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25 top colleges for hispanics It is difficult to assess what makes a school “excellent,” just as it is to predict what might attract Hispanic students to a university and what might help them succeed in college. We know that when looking at college rankings, numbers don’t tell the whole story, and that the interests and needs of any kind of student involve personal preferences as much as they involve cultural elements. Once again this year we have looked at colleges and universities with strong national reputations in order to find the best colleges for Hispanic students. Our aim was to find the schools that, in addition to sustaining a tradition of excellence, offer support and resources for groups underrepresented in higher education, Hispanics in particular. To determine the colleges included in this list, we examined such factors as Hispanic student enrollment, graduation rates, financial aid resources, student-to-faculty ratios, acceptance rates, number of Hispanic faculty and more. 1 Princeton University Princeton offers world-class academic programs and a variety of campus organizations to keep students engaged in a stimulating environment. With easy access to both New York City and Philadelphia, students also have plenty of opportunities to complement excellent classroom learning with the rich cultural and artistic life of both cities. 2 Harvard Although academic and social activity are never in short supply in the Boston-Cambridge area, Harvard students need not even venture beyond their own campus to gain access to an impressive variety of resources. Harvard has a wide network of libraries that offer such specialized research materials as an extensive collection on Latin American women writers, as well as several museums, all of which contribute to the college’s exceptional 3 Amherst
College Amherst’s open curriculum encourages students to design their own programs of study, but its proximity to four other colleges allows for even greater flexibility as students may take courses at Smith, Mount Holyoke and Hampshire Colleges and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Amherst students may also participate in the Five College Latin American Studies Certificate Program, and take part in several Latino student organizations on campus.
4 Yale
University Specialized cultural programs, such as La Casa Cultural, contribute to Yale’s reputation as a premier academic institution. Conceived to be a “home away from home” for Latinos at Yale, the space is meant to foster intellectual exchange and social interaction, and it’s also open to members of the New Haven Latino community. Among the many other resources available to students, the University’s library also includes a good Latin American collection. 5 Swarthmore College This small school’s large endowment means that students have the resources they need to learn and thrive. One of the nation’s first co-educational colleges, Swarthmore’s liberal arts and engineering programs stress academic excellence and leadership. Swarthmore also provides a beautiful environment; its 357-acre campus is a registered national arboretum. And for students who need the activity of a larger city, Philadelphia is merely a half-hour train ride away. 6 Stanford University With 18 Nobel-Prize winners currently on the faculty and multiple other academic resources available, Stanford students might be tempted to forsake a social life in pursuit of an outstanding education. But the university is also home to a large number of organizations, many geared toward Latinos (from Mexicans to Argentinians), to promote interaction and cultural exchange.
7 MIT
(Massachusetts Institute
of Technology) A university known for its hologram collection might be enough of a draw, even for students not interested in science and technology. And if not that, then perhaps taking class from former Nobel Prize winners would. But MIT also offers humanities programs, including a Latin American studies program. Many cultural organizations, including a mariachi band and salsa and tango clubs, provide opportunities for social recreation at this excellent university.
8 Pomona
College Pomona College recently announced that it will replace student loans with scholarships, making this college’s exceptional education affordable to even more students. It offers 44 majors and 600 classes in the natural sciences, humanities, social sciences and fine arts. Located near beautiful Joshua Tree National Park, ski resorts, beaches and everything the Los Angeles area has to offer, Pomona caters to the needs of a wide variety of students. 9 Columbia
College Columbia is well-known as an excellent academic institution, but its learning environment is further enhanced by the school’s location. New York City is not only a rich backdrop to the Columbia experience, it is also the source of many of the opportunities (5,000 internships, for instance) for students. Those needing further exploration can take part in the international programs. An impressive roster of faculty and alumni also contribute to the success of Columbia’s graduates. 10 University of Chicago Among many other distinctions, the University of Chicago counts 70 Nobel Prize winners and six Pulitzer Prize winners among its current and former faculty, not to mention the MacArthur Fellows. With several campuses abroad, the university is an excellent launching pad for students looking for international experience. Although the city of Chicago, too, offers many opportunities for intellectual enrichment beyond the classroom. 11 Brown University This highly selective university (more than 18,000 applied for 1,450 spots in the freshman class of 2010) encourages students to craft their own curriculum. Brown prides itself in its faculty’s dual commitment to research and teaching, so students can count on mentors to help them make academic choices. Student organizations include several groups geared toward Latinos of different backgrounds. 12 Rice
