HSI @ SJSU

Latinx Graduates at Commencement

Hispanic Serving Institution: An Overview

A “Hispanic Serving Institution” (HSI) is a federal designation for accredited, degree-granting colleges and universities with an enrollment of  25% or more full time Latinx-identified students. This criteria was set by the US Department of Education in the 1990s. HSIs are eligible for competitive federal grant funding to strengthen their programs, facilities, and services in the interest of expanding opportunities for Latinx students.

There are currently 559 HSIs, 80% of which are located in California, Florida, Illinois, New Mexico, New York, Texas and Puerto Rico. HSIs are the result of both their geographical location and growing Latinx populations across the country.

What HSI Means at SJSU

SJSU has been an HSI since 2014, and currently has a Latinx student population of 27%. Many are first generation college students and/or come from multilingual immigrant communities—groups that have been historically underserved in higher education. 

According to the Hispanic Outlook on Education, of the top 100 colleges and universities for Hispanics, SJSU ranks:

  • #54 in terms of total Latinx enrollment;
  • #31 in terms of total bachelor’s degrees granted; and
  • #30 in terms of total Master’s degrees granted.

At SJSU, we view HSI status as an opportunity to become not just “Hispanic enrolling,” but truly” Hispanic serving,” a goal that is aligned with CSU Graduation Initiative 2025 and our campus strategic plan, Transformation 2030. We aim to draw upon the rich set of knowledge and curiosities about the world acquired from Latinx students’ lived experiences, as well as from the insight they gain from their families and communities, to enhance the education experiences of all SJSU students, regardless of background. We articulate that vision in our campus-specific framework, entitled Somos SJSU.