A Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) is a federal designation by the U.S. Department of Education that acknowledges colleges and universities with 25% or more total undergraduate Hispanic full-time equivalent student enrollment. Eligibility must be met annually. The annual submission of materials to the U.S. Department of Education is led by UA HSI Initiatives. No additional financial resources are provided to institutions as a result of the federal designation, rather, HSIs are eligible to competitively vie for federal and foundation grants aimed at supporting HSIs.
Currently, there are 600 HSIs across the U.S., including 20 institutions in Arizona.