Best Colleges for Latinos
Story By: Joe Dyton
According to a study conducted by Pew Research Center, Latinos have seen the highest increase in college enrollment in the past few years. The increase of 13% signifies the advancement of our Latino community. Our high school students are taking higher education serious and with ambition. With this progress, higher education institutions have aggressively engaged in providing Latinos with useful resources, like bilingual faculty, Latino student organizations, and/or access to scholarship opportunities.
For the 3rd consecutive year, we have compiled the list of the top colleges and universities for Latinos. These universities have exceeded traditional practices and continue to provide Latino students with helpful guidance and support to pursue their career aspirations.
Arizona State University
www.asu.edu
@ASU
With four distinct campuses in the Phoenix metropolitan area and one at Lake Havasu, Arizona State University prides itself in offering a large or small college experience to fit the needs of its diverse student body. At ASU, students have the opportunity to thrive whether they choose the high energy of the largest campus, Tempe; the big city vibe of the Downtown Phoenix Campus; the quiet energy of the Polytechnic Campus or the charm of the West and Lake Havasu Campuses. ASU measures itself not by whom it excludes, but by whom it includes and how they succeed. The school is the top choice for many Latinos, who make up 20 percent of the student population of over 72,000 spread across five campuses. ASU’s engagement with Latinos goes beyond student enrollment. Through dozens of research partnerships with universities in Mexico, Latin America and public agencies in those countries, ASU helps its neighbors tackle some of the most vexing challenges. ASU has been named for three consecutive years as the #1 school in the nation for innovation by U.S. News & World Report ahead of Stanford (#2) and MIT (#3).
Baylor University
www.baylor.edu
@Baylor
This private Baptist university in Waco, TX often finds itself on the top of college-focused publications’ rankings. Baylor was listed in a tie for 75th in the national universities category in the 2017 “Best Colleges” rankings by U.S. News & World Report and The Princeton Review deemed Baylor a “Best Western College” and ranked its marketing programs second in the country. Within Baylor’s Department of Multicultural Affairs is the Hispanic Student Association, which focuses on not just enriching the experience of the Hispanic culture, heritage and traditions on Baylor’s campus, but in the Waco community as well. Part of the organization’s mission statement includes, “empowering and supporting students with their personal development and advocating for a diverse and inclusive environment.”
Belmont University
www.belmont.edu
@belmontuniv
Ranked No. 5 in the Regional Universities South category and named as a “Most Innovative” university by U.S. News & World Report, Belmont University consists of more than 8,000 students who come from every state and 36 countries. Committed to being a leader among teaching universities, Belmont brings together the best of liberal arts and professional education in a Christian community of learning and service. The University’s purpose is to help students explore their passions and develop their talents to meet the world’s needs. Belmont University seeks to become more racially and ethnically diverse and broadly reflective of the community through supporting programs to recruit, engage and retain diverse students, faculty and staff. From 2010 to 2017, the number of Latino students enrolled increased from 2.5% (149 students) to 4.7% (378 students) of the overall student body. With more than 90 areas of undergraduate study, more than 25 master’s programs and five doctoral degrees, there is no limit to the ways Belmont University can expand an individual’s horizon.
California State University Long Beach
www.csulb.edu
@CSULB
The network of California state universities has one of the most comprehensive diversity plans in the nation. Cal State-Long Beach is no exception, with over 37 percent making up their Hispanic student body. The Office of Equity & Diversity aims to promote full consideration of all members of all minorities in recruitment, selection, advancement, promotion and retention. Also, they facilitate, monitor, evaluate and ensure compliance pertaining to equal educational and employment. Hispanic tenured track faculty has increased from 4 percent to 7 percent. Recruiting diverse faculty and staff included race, ethnicity, bilingual or multilingual knowledge, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion and ability, among other cultural identities and experiences.
California State University Los Angeles
www.calstatela.edu
@CalStateLA
CSULA may not be as well known as the more famous universities in Los Angeles, but the estimated 27,681 students are impressively diverse, with a 60 percent Hispanic enrollment. The school also includes 27 percent Hispanics on its faculty. Cal State LA has once again earned national recognition for graduating Latino students who go on to earn Ph.D.s in science and engineering fields. Between bachelor’s and master’s granting institutions in the continental U.S, Cal State LA is No. 1 for producing Latino doctorates in the areas of chemistry, physics, mathematics and statistics, computer sciences, biological sciences, and engineering, according to data compiled by the National Science Foundation.
Cambridge College
www.cambridgecollege.edu
@cambridgecollg
For more than 45 years Cambridge College has been a leader and pioneer in adult learning. With a main campus in Boston, Massachusetts, and four regional locations nationwide, we provide academically excellent, time-efficient, and affordable higher education to a diverse population of adult-minded learners. A private, nonprofit institution, Cambridge College is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges Commission on Higher Education (NEASC CIHE); our various degree and certificate programs enable students to earn the credentials they need to advance in their careers. Over 55% of our students are members of minority groups, three-quarters are women, and 17% are non-native English speakers. Our inclusive culture provides a positive and productive educational experience for adult learners and our innovative teaching and learning model helps our students earn the degree credentials they need to advance their careers. Our mission is to provide academically excellent, time-efficient, and cost-effective higher education for a diverse population of working adults for whom those opportunities may have been limited or denied.
