News Releases

Regis University Designated as Hispanic Serving Institution

  • Sheryl Tirol
  • April 04, 2023

The University is only the second Jesuit Catholic institution in U.S. to receive this designation

Regis University has been designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), a federal distinction shared by just over 10 percent of all colleges and universities in the U.S.

Regis is now the only private Colorado university and one of 13 community colleges and four universities in the state with HSI designation. Regis has also been recognized for excellence in higher education as one of the nation's 2022-2023 Colleges of Distinction in Equity and Inclusion.

“As only the second Jesuit Catholic university in the U.S. to receive this designation, it is a privilege to continue cultivating a rich and culturally-affirming campus,” said Regis President Salvador D. Aceves.

“This designation provides us opportunities to support initiatives that will shape a more accessible, inclusive, and culturally-enhancing educational experience for Hispanic students, and in doing so, will create a campus that honors and serves all of our students, no matter what their background is. Thus, we will all benefit from these opportunities,” said Nicki Gonzales, vice provost of diversity and inclusion at Regis.

Hispanic students make up about 28 percent of the full-time undergradate student population at Regis.  HSI designation denotes that a university’s student enrollment is more than 25 percent Hispanic – and affirms this university’s commitment to serve, support and celebrate our diverse student body.   Hispanic enrollment in higher education is expected to exceed 4 million students by 2026, far surpassing the growth rate of any other racial-ethnic group by over 10 percent.

The University will be developing comprehensive plans to enhance the individual and collective support of its students by embracing the many opportunities available as an HSI.

For more information, visit regis.edu/HSI.

Facts about HSIs to note:

  • There are 572 HSI designated colleges and universities
  • HSIs enroll 5 million students and two-thirds of all Hispanic undergraduates
  • HSIs enroll 31.2% of Pell recipients
  • Of the top 10 colleges and universities ranked by the Social Mobility Index (SMI) in 2022, seven were HSIs
  • A majority of HSIs are in urban areas and are concentrated geographically, with 80% (455) of these institutions located in six states and one territory: California (170), Florida (32), Illinois (31), New Mexico (24), New York (37), Texas (102) and Puerto Rico (59)
  • California and Texas account for nearly 50 percent of all HSIs
  • HSIs and Emerging HSIs are present in all but 8 states

About Regis University

Established in 1877, Regis University is a premier, globally engaged institution of higher learning in the Jesuit tradition that prepares leaders to live productive lives of faith, meaning and service. Regis University, one of 27 Jesuit universities in the nation, has three campus locations in the Denver metro area and extensive online program offerings with more than 6,000 enrolled students. For more information, visit www.regis.edu.

Contact