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ASU Named a ‘Top Online Hispanic-Serving Institution’

July 06, 2017

Angelo State University has been ranked among the nation’s “Top 50 Online Hispanic-Serving Higher Learning Institutions” by OnlineCollegePlan.com, an education resource guide dedicated exclusively to connecting prospective students with top online college programs.

Top 50 Online Hispanic-Serving Institutions Badge

Only accredited, nonprofit colleges and universities designated as Hispanic Serving Institutions by the U.S. Department of Education were eligible for the rankings, which were compiled using information from the National Center for Education Statistics’ College Navigator and U.S. News and World Report. ASU ranked No. 47 in the U.S. on the list of Top Online Hispanic-Serving Higher Learning Institutions. 

OnlineCollegePlan.com stated in a news release that, “All students are important, but with 74