California State University Northridge
www.csun.edu
@csunorthridge
California State University, Northridge is one of the largest universities in California, centered in the San Fernando Valley, one of the most culturally diverse metropolitan areas in the United States. With a student population of almost 40,000 that is made up of nearly 47 percent Latino students, CSUN is a Hispanic Serving Institution of opportunity and inclusiveness, celebrating its cultural and ethnic diversity on a regular basis. It is home to the first Chicana/o Studies and Central American Studies departments in the country. CSUN is ranked second nationally in awarding Pell Grants to students, with nearly half the student body receiving financial aid. Latino and other minority students are supported by organizations such as the Educational Opportunity Programs (EOP), which helps students from historically low-income populations stay in school to achieve academic success. CSUN is also home to one of the largest undocumented student populations nationally, with more than 1,600 Dreamers. The DREAM Center gives these students a place to congregate, support and mentor one another. CSUN helps Latino students make their dreams come true.
Christian Brothers University
www.cbu.edu
@FromCBU
Christian Brothers University is a tight-knit academic community in the heart of Memphis, Tennessee – one of America’s most vibrant cities. At CBU, we are proud of our diverse student population. Our students hail from 29 states: 43% are minority students and 12% are international students from 29 countries. Our Latino Student Success (LSS) Program, a multi-faceted approach to assisting Hispanic students while at CBU, provides financial support through scholarships; LSS partners with Latino Memphis, an agency that advocates for Latinos in the Greater Memphis area. The LSS Program was one of nearly 150 recognized in 2015 by the Obama White House in response to a call to action to renew the Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics. Officials from the White House and Department of Education later visited CBU to commend our innovative programs and learn more about LSS. CBU is home to Hola CBU, an active student-led organization cultivating a robust community for Hispanic students on campus. We are a proud Partner College of TheDream.us. As a Partner College, DREAMers are able to attend our university using the scholarship funds provided by TheDream.US. We are committed to DREAMers’ success.
City University of New York-Brooklyn College
www.brooklyn.cuny.edu
@BklynCollege411
At 17,390 students, Brooklyn College boasts 20 percent Hispanic enrollment and a 10 percent Hispanic faculty. The university offers the Gates Millennium Scholarship for minority students. It also offers the HACE Scholarship, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, LULAC National Scholastic Achievement Award, the New Mexico Alliance Scholarship and the Xerox Technical Minority Scholarship, to name a few. The Black and Latino Male Initiative have always been to increase the number of black and Latino males who enroll in and graduate from the college. To achieve that goal, it addresses just about every aspect of the students’ lives. In the strictly academic realm, it provides peer mentoring, tutoring and access to an all-purpose writing tutor.
Colorado State University- Pueblo
www.csupueblo.edu
@CSUPueblo
A federally designated Hispanic Serving Institution, CSUPueblo boasts one the most diverse student populations in Colorado with a minority student population of nearly 50 percent and 33 percent of students identifying as being of Hispanic descent.
Founded in 1933 as Southern Colorado Junior College, the campus has adapted its name and academic programs to meet the needs of a changing student demographic. The University works with all student populations to showcase the importance of their cultures and the positive contributions that all these populations have made and continue to make. A strong connection to organizations like the Hispanic Association of State Colleges and Universities (HACU) allows minority students to interact with individuals in high level positions, which helps them to envision themselves in such roles and to cultivate professional relationships. The University received the HACU Outstanding Institution Award in 2008. The University coordinates programming on campus during Hispanic Heritage month, is a regular participant in HACU’s annually televised Hispanic Quiz Show, and recently has added Latino Greek and student organizations to create a network and family to support retention and degree completion.
Dixie State University
www.dixie.edu
@DixieState
Dixie State University is a premier open-enrollment teaching institution that offers a great value with nearly 200 academic programs at one of the lowest tuition costs in the Western United States. With 9,670 students, Dixie State’s student body is 21 percent minority and 11.7 percent Hispanic. The University was built upon a rich pioneering tradition of sacrifice, determination, and generosity that is still embraced by the campus community today. With the motto “active learning. active life.” Dixie State provides personalized and engaged learning experiences under the direction of skilled and devoted faculty and staff and is on the forefront of technology, health education, and entrepreneurship and incorporates cutting-edge learning practices across all disciplines. Consequently, students graduate prepared for rewarding careers and enriched lives. Outside of the classroom, students become involved in the community and are shaped through civic engagement and service learning and enjoy the unparalleled opportunities for an active life that accompany DSU’s location, which is set in a beautiful, world-renowned destination.
