The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) announced that National Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) Week will be observed from September 8 -14.
Last year, HACU shared on social media that there are 234 two-year public institutions and 178 four-year public institutions designated as HSIs.
HACU also released an analysis of enrollment data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, which showed an increase in the number of HSIs.
According to HACU, during the 2022-23 academic year, 600 institutions met the definition of an HSI, up from 572 the previous year, reflecting an increase of 28 institutions, or 5%. HSIs are defined as institutions where 25% or more of the undergraduate students are enrolled full-time and are Hispanic.
In the 2022-23 academic year, HSIs enrolled 66.2% of all Hispanic undergraduates and 31.7% of all undergraduate students in nonprofit postsecondary education.
The number of Emerging HSIs, which includes colleges nearing the 25% Hispanic student enrollment threshold, increased to 412 in the 2022-23 academic year, up from 400 the previous year, representing a 3% rise. Currently, HSIs enroll 5.2 million students, accounting for two-thirds of all Hispanic undergraduates.
They also enroll 32.2% of Pell Grant recipients.
The majority of HSIs are located in urban areas, with 82% (489) of these institutions concentrated in seven states and one territory.
The states with the most HSIs include California (172), Texas (111), Florida (30), Illinois (34), New Jersey (23), New Mexico (24), New York (39), and Puerto Rico (56).
Notably, California and Texas together account for 47% of all HSIs. HSIs and Emerging HSIs can be found in all but eight states.
HACU encourages HSIs to observe HSI Week with campus activities aimed at increasing awareness of the critical role HSIs play in improving access to education and promoting equity for traditionally underserved students.
HSIs are urged to share stories of their students, alums, faculty, and community partners to illustrate the impact HSIs have made and to highlight the essential role they play in serving their students and communities.
In August 2025, HACU clarified that the 25% threshold, which defines Hispanic-Serving Institutions, is intended to distribute federal funding rather than to exclude, label, or give preference to individual applicants.
The Department of Justice recently announced that it will not defend $350 million in funding for Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), including 121 in Texas.
According to HACU’s statement, eliminating HSI program grants would remove essential resources, not just for HSIs but also for other initiatives that support a significant number of first-generation, low-income, and historically underrepresented college students.
HACU supports more than 600 Hispanic-Serving Institutions that educate over 5.6 million students and contribute to the nation’s future success.
According to HACU, the effort to end the HSI grant program will disproportionately harm all students attending these colleges and universities, as well as their communities.
Congress established HSIs in 1992 to recognize institutions with a high enrollment of Hispanic students. The Higher Education Act defines an HSI’s purpose as providing federal funding and resources to colleges and universities serving a significant number of Hispanic students, thereby promoting their success in higher education.
HACU has announced National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week will be observed September 8 – 14, 2025. This is a key opportunity to highlight the essential role HSIs play in serving students and their communities.https://t.co/inZOkRPhRd#HSIsWeek pic.twitter.com/sdC0FoAwzd
— HACU (@HACUNews) August 29, 2025
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been tasked with…
Brown and Caldwell, a leading environmental engineering and construction firm,…
Humboldt State University, one of four campuses within the California…
