Whatever their choice of schools, Latino students are discovering a career in engineering gives them the freedom and the power to, quite literally, create America’s future.
According to one report, the six top Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) in the continental United States in the number of Latino engineering graduates were Florida International University, University of Texas-El Paso, New Mexico State University, Texas A&M University – Kingsville, the University of New Mexico, and University of Texas-Pan American.
When U.S. territories are included in the calculations, the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez and the Universidad Politécnica de Puerto Rico graduate by far the largest number of Hispanic engineers.
The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities has identified 209 HSIs in the continental U.S. and Puerto Rico, 41 of which offer bachelor’s degrees in engineering or engineering-related technologies.
1. University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez
The University of Puerto Rico’s School of Engineering in Mayaguez boasts the largest number of Hispanic engineering students in the United States.
2. Universidad Politécnica de Puerto Rico
The Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico is the second largest engineering school for Hispanics and the largest private school.
3. Florida International University
Like UPR and Politécnica, Florida International University is one of the engineering schools that are most popular with Hispanics in the continental U.S. They are located in regions with large Spanish-speaking populations to draw from.
4. University of Texas-El Paso
The University of Texas-El Paso works hard to provide access for minorities and promote high standards of excellence.
5. New Mexico State University
At New Mexico State University, in Las Cruces, nearly 40 percent of engineering students — and 50 percent of freshmen in engineering — are Latino.
6. Texas A&M University-Kingsville
The campus at Texas A&M University-Kingsville reflects the demographics of the area, with 61 percent of the students Hispanic, 27 percent white, and 5 percent African American.
7. University of New Mexico
At the University of New Mexico, in Albuquerque, 33 percent of the full-time students are Hispanic.
8. University of Texas-Pan American
Located just 20 miles from the Texas-Mexico border, University of Texas-Pan American, in Edinburg boasts a total student body that is nearly 90 percent Hispanic; in the engineering department, 84 percent of the 687 students are Hispanic.
To learn more about opportunities in engineering, you may contact the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities. We also recommend reading “America’s Best Colleges,” published by U.S. News & World Report each year.
The original article by Bruce E. Phillips was first published in Hispanic Engineer and Information Technology magazine.
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