Emporia University
www.emporia.edu
@emporiastate
Centrally-located between several major metropolitan areas in Kansas, Emporia State University in Emporia, has an enrollment of 5,732. Outreach programs at ESU include the Latino Leadership Initiative, a program for Latino high school freshmen through seniors. Other activities include Si Se Puede, a program for 6th-8th grade Hispanic students that is held each year. Students participate in hands-on workshops taught by Hispanic professionals from across the state of Kansas, allowing students to explore STEM topics such as: engineering, physics, medicine, chemistry and veterinary medicine. In addition, ESU sponsors Hispanic Heritage Month activities each year on campus. ESU also sponsors an organization on campus called Hispanic American Leadership Organization (HALO), which encourages high school students to continue after they graduate. The organization also emphasizes and educates the cultural heritage, language, and traditions of Hispanic cultures to students and faculty of ESU and the Emporia community. The Latino Legacy Scholarship is one of many scholarships available to ESU students. It was established by the Friends Inspiring Future Hispanic Action (FIFHA) Committee at ESU to assist undergraduate students in continuing their education and serving the Hispanic community.
Florida International University
www.fiu.edu
@FIU
Florida International University (FIU) is part of a 12-campus State University System and has two major campuses: one in Miami-Dade County and the major one is in University Park. It is the second-largest university in the state and the fourth largest in the country in terms of enrollment. FIU is ranked No. 1 in the United States in awarding bachelor’s and master’s degrees to Hispanic students. Hispanic and Latino students make up 67% of FIU’s undergraduate population. As the first and only public research university in Miami, FIU received the top rank in the Carnegie Classification for Highest Research Activity.
Georgia Southern University
www.georgiasouthern.edu
@GeorgiaSouthern
Georgia Southern University is the state’s largest and most comprehensive center of higher education south of Atlanta. Located in Satesboro, Georgia, the university has a total enrollment of 20,418 students. While only five percent of Georgia Southern students are Hispanic, the school offers several programs and organizations to ensure the campus diversity is well represented. The Goizueta Scholars Program, a scholarship fund to support Hispanic/Latino students pursuing educational careers, and the Association of Latin American Students (ALAS) are among these outstanding programs. The Diversity Peer Educators and Minority Advisement Program leaders also help to ensure opportunities for Latino students throughout campus. Georgia Southern’s nationally accredited academic programs prepare diverse scholars for leadership and service as world citizens.
Manchester University
www.manchester.edu
@ManchesterUniv
Located in North Manchester, Indiana, this university only includes 1,600 enrolled students, 5 percent of whom are Hispanic. Although MU is perhaps the smallest school on the list, it has a comprehensive diversity plan. That includes an aggressive recruitment of a diverse student body, concerted and intentional efforts to diversify faculty and staff, and diversity across the curriculum through the Academic Affairs and an Intercultural Center that serves as a resource center for the different cultural groups on campus. Hispanos Unidos (Hispanics United) is a support organization for students interested in learning more about and sharing Hispanic culture. Hispanos Unidos meets weekly throughout the semester.
Miami-Dade College
www.mdc.edu
@MDCollege
Miami Dade College (MDC), located in Miami, FL, is the institution of higher education with the largest undergraduate enrollment of any college or university in the United States. It also has the largest Hispanic enrollment. With more than 165,000 students from 191 nations, MDC offers more than 300 programs pathways at 8 campuses throughout Miami-Dade County. Since opening its doors in 1960, it has admitted more than 2.1 million students and counting. MDC is also the country’s top producer of degrees, in general, and awards more degrees to minority students than any other college or university in America. Recent economic
impact studies show tht MDC, its employees and alumni contribute more than $6 billion annually to the local economy.
Nevada State College
www.nsc.edu
@NevadaState
This educational gem located in Henderson, Nevada is the only four-year, comprehensive public
institution in the state. With current enrollment at approximately 4,000, one-third of the student body is Latino/a, and all students are served regardless of their citizenship status. Nevada State College is recognized as a Minority Serving Institution and as a Hispanic Serving Institution. The college recently celebrated receiving a federal HSI Grant with an award of $2.7 million. The Office of Community Engagement & Diversity Initiatives seeks to promote a campus culture that values diversity in all its forms. That includes supporting diversity of faculty, staff and executive leadership across campus; improving the recruitment, retention, achievement and graduation of diverse students; creating diversity related training opportunities for the professional development of college employees; as well as strengthening and promoting curricular and co-curricular programs related to diversity. The college’s motto conveys its spirit: Be bold. Be great. Be State.
New Mexico State University
www.nmsu.edu
@nmsu
Located in Las Cruces, New Mexico, New Mexico State University (NMSU) is recognized as landgrant, research university. The U.S. News & Word Report ranked NMSU as a “Top Tier” university in its Best Colleges for 2018 report. The U.S. Department of Education classified NMSU as a Hispanic-serving institution. It’s also a member of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities and the NMSU student population is 45 percent Hispanic. Forbes listed NMSU 13 in the U.S. among the best colleges for helping minorities succeed in fields of science, technology engineering and math (STEM) and the school was honored as the top university for awarding bachelor’s and master’s degrees to Hispanic students.
