29 Years of HSIs
A look at 600 institutions that represent 20% of colleges and universities, but enroll 63% of all Latino undergraduates in higher education.
Excelencia in Education accelerates Latino student success in higher education by promoting Latino student achievement, conducting analysis to inform educational policies, and advancing institutional practices while collaborating with those committed and ready to meet the mission. Excelencia has shared analysis on Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) since we began (2004) and releases the list of institutions meeting the basic HSI definition every year, as well as lists on Emerging HSIs (eHSIs) and on HSIs with graduate programs (gHSIs). Excelencia developed the Emerging HSIs (eHSI category)—institutions with undergraduate FTE Hispanic enrollment of 15-24.9%—to track the growth of potential HSIs.
This StoryMap is one in a series of Excelencia publications summarizing HSIs over the years.
Change Over Years
Latino student enrollment at HSIs has tripled in the last 29 years. In 2022-23, HSIs enrolled over 1.4 million Latino undergraduates (63% of all Latino undergraduates), compared to 490,000 in 1994-95.
The number of HSIs has more than tripled in 29 years (from 189 in 1994-95 to 600 in 2022-23). In 2022-23, the number of HSIs increased to 600, up from 571 in 2021-22 (an increase of 29 institutions, compared to an increase of 12 institutions the year before).
29 Years of HSIs
The maps that follow are interactive, click on a dot to learn more.
The legend is located on the bottom left and the zoom in/out button is located on the bottom right.
In 1994-95, HSIs were located in 13 states and Puerto Rico.
In 2022-23, HSIs were located in 28 states plus Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia, while eHSIs were located in 43 states and the District of Columbia.
Geography/Demography Trends
The growth of HSIs is due to the increase and concentrated enrollment of Latino students.
More states and locations now have HSIs. In the last five years, the number of locations with HSIs has grown from 29 to 30 (compared to 14 in 1994-95). In 2022-23, Arkansas, the District of Columbia, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Virginia each have one HSI. Although the number has continued to increase, which states have HSIs (and how many HSIs per state) can change from year to year.
Click on the arrow to the right of the map below to scroll through to see the last five years of HSI growth by location.
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HSIs continue to be concentrated geographically.
Puerto Rico (53), California (40), and Texas (31) had the most HSIs in 1994-95. Yet, by 2022-23, California (172) and Texas (111) surpassed Puerto Rico (56) as the locations with the most HSIs.
The dots represent the location of every county within the United States to track demographic trends.
We drilled down into the data, and identified the counties where, in 2021, the Latino population was at least 15%.
When we scale each county's point symbol by the proportion of the population that is Hispanic, we can see some geographic patterns.
Latinos are living, working, and learning in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, with large numbers being concentrated along coastal states and the Southwest.
By overlaying the location of all the HSIs in 2022-23, we see the spatial trend between the Latino population and HSIs.
Further, by adding the location of all the emerging HSIs in 2022-23, we see the expansion of Latino communities to states not traditionally considered Latino hubs.
Sector
HSIs are more likely to be four-year and public institutions.
By 2022-23, 60% of HSIs are four-year institutions (compared to 46% in 1994-95) and almost 70% of HSIs are public institutions (compared to 64% in 1994-95).
Growth of Public HSIs from 1994-95 to 2022-23
The largest growth in HSIs by sector has been in public 2-year institutions. The number has more than doubled (from 91 in 1994-95 to 234 in 2022-23). The number of public 2-year institutions increased by 8 between 2021-22 and 2022-23. Meanwhile, the number of 4-year public institutions increased by 14 (from 164 in 2020-21).
Click and hold on the interactive, draggable handle below to see the evolution of public HSIs.
Growth of Private HSIs from 1994-95 to 2022-23
Over 29 years, the number of 4-year private HSIs has more than tripled from 56 in 1994-95 to 180 in 2022-23. Between 2021-22 and 2022-23, the number of 4-year private institutions grew by 8 (from 172).
Click and hold on the interactive, draggable handle below to see the growth of private HSIs.
Future of HSIs
From geography & demography to intentionality & impact
The number of HSIs has nearly tripled over 29 years and it has grown at a faster pace in the last decade than in the first 15 years. In 2022-23, the number of HSIs increased by 29 institutions, more than the 12 institution increase from the year prior.
Excelencia is committed to significantly increasing the number of Latino students attaining college degrees by 2030 in partnership with institutions. Excelencia's Presidents for Latino Student Success (P4LSS) is a diverse network of postsecondary leaders committed to a goal of collectively making our country stronger with the talents, skills, and contributions of Latino college graduates. The network currently includes over 193 leaders representing 185 institutions in 27 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
P4LSS institutions represent 6% of colleges/universities, enroll 33% of all Latino students, and graduate 35% of all Latino degree completers.
As part of this commitment, in 2019, Excelencia established the Seal of Excelencia , a national certification for institutions that strive to go beyond enrollment to intentionally SERVE Latino students and demonstrate alignment across three core areas of data, practice, and leadership. To date, Excelencia has certified 39 colleges and universities, 37 of which are now HSIs. Excelencia is committed to leveraging collective expertise and resources, fostering partnerships, and amplifying Seal institutions' current efforts at the national level.
Presidents for Latino Student Success (P4LSS)
Seal of Excelencia Institutions
Certified in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, & 2023