University Rice shares many top-university traits but uses its low student-to-faculty ratio and small median class size of 15 to differentiate itself from other great—if crowded—universities. Students can select a field of study from any one of six schools, or take part in the Americas Project that shapes the next generation of the hemisphere’s policymakers. Plus, students can avoid gaining the freshman 15 thanks to a new web-based program that analyzes the nutritional content of the meals served on campus. 13 University of Notre Dame Students here ease into the college experience through a structured First Year of Studies that exposes them to a variety of disciplines with support from a faculty advisor and a senior student mentor. Ninety-eight percent of freshmen return for their second year—one of the top retention rates in the country. ND is home to the Center for the Study of Latino Religion, the Institute for Latino Studies and many student organizations geared toward Latinos. 14 University of
California,
Berkeley Berkeley is known for its excellent academics, very selective admissions process and consistently high-ranking graduate programs, among other traits. It also boasts an impressive library and museum collections. Additional enrichment opportunities abound in the surrounding Bay Area. Among the many campus organizations geared toward Latinos, Casa Magdalena Mora offers students a residential program that focuses on the Chicano/Latino community. 15 Georgetown University Within the vast range of outstanding programs at Georgetown, including a school of foreign service, the Center for Latin American Studies, too, offers great variety, including several joint graduate programs that allow students to get, for example, a combined Master of Arts and Law degree. Students have enhanced access to the Library of Congress in addition to access to the school’s seven libraries and Washington Library Research Consortium. 16 University of California, Los Angeles This energetic institution boasts of a campus that is host to more art, music, culture and sports than most cities, with six major performance halls and the world’s largest university-based film and television archive. But UCLA also excels academically. Many faculty members have been recognized for their outstanding achievements, and the number of programs offered at this university is simply dizzying. 17 University of Southern
California The school’s 30 academic departments offer a variety of degree programs, and its 17 professional schools include disciplines such as medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, business, architecture and cinematic arts for students interested in post-graduate work. USC, which boasts that it enrolls more international students than any U.S. university, offers many opportunities for student involvement, from a Latino honor society to a mariachi band.
18 New York University Although the heart of this university is located in Greenwich Village, one of the most vibrant neighborhoods in New York City, students attending one of NYU’s 14 schools and colleges meet regularly at five centers in Manhattan and in more than 25 countries. Among many excellent academic offerings, The Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies: King Juan Carlos I of Spain Center offers an M.A. and several joint degrees and concentrations. 19 University of
California,
San Diego Located along the Pacific coast on a 1,200-acre campus, this university prides itself in being an engine for regional economic growth. This practical focus is reflected in many of its excellent programs, such as oceanography, medicine or U.S.-Mexican Studies, for example. Student organizations, ranging from an engineering society to a folkloric ballet, encourage Latinos to thrive both socially and professionally on this campus. 20 University of Texas, Austin A national leader in the number of undergraduate degrees awarded to minority students, UT Austin offers excellent degree programs in a wide range of fields (including anything from a bachelor’s or law certificate to a doctorate in Latin American studies). Students can benefit also from the university’s impressive library collections (including the world-renowned Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center) and museums. 21 University of California, Santa Barbara This prestigious research-intensive university has five Nobel Prize winners on its current faculty. Located right on the California coast, not far from Los Angeles, this campus offers more than 200 majors, degrees and credentials. This school is also home to an impressive variety of organizations geared towards Latinos, which is not surprising considering its high Hispanic enrollment.
22 University of
California,
Irvine This university takes pride in its achievements in science and technology, with faculty that conducts pioneering research in fields such as neuroscience and laser studies. With a commitment to cutting-edge research, teaching, learning and creativity, UC Irvine is also a great school for business, the humanities or the social sciences, and it is among the top 100 institutions graduating Hispanics. 23 University of Florida Students at UF can choose from among 100 undergraduate majors and about twice as many graduate programs, in addition to dentistry, law, medicine, pharmacy and veterinary medicine. The sprawling 2000-acre campus includes 170 classroom buildings and the university’s libraries, the largest information resource in the state of Florida. Nearly 2,000 freshman participate in the honors college, with some 90 courses per semester. 24 University of Miami This excellent research university currently has more than $1.9 billion in construction projects underway. Its wide range of academic programs, including 115 bachelors, 114 masters, 51 doctoral and two professional programs, make it an attractive choice for students with a variety of interests. Hispanic enrollment is high, and so is the number of Hispanic students who graduate from this school. Plus, it offers more than 70 international education and exchange programs. 25 Rutgers,
New Brunswick Among Rutgers’ assets are the several museums and cultural events, and students can join a variety of organizations aimed at promoting cultural exchange. It also boasts a Department of Latino and Hispanic Caribbean Studies. Located in the center of the Washington/Boston corridor, with Philadelphia and New York City in the vicinity, Rutgers offers students an outstanding academic experience in a rich living environment. Runner Up Texas A&M offers degrees in more than 150 courses of study and is listed among the top 100 institutions graduating Hispanics. In recent years this prestigious university has been involved in an effort to hire approximately 450 additional faculty members. The university’s more than 700 organizations, including groups for students from nearly every Latin American country
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