New York University
www.nyu.edu
@nyuniversity
Did you know that New York University is not only the largest independent research university in the U.S. but is also quickly becoming the #1 private university destination for Latinos/as? Nearly 1,000 members of NYU’s Class of 2021 self-identified as Latino/a, not including our unrivaled international student community, many of whom come to NYU from throughout Central and South America and the Caribbean Islands. Within our New York campus, NYU has more than 200 academic programs in 10 undergraduate schools, 9 of which surround Washington Square and one, our Tandon School of Engineering, in downtown Brooklyn. Despite our size, we have a remarkably intimate academic environment on our campuses. Our student to faculty ratio in New York is 10:1 and our average class size is fewer than 30 students. Our location enables us to offer students thousands of internship opportunities and for the Class of 2016, over 95% of our students were employed or enrolled in graduate school within 6 months of graduation. NYU is also ranked #1 for graduate employability by Times Higher Education.
Northeastern Illinois University
www.neiu.edu
@NEIU
Located in Chicago, Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) is a public state university and is designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic Serving Institution. NEIU’s enrollment is about 9,000 students and Hispanic, African American, Asian and Native American students make up about 60 percent (34% Hispanic) of the student body. The school offers more than 80 undergraduate and graduate programs in the arts, sciences, education and business. NEIU also boasts small classes; the current student to faculty ratio is 16:1. Newsweek magazine named NEIU the sixth “Best Investment” in the U.S. and the best on in the state. Other schools on the list included Harvard, Stanford, Princeton and MIT. U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Colleges” publication ranked NEIU the most ethnically diverse public regional university in the Midwest and Diverse: Issues in Higher Education’s annual “Top Degree Producers” recognized the school as a leader among U.S. universities for the number of degrees earned by students of diverse ethnic backgrounds.
Northern Illinois University
www.niu.edu
@NIUlive
The university boasts a diverse and international student body, with an undergraduate population that is 18 percent Hispanic. The Latino Resource Center builds collaborative relationships across the community while developing partnerships focused on student learning
and success. Student resources include:
-The Adela de la Torre Latino Honor Society, which promotes scholarship, service and leadership.
-The Mentoring and Engaging thru Academic Success (METAS) program for Latino freshmen, which seeks to help with the transition to college, create a sense of belonging and encourage academic success.
-De Mujer a Mujer, a program that provides academic support to increase the retention and graduation rates of Latinas by providing programs, activities and leadership opportunities that foster self-confidence, self-awareness and self-esteem.
More than half of all undergraduates who were new to NIU in Fall 2017 identified as being first-generation college students. A 2017 Brookings Institution report identified NIU as being among a select group of the nation’s public universities that are simultaneously producing important research and extending social-mobility opportunities to students from low-income households.
Northern Kentucky University
www.nku.edu
@nkuedu
The Northern Kentucky University campus—just minutes from downtown Cincinnati—offers a student-first experience that empowers graduates to further advance the region. With dedicated faculty, compelling courses and a campus alive with learning opportunities, we partner with students to engage and impact the world with their curiosity. NKU’s six colleges and one school prepare student-learners for fulfilling careers and lifelong involvement with their communities—and the world beyond. NKU provides scholarships to students from underrepresented groups and offers programs such as NKU R.O.C.K.S. for African American students and L.A.M.P. for Latino students. Fifty-one percent of new NKU students are first-generation college students, with 37 percent qualifying as low-income by federal standards.
With accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International, NKU is focused on lighting the way to a brighter tomorrow.
Our Lady of the Lake University
www.ollusa.edu
@OLLUnivSATX
Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) offers higher education for a higher purpose by preparing students to make a difference in society and to be leaders in their careers and communities through innovative programs, faculty who serve as mentors and guides, and service learning opportunities within each degree program. Students are prepared for today’s careers, but also have the knowledge and skills to adapt to the careers of the future.
At the undergraduate level, the student population is 77 percent Hispanic and 44 percent of the faculty members are from a minority group. OLLU faculty members participate in scholarly activities outside of the classroom, including Fulbright Symposiums, and enrich classes with their research and experiences. OLLU ranks 15th for economic diversity among Regional Universities – West, according to US News and World Report, and 40th for awarding need-based aid. OLLU is fourth in Texas among private Regional universities for the least amount of debt for graduates.
Samford University
www.samford.edu
@SamfordU
Samford University is Alabama’s top-ranked private university with nationally ranked academic programs rooted in the university’s Christian mission. Located in suburban Birmingham, Alabama, Samford has 5,509 students from 45 states and 30 countries studying in 30 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. The university offers diversity ambassadors who are committed to learning about and sharing the importance of diversity, equality and inclusion. Diversity Ambassadors also serve as a key resource for underrepresented prospective students who desire to learn more about the Samford before, during and after the admission process. The experiences and information shared by ambassadors serve as integral pieces to prospective students’ navigation of the university, and helps them learn more about unique opportunities for underrepresented students on campus.
San Diego State University
www.sdsu.edu
@SDSU
The largest higher education institution in San Diego County, San Diego State University holds a “Top Tier” university distinction from The U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges for 2018 National Universities rankings. San Diego State’s undergraduate international business program is ranked No. 12 in the U.S. The school received the INSIGHT Into Diversity Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award for the fifth straight year. The honor recognizes U.S. colleges and universities that demonstrate outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion. U.S. News and World report also ranked SDSU in the nation’s top 25 for ethnic diversity. The school has several Latino-based organizations on campus including the Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting (ALPFA), Alpha Pi Sigma Sorority, Chicanos/Latinos for Community Medicine and Destino.
