Hispanic Serving Institution

UTSA is one of the original 189 universities in the nation to be federally designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) by the U.S. Department of Education. UTSA is one of only a handful of HSI institutions in the nation also designated as an R1 institution by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education for research excellence.

Federal Designation

The U.S. Department of Education recognizes institutions as HSIs based on the enrollment. Institutions must have at least 25 percent full-time undergraduate students who are Hispanic to earn the designation. Upon designation, HSIs are eligible to receive various forms of federal funding to support student services, faculty development, academic programming and more.

A Top Tier Research Institution

UTSA is designated as an R1 institution by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. This designation recognizes UTSA as one of the top 4% research institutions in the nation. R1 universities have a greater ability to attract world-class faculty members and talented students.

One of only 22

UTSA is one of a select few universities designated as both an R1 and Hispanic Serving Institution.

Alliance of Hispanic Serving Research Universities

UTSA’s HSI designation opens new doors for our students, allowing for professional and personal growth that extends far beyond the classroom. For these reasons, UTSA was invited to be a founding member of the Alliance of Hispanic Serving Research Universities, a prestigious group of institutions that are both federally designated as Hispanic-Serving Institutions and R1.

Serving as a model Our Student Demographics

With a student body that is majority Hispanic, UTSA serves as a model for universities across the nation working to close the gaps in higher education.

UTSA's Hispanic Student Enrollment

59%

of all students

72%

of first-gen students

61%

of first-time freshman

62%

of transfer students

Hispanic Heritage Month At UTSA

UTSA honors Hispanic Heritage Month every year (September 15-October 15) with programming that is free and open to the university community and the public. Throughout the month, UTSA showcases events across our campuses ranging from concerts and exhibitions to conferences and community partnerships to athletics events.

Discover Hispanic Heritage Month at UTSA
Seal of Excelencia - Institutions Serving Latinos

In 2020, Excelencia in Education honored UTSA as a recipient of the Seal of Excelencia, recognizing the university’s commitment to advancing student success.

Combining These Strengths

Together, UTSA's Hispanic-serving focus and research prowess open exciting new doors for Roadrunners, allowing for professional, socioeconomic and personal growth that extends far beyond the classroom.

With this in mind, UTSA became a founding member of the Alliance of Hispanic Serving Research Universities, a prestigious group of institutions that are both Hispanic-Serving and R1.