7 Best Online Colleges for Hispanic & Latino Americans 2025

A major key to equity in education is providing opportunities for all students to attend and thrive in schools of higher education. To help Latinx and Hispanic students meet their educational needs, many colleges and universities nationwide operate as Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs).

HSIs are defined in Title V of the Higher Education Act as not-for-profit schools of higher learning with a full-time equivalent (FTE) undergraduate student enrollment that is no less than 25% Hispanic. These schools aim to help low-income, first-generation college students, and all other students enjoy quality academic experiences and excel in the workforce.

Some HSIs offer online programs for students seeking alternatives to on-campus learning. Florida International University, California State University, and the University of Houston are great online options for Hispanic and Latin American students. Below, we'll highlight the top online schools for Latinx and Hispanic students and answer FAQs about these institutions.

Best Online Colleges for Hispanic and Latinx Students

Numerous accredited online colleges and universities are committed to inclusivity for Latin American and Hispanic communities. Explore some of the best schools for online students below.

1. Florida International University

Florida International University in Miami is recognized as one of the largest HSIs in the nation with 68% of its student body identifying as Hispanic. The university offers online programs for cultural studies, including Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts programs in Latin American and Caribbean studies. Online Bachelor of Business Administration and master's programs are also available in international business.

FIU offers the Kimberly Green Latin American and Caribbean Center to promote the study of study of Latin America and the Caribbean. Resources include the Digital Library of the Caribbean (dLOC) and Mario Diaz Cruz Law Library.

2. University of Texas at San Antonio

The University of Texas at San Antonio is an HSI with 59% of its total student population identifying as Hispanic. The university is also a founding member of the Alliance of Hispanic Service Universities, a group of Hispanic-Serving Institutions with an R1 designation from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.

The school offers 100% online degrees, which are ranked among the best online programs in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. Students can choose online four-year bachelor's degrees in areas of study like communication and cybersecurity, and online master's degrees in facility management and multidisciplinary studies.

3. The California State University

The California State University offers online bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in business administration, social science, education, social work, and more. CSU, a member of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), has 21 campuses that qualify as Hispanic-Serving Institutions.

The university has been awarded the Seal of Excelencia for serving Latino students and demonstrating positive student outcomes. Fifty percent of the more than 400,000 students attending the CSU campuses identify as Hispanic.

4. Western New Mexico University

Western New Mexico University offers multiple online programs for undergraduate and graduate students. Associate degrees include business administration, human services, and criminal justice. Bachelor's degrees are available in math and computer science, chemical dependency, and English. The school also offers graduate programs in counseling, counseling, and history.

WMNU is an HSI with an FTE undergraduate Hispanic student percentage of 55%. Enrollees can benefit from financial aid resources like the Grecia Rivas Scholarship for DACA or undocumented students and the IME Becas Scholarship for Mexican Americans and students from Mexico.

5. The City University of New York

The City University of New York (CUNY) had the most HSIs in New York State, with 16 institutions in 2021. Seven CUNY schools had student populations that were at least 45% Hispanic. Recently, six CUNY colleges were named 2023 Fulbright Hispanic-Serving Institution Leaders � the highest number of schools from a university system in the nation.

CUNY students can choose from over 180 online associate, bachelor's, and graduate degrees. Programs are available in Latin American and Caribbean studies, immigration law studies, and Latino studies. Other fields of study offering online courses include business, education, English, music, and technology.

6. University of Houston

The University of Houston is recognized as Texas' first Tier One public research university to be designated by the U.S. Department of Education as an HSI. The school's Center for Mexican American and Latino/a Studies (CMALS) offers mentorship, scholarship opportunities, and curated Mexican American and Latino/a resources.

The university offers a dozen online undergraduate degrees in management, accounting, finance, psychology, and nursing. Online graduate programs are available in healthcare, engineering, information technology, and education.

7. Arizona State University

Arizona State University was named a Hispanic-Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education after seeing a welcomed increase in Hispanic learners. In fall 2021, Hispanic students comprised 26% of ASU's on-campus undergraduate population and 22% of total undergraduate online learners.

ASU Online offers hundreds of undergraduate and graduate degree programs in business, education, nursing, technology, and more. Students can benefit from resources like the Hispanic Scholarship Fund for Hispanic learners and the Hispanic Research Center for all Latino/a/x and Hispanic communities.

Our Ranking Criteria

When determining the schools to include on our list of the best online colleges for Hispanic and Latino students, we looked at accredited colleges and universities with the following:

• 100% online degree programs
• a Hispanic enrollment of at least 25% of the student population
• a commitment to inclusivity for Hispanic and Latino students
• financial aid and other resources for Latino and Hispanic students

FAQs About Hispanic-Serving Institutions

According to the U.S. Department of Education, nearly 2.2 million Hispanic students were enrolled at 526 HSIs in 27 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico in fall 2021. Review the following FAQs to learn more about Hispanic-Serving Institutions.

What Are Predominantly Hispanic Colleges Called?

Colleges with a majority Hispanic population are generally called Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), which is a federal designation for schools with Hispanic populations of 25% or more of the total full-time undergraduate student body. HSIs are eligible for grants under Title V and Title III, Part A, Programs.

How Does a School Become a Member of HACU?

Schools in the U.S. and Puerto interested in national membership to the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) must be regionally accredited, nonprofit tax-exempt institutions. When applying, schools must submit undergraduate, graduate, and total enrollment statistics plus the number of Hispanic students in these categories during the fall prior to membership.

What Is the Difference Between Hispanic and Latino?

Hispanic typically refers to a person with ancestry from a predominantly Spanish-speaking country. Latino/a (or Latinx) refers to a person with origins from any location in Latin America, including Central America, South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean. For example, a person from Haiti would be Latinx but not Hispanic since they speak French and Haitian Creole. On the other hand, a person from Spain would be Hispanic but not Latinx. A person from Mexico can be both Hispanic and Latinx.

Explore Programs for Latino College Students

If you're eager to begin your journey toward the career of your dreams, explore accredited degree programs offered by schools on Learn.org. Contact one of these colleges to learn how their programs can help you achieve your career goals.