Southern Illinois University
www.siu.edu
@SIUC
Based in Carbondale, IL Southern Illinois University (SIU) is a state university system that comprises multiple campuses and a nationally recognized public research university. In 2017, SIU won its fifth straight Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award. The university’s Student Multicultural Resource Center is home to the Hispanic/Latino Resource Center (HLRC), which promotes academic success within the SIU Latino community by sharing resources and spearheading programming that promotes cultural affirmation, persistence and community engagement. As a unit of The Dean of Students, the HLRC helps creates an affirming and safe space where students can thrive both personally and professionally.
Southern Methodist University
www.smu.edu
@SMU
Southern Methodist University (SMU) is a private university in Dallas, TX. Although the school’s enrollment is relatively small—11,000 students it’s also diverse. Approximately 26 percent of the student body are minorities; about 10 percent of enrolled students are Hispanic. Students come from all 50 states in the U.S. and 90 countries to take advantage of SMU’s small classes (11:1 student to teacher ratio) and hands-on research opportunities. Plus, three of four SMU students receive financial aid. The school moved into the top tier U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Colleges” 2017 edition when it moved up to No. 56. SMU’s Multicultural Student Affairs division hosts organizations for Latino and Hispanic students including the Association for Latinos for America and College Hispanic American Students. Meanwhile, SMU’s Cox School of Business offers the Latino Business Club to help increase networking opportunities among students and the surrounding business community and increase awareness and facilitate access to professional development and career opportunities for all of its members.
St. Augustine College
St. Augustine College (SAC) is an independent, non-profit, mission-driven, student-centered, Latino institution of higher education. It provides innovative education and training through a supportive learning environment, making higher education and its benefits accessible to a diverse student population. SAC programs focus on careers with a high demand for a diverse, bilingual workforce, offering undergraduate degrees in Early Childhood Education, Business Administration, Information Technology, Social Work, Culinary Arts, Psychology, Respiratory Therapy, and Liberal Arts. The NY Times recently published a report ranking SAC the #1 higher education institution in Illinois improving the socioeconomic mobility of its students. Of the students that attend SAC, 87% are Latino. Spanish as the primary language is not a barrier at SAC. Students may begin their courses in Spanish and transition to courses in English as they progress in their academic career. Many students have families and hold one or more jobs. SAC faculty and staff are passionate about the success of their students taking a relationship-based approach to help them achieve their academic goals.
St. John’s University
www.stjohns.edu
@StJohnsU
Founded in 1870, St. John’s is a Catholic and Vincentian University dedicated to the success of all students regardless of financial means. Global in reach, the University is based in New York City, home to the largest Latino community of any US city. The University enrolled 21,087 undergraduate and graduate students in 2016. More than 10 percent were Latino, while 42 percent comprised African American, Asian, Pacific Islander, and Native American students.
St. John’s offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees on three New York City campuses—in Queens, Manhattan, and Staten Island—and one in Rome, Italy. There are 180 student clubs and organizations, including the Latino American Student Organization (L.A.S.O.), one of the largest. Students can cheer for the Red Storm, St. John’s 17 men’s and women’s NCAA, Division I athletic teams. Off campus, students benefit from extensive internship opportunities. Academic Service-Learning provides real-world experience through course-related volunteer activities. Extensive Global Studies options include Discover the World, which allows students to spend a single semester in three European cities.
St. Mary’s University
www.stmarytx.edu
@StMarysU
St. Mary’s University, founded by Marianist brothers in 1852, is the first institution of higher learning in San Antonio and the oldest Catholic university in Texas. It offers a strong educational experience – integrating liberal arts, professional preparation and ethical commitment. St. Mary’s students receive the value of quality programs, holistic learning and community support; helping graduates discover what they love to do, and how to apply their knowledge in meaningful ways. Academic achievement, sense of community and holistic learning are part of what sets a St. Mary’s education apart. For many graduates, their St. Mary’s experience is a defining moment in their lives. Colleges of Distinction added St. Mary’s University to its 2017 membership list, designating St. Mary’s as an institution that excels in the four fundamental areas of an effective undergraduate education: student engagement, great teaching, vibrant community and successful outcomes. St. Mary’s has an engaged on-campus community that provides events, activities and programs for students to enjoy and is located just five miles from downtown San Antonio.
Stanford University
www.stanford.edu
@Stanford
The private research university in Stanford, CA, in Silicon Valley, had one of the most selective undergraduate programs in the U.S. and is considered to be one of the most prestigious universities in the world. Stanford appears at the top of many college rankings lists, from 2013 through 2017, The Princeton Review’s poll found students and parents most frequently named Stanford their “dream college.” In 2017, Stanford was listed No. 1 in the United States on the inaugural Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education Rankings. Currently, 16 percent of Stanford’s undergraduate population is Hispanic. The school’s El Centro Chicano y Latino program works to help students academically, personally, socially and culturally. El Centro provides Stanford students the chance to explore Chicano and Latino culture, history and traditions.
