Emerging Hispanic colleges and universities

Only a few decades ago Hispanics made up a small proportion of the U.S. population. They accounted for 4.5% in 1970, and by 1985 estimates indicated Hispanics were 8.1% of the population. Hispanics are distributed unequally in the country. The numerical presence of Hispanics in the Southwest, Florida, and New York has become very significant.;Although Hispanic participation in Higher Education has increased, it has done so at a lower rate than the increase in the Hispanic population. Additionally, Hispanics are overrepresented in two-year colleges, the lowest level of the institutional hierarchy, and underrepresented at four-year institutions. The four-year institutions attended by the largest number of Hispanics are those at the lower tiers.;A number of institutions have emerged that have considerable concentrations of Hispanic students. These predominantly Hispanic institutions (defined here as baccalaureate-granting schools with a student body that is at least 40% Hispanic) are located in areas with large Hispanic populations. Ten institutions are examined and evaluated in this study. They are: Boricua College (NY), Laredo State University (TX), Pan American University (TX), New Mexico Highlands University, Our Lady of the Lake University (TX), Western New Mexico University, The University of Texas at El Paso, Texas Arts and Industries University, Saint Mary's University (TX), and Saint Thomas of Villaneueva University (FL). While all these schools have come to serve the Hispanic community, only Boricua was founded with the express purpose of providing higher education for Hispanics.;An examination of the resources of these ten institutions reveals that they are at best average, generally below average institutions, a fact which confirms the notion that Hispanics are channeled into the less prestigious segments of higher education.;Education plays a key role in social mobility and equity. Therefore, the level of education achieved by Hispanics may be a critical factor in determining their condition in coming years. The educational attainment of Hispanics still lags behind that of the non-Hispanic population.