Institutional Assessment and Research

What is a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)?

The U.S. Department of Education designates eligible higher education institutions as “Hispanic-serving” if they have enrollments of undergraduate Hispanic full-time equivalent (FTE) students that total at least 25% of the institution’s total undergraduate FTE enrollment at the end of the award year for which the institution applies for the designation.

Why the HSI designation?

In 1992, under Title V of the Higher Education Act, the U.S. Congress began to formally designate higher education institutions as Hispanic-serving to expand education opportunities and academic attainment for Hispanic students. The purpose of this designation is to enhance the academic offerings, program quality, and institutional stability of colleges and universities that are educating the majority of Hispanic college students so these educational institutions can help large numbers of Hispanic students and other low-income individuals complete postsecondary degrees (see Title 20 Chapter 28 Subchapter V Part A of the U.S. Code for additional information).

When did CSUMB officially become an HSI?

CSUMB first became eligible for the HSI designation in Spring 1998, just a few years after the founding of the university.

What are the historical growth trends of CSUMB’s Hispanic student enrollment?

CSUMB’s Hispanic Undergraduate FTE Enrollments have grown significantly between Fall 2008 and Fall 2017, increasing from 1,078 to 2,693, an increase of 150%. This is also true of the percentage of the undergraduate FTEs that are Hispanic students, growing from 28% in Fall 2008 to 43% in Fall 2017, with the only exception being Fall 2009 when the percentage dropped by 1%.

In comparison, CSUMB’s Overall Undergraduate FTE Enrollments have also been growing, increasing from 3,800 in Fall 2008 to 6,311 in Fall 2017, an increase of 66%. (Each year enrollment experienced growth except for Fall 2017, when CSUMB decreased by 153 undergraduate FTE enrollments compared to Fall 2016.) There was a notable jump in overall enrollment between Fall 2013 at 5,167 to Fall 2014 at 6,028.

When did Hispanic students become CSUMB’s largest race / ethnicity group?

Hispanic students surpassed White students as the largest race / ethnicity group at CSUMB, beginning in Fall 2015, with Hispanics comprising 38% of the university’s undergraduate FTE enrollment. As of Fall 2017, Hispanic students now make up 43% of the total undergraduate FTE enrollment.

Percentage of CSUMB's Undergraduate FTE Enrollment by Race Ethnicity 2008-2017
 

What are CSUMB's top undergraduate programs in terms of Hispanic student enrollment?Top 10 Undergraduate Programs by Hispanic Student FTE Enrollment

What are CSUMB's retention trends for Hispanic students?

The retention rates of CSUMB’s Hispanic students between the Fall 2008 entering cohort and the Fall 2016 entering cohort have been increasing at rates similar to increases in retention rates for CSUMB students overall.

For Hispanic first-time freshmen (FTF), the retention rates have been 1-2 percentage points higher than for all FTF, increasing from 72% for the Fall 2008 entering cohort to 82% for the Fall 2016 entering cohort. CSUMB’s overall FTF 1-year retention rates have also risen gradually from the Fall 2008 entering cohort (71%) to the Fall 2016 entering cohort (80%).

Hispanic vs. Overall First-Time Freshmen 1-Year Retention Rates

The Hispanic upper division transfer (UDT) 1-year retention rate has also increased reaching 74% for the Fall 2008 entering cohort and 88% for the Fall 2016 entering cohort. The 1-year retention rate for all CSUMB’s UDTs has also risen gradually from 75% for the Fall 2008 entering cohort to 87% for the Fall 2016 entering cohort.

Hispanic vs. Overall Upper Division Transfer 1-Year Retention Rates

What are CSUMB's graduation trends for Hispanic students?

The Hispanic FTF graduation rates as of the Fall 2013 entering cohort are slightly lower (26%) than the overall FTF rate (30%) for 4-year graduation. However, the 6-year graduation rate for the Fall 2011 entering cohort is comparable between Hispanic FTF and overall FTF (59% for both groups). Graduation rates for all FTF have increased from Fall 2008 through the present.

Hispanic vs. Overall First-time Freshmen Graduation Rates

Both All Upper Division Transfer and Hispanic Upper Division Transfer 2-year and 4-year graduation rates have also increased between the Fall 2008 and Fall 2015 entering cohorts (most recent data). The 2-year graduation rate for Hispanic UDTs was 41% for the Fall 2015 entering cohort compared to 42% for UDTs overall. The 4-year graduation rate for Hispanic UDTs was 73% for the Fall 2013 entering cohort compared to 77% for UDTs overall.

Graph - Hispanic vs. Overall Upper Division Transfer Graduation Rates

IAR is located in Green Hall (Building 58)

IAR offices in Green Hall (Building 58).