Sul Ross State University
www.sulross.edu
@Sul_Ross
Sul Ross State University, Alpine, Texas, with Rio Grande College campuses in Del Rio, Uvalde and Eagle Pass, is home to 3,090 students. With 65 percent of the enrollment and 38 percent of the faculty Hispanic, Sul Ross has earned distinction as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). For many years, Sul Ross has been selected as a “Publisher’s Pick” by the Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education for its high national standing in serving and graduating Hispanic students.
Tarrant County College District
www.tccd.edu
@TCCollege
TCC offers more than 60 different occupational/technical programs for 70 AAS degrees, nearly 130 Certificates of Completion and 15 Occupational Skills Awards. Additionally, specializations and fields of study are also offered within degree plans for the AA and AS. We have six campuses throughout the county and class is always in session with e-Learning courses spanning 350 credit courses available through TCC Connect. It also offers Weekend College that uses technology to merge face-to-face, hybrid and fully online courses. Community and Industry Education provides a wide range of basic skills, technical, career and community service programs and courses for the general public and working professionals. Of the estimated 51,727 total students, 39.2 percent are Hispanics. TCC is sixth-largest college or university in the State of Texas and one of the 20 largest higher education institutions in the United States.
Texas A&M University Commerce
www.tamuc.edu
@tamuc
Texas A&M University-Commerce is located one hour east of the Dallas Metroplex. Established in 1889 as a teacher’s college by visionary founder William Leonidas Mayo, the university remains committed to his vision that “no industrious, ambitious youth shall be denied an education if I can prevent it.” The university is the third-largest institution in the Texas A&M University System, and currently serves more than 13,000 students, boasting a growing undergraduate Hispanic student population of 17 percent. The Office of Hispanic Outreach & Retention promotes higher education opportunities for Hispanic/Latino(a) students, advising prospective students on the application process, financial aid and scholarships, and connecting
students to services for their academic success. There are more than 120 student organizations including a thriving Greek community and an active Hispanic Student Association (HSA). The HSA hosts cultural and fellowship events such as Hispanic Heritage Month and organizes volunteer work in the community.
Texas Tech University
www.ttu.edu
@TexasTech
Ranked among the top 50 institutions of higher education granting degrees to Hispanics and recognized with the 2017 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) award, Texas Tech University recently surpassed the Hispanic student population threshold necessary for designation as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). With an active Latino Faculty/Staff Association, a growing chapter of the Hispanic Student Society, 14 multicultural fraternities and sororities, a Hispanic Studies Working Group, the Jay Harris Institute for Hispanic and International Communication, the Raiders Rojos alumni chapter, and a DREAM Resource Center, Texas Tech University is fully committed to supporting, encouraging, and promoting the academic, cultural, and community efforts of its Hispanic students, faculty, and staff. The University believes that these efforts will continue to advance the institution and position Texas Tech as a leader in higher education while giving its students a learning environment that reflects the workforce into which they will graduate.
Texas Wesleyan University
www.txwes.edu
@TexasWesleyan
With a total enrollment of 2,587 students, 26 percent of the Texas Wesleyan University student body is Hispanic. Texas Wesleyan offers students a vibrant student life with 24 clubs and organizations, 16 athletic teams, two dining halls, and a fitness center. Student organizations that strive to celebrate cultural diversity include Lambda Theta Phi, which promotes brotherhood and a rich Latino culture, and protects the rights of Latino students in pursuit of education. The Bilingual Education Student Organization serves and supports bilingual students, expands cultural awareness, and unites bilingual and all education students at Texas Wesleyan. As a small, private, four-year coeducational university, Texas Wesleyan delivers a solid undergraduate curriculum, offering 31 different majors within seven different degrees, and five select graduate programs will 11 different degrees, to a diverse student body. Class sizes average 14 students, ensuring that despite its Texas-sized reputation, Texas Wesleyan students live the “Smaller. Smarter.” experience. Texas Wesleyan is ranked in the No. 1 tier of regional universities in the West for 2018 by U.S. News & World Report, and has held the ranking for eight consecutive years.
Texas Woman’s University
www.twu.edu
@txwomans
As America’s largest public university primarily for women, Texas Woman’s University has campuses in Denton, Dallas and Houston. Texas Woman’s University ties for fifth among universities in the nation for diversity, according to U.S. News and World Report. Of its approximately 15,400 students, 25 percent are Latinos. More than half of the student body are classified as minorities. For 15 years, the Texas Woman’s University GO Program, in coordination with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, has worked across the North Texas region to increase the number of students enrolled in higher education programs. The GO Program provides mentoring and leadership development, leading to college success for economically disadvantaged and primarily first-generation minority students. TWU students volunteer as GO Program G-Force peer mentors. Currently, more than 73 percent of these mentors are first-generation students and 66 percent are Latinos. The program’s success is evident: TWU has the highest graduation rate of first-generation college students among Texas public institutions (approximately 59 percent).
