for nurturing and supportive schools where they can earn a prestigious degree. Here are a few other HSI schools where international students can apply directly via Shorelight:
Why Apply to an HSI
Hispanic and Latinx students may want to consider attending an HSI because it guarantees that they will have access to greater resources and specialized support, compared to other colleges. Not only will more of the staff be able to communicate effectively in a student’s native language, but there will also be more students from similar backgrounds around campus. These two essential features provide the perfect backdrop to succeed during college and after.
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