Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs): 2017-18

In the 1980s, leaders recognized a small set of institutions enrolled a large percentage of Latino students but had low levels of resources to educate these students. The classification of Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) formally recognized these institutions for capacity-building and other support. HSIs are defined in federal law as accredited and degree-granting public or private nonprofit institutions of higher education with 25 percent or more total undergraduate Hispanic full-time equivalent (FTE) student enrollment. This report points out that in 2017-18, there were 523 HSIs located in 27 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. These institutions represented 17% of all institutions of higher education and enrolled 66% of Latino undergraduates.