University of Houston
www.uh.edu
@UHouston
The University of Houston (UH) is the third-largest university in Texas with approximately 43,000 students. UH offers more than 280 degree programs through the school’s 14 academic colleges. The Princeton Review has listed UH as one of the best colleges in the country, while Payscale and CollegeNet’s Social Mobility Index college ranked the school the 31st top college in the United States. UH also in known for its diverse student body; U.S. News & World Report has ranked the school the second-most ethnically diverse research university in the country. In the Fall of 2017, the school’s enrollment showed a little more than 30 percent of the student body was Hispanic and 20 percent was Asian American.
University of Houston-Downtown
www.uhd.edu
@uhdowntown
Located in the heart of Houston’s business district, the University of Houston-Downtown continues to grow both its campus and academic offerings. UHD is the city’s second largest higher education institution and is a recognized Hispanic Serving Institution and Minority Serving Institution. Hispanic students comprise the largest portion of UHD’s 14,000 students (46 percent), and the institution continues to proactively recruit students from underrepresented ethnic backgrounds through its Minority Male Initiative. This recruiting effort creates pathways to the university for students in area middle schools and community colleges. UHD’s Center for Critical Race Studies; Center for Student Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; and Cultural Enrichment Center host special guests and events celebrating diversity on campus and in the community. University also is extending its academic reach through strategic international partnerships, including a collaboration with the Mexican State of Tamaulipas.
University of Illinois in Chicago
www.uic.edu
@thisisUIC
As Chicago’s largest and only public research university, UIC includes 30,539 students, with a Hispanic undergraduate enrollment of 32 percent. This year’s freshman class saw a 27 percent increase in the number of Hispanic students—making up nearly 40 percent of all freshmen. UIC is among the top five most diverse campuses in the nation and is a national leader among urban, public higher education institutions in providing access to underrepresented students. UIC is focused on eliminating disparities in health, education and economic opportunity. Community engagement is a centerpiece of UIC’s urban mission.
University of North Texas
www.unt.edu
@UNTsocial
UNT is the choice of 38,000 students from all walks of life -- from students who are the first in their family to earn a degree to those who are part of a long legacy of UNT degree earners. UNT prides itself on being a university where people have different backgrounds, experiences and interests, but where all students can find their place and feel at home. One of the most diverse universities in the country, with 8,800 Hispanic students, UNT is ranked as a top school in the nation by Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education magazine. Also, by offering one of the most cost-effective, high-quality educations available, UNT has been named one of America’s 100 Best College Buys® for 22 consecutive years. All UNT students receive a global-minded education driven by an appreciation of other cultures, and students from across the state, nation and world are fulfilling their dreams and getting an excellent educational experience. They choose from 227 degree programs — many nationally and internationally recognized — to pursue their goals of becoming teachers, artists, engineers and everything in between.
University of Oklahoma
www.ou.edu
@UofOklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is proud to announce a 92.8% Latino student retention rate and an increase of Latino freshmen enrollment by 18% over the past two years. A highlight of the success from these programs is that Latino students are now the second largest minority on campus in the 2017 freshmen class, which is the most diverse class in OU history. Programs such as First Sooner, an event to assist first generation students and their families with the college admissions process, recruit and guide prospective Latino students with help from the community. Additionally, OU established the first Latinx academic program in the state. Latinx Studies is an interdisciplinary program students can pursue as a major or to supplement any major. Finally, outreach to the Latino community is a key goal for the university. Student programming includes large events for community participation such as a Dia de los Muertos festival and the Latinos Without Borders Program which is a summer conference for high school students.
University of St. Thomas
www.stthom.edu
@stthomashouston
The University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas, is Houston’s Catholic university, a Hispanic-Serving Institution ranked as one of the top colleges in America for Hispanic students by BestColleges.com. “University of St. Thomas is committed to its Catholic mission of serving the Houston community,” says Arthur Ortiz, Vice President for Enrollment Management. “As a reflection of that commitment, 42.8 percent of incoming freshmen in 2016 were Hispanic, which mirrors the population of Houston. Many of our students are first generation students. For that reason, we have academic and peer support systems to help our Hispanic students succeed including the Mendenhall Summer Institute. This program allows students to start their college career early, in addition to having an opportunity to earn a grant for tuition at UST.”
More than half of incoming freshman major in a STEM field. The University’s new Center for Science and Health Professions features state-of-the-art labs and classrooms where students conduct original, hands-on research with professors, not teaching assistants.
University of Texas at Arlington
www.uta.edu
@utarlington
The University of Texas at Arlington, with an enrollment of 58,600, is a premier Hispanic-Serving Institution in Texas, taking great pride in its HSI designation by the U.S. Department of Education. Issues in Higher Education ranked UTA No. 1 in North Texas and No. 12 in the nation for the number of master’s degrees awarded to Hispanic graduate students, and No. 1 in North Texas and No. 18 in the U.S. for the number of bachelor’s degrees awarded to Hispanic students. UTA is fifth in the U.S. for undergraduate diversity. Latino-focused studies are found at UTA’s Center for Mexican American Studies, the Center for Hispanic Studies in Nursing and Health, and the Center for Greater Southwestern Studies. The Hispanic Media Initiative advances student exposure to and participation in media, journalism, and research. UTA’s News en Español enables communication students to produce Spanish-language newscasts in on-air broadcast partnerships with Univision and Telemundo. Eight student organizations represent Hispanics in professional and social groups, and a Hispanic alumni chapter brings former Mavericks together. UTA’s presidential boards include the President’s Hispanic Advisory Council.
University of Texas at El Paso
www.utep.edu
@utep
University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) is the second-largest university in the United States with a majority Hispanic student population—about 80 percent. A majority of the 23,000 enrolled students reside in far west Texas, southern New Mexico and northern Mexico. UTEP currently offers 72 undergraduate programs, 74 masters programs and 21 doctoral degree programs and expanding roster of online degrees. The school also boosts one of the highest proportions of minority faculty among research universities in the U.S. with a faculty that is 36 percent Hispanic. UTEP has been recognized nationally for its innovating business, find and performing arts, education, behavioral sciences and humanities programs. Hispanic Business Magazine consistently ranks UTEP’s Business Administration and Engineering programs in the top 10 in the country.
University of Texas at Austin
www.utexas.edu
@UTAustin
The University of Texas at Austin is regarded as the flagship institution of the University of Texas System. It boasts the eight-largest single-campus enrollment in the United States, with more than 50,000 undergraduate and graduate students and 156 undergraduate degree programs. Kiplinger ranked UT 13th on its Best-Value Public Colleges in 2016 and Forbes listed in 17th in its Best Value Schools rankings the same year. Within the university’s Multicultural Engagement Center is Latin Community Affairs, an organization dedicated to uniting and empowering Latino students and student organizations though communication, leadership, social action and education the advancement of the Latino and Latina community. Twenty percent of the UT student body is Hispanic.
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
www.utrgv.edu
@utrgv
From the Gulf Coast to deep space, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) offers a unique learning environment for more than 27,500 students. With more than 100 undergraduate and graduate programs, including engineering, marine biology, international business, and a School of Medicine, UTRGV is expanding educational opportunities for South Texas and beyond. Since opening in 2015, UTRGV has graduated more than 10,000 students and ranks third in the nation in awarding bachelor’s degrees and fifth in conferring master’s degrees to Hispanics, according to Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education magazine. The university has also been recognized as a social mobility innovator for its ability to enroll students from low-income backgrounds and graduate them into promising careers that help them climb the income scale.
University of the Incarnate Word
www.uiw.edu
@uiwcardinals
With more than 130 years of tradition, the University of the Incarnate Word is a leader among Hispanic-serving institutions. Over 50 percent of UIW students enrolled are of Hispanic or Latino heritage. In fact, UIW awards the most degrees to Hispanic students nationally, among private universities. UIW’s main campus in located in San Antonio, Texas with locations throughout the city, South and Central Texas; two campuses in Mexico; and a European Study Center in Heidelberg, Germany. Students can choose from almost 90 degrees offered at the undergraduate, graduate and doctoral levels, including nursing, optometry, osteopathic
medicine, pharmacy and physical therapy. UIW admits qualified applicants on a continual or rolling basis and approximately 92 percent of students receive financial assistance with more than $150 million spent annually in scholarships, work-study, grants and loans.
Weber State University
www.weber.edu
@WeberStateU
As an open-enrollment university, Weber State University in Ogden, Utah, welcomes everyone who has a dream and is ready to work to achieve it. With more than 225 degree programs, everything from accounting to nursing to zoology, the possibilities are nearly endless for just the right education for the right career. Weber State’s 28,000 students come from around the state, country and world; 11 percent are Latino. We recognize diversity should be understood in its broadest sense to include everyone on the basis of the infinite ways in which humans vary. Weber State celebrates the rich diversity of our community with conferences such as Latinos In Action and Multicultural Youth and events including Ballet Folklorico and Dia de Los Muertos. Students become leaders on the Hispanic Area Council and with the Center for Multicultural Excellence. Our students are also recognized for their extraordinary service to the community, donating 140,000+ hours last year.
Western Illinois University
www.wiu.edu
@WesternILUniv
With its main campus in Macomb, Illinois, and a non-residential branch campus in Moline, Illinois, Western Illinois University’s total enrollment averages nearly 10,000 students. The University’s student body is diverse, with Latino students comprising approximately 10.5 percent of the total enrollment. For more than 45 years, Western’s Casa Latina Cultural Center has provided support services for all students with an intentional focus on the Latino population and promoted the understanding of the Latino culture to Western’s community, and surrounding areas. WIU hosts numerous multicultural fraternal organizations, and Casa Latina Cultural Center houses two primary groups, the Latin American Student Organization (LASO), and Tradicion Latin Dance Team. The center’s objectives are to expand collaborative opportunities that showcase the Latino cultures, expand current programs and implement new programming to ensure that the changing education and cultural needs of students are being met. Ultimately, Casa Latina Cultural Center provides a unique and empowering space for students to explore intersectionality, engage in social justice, community outreach, cultural expression, social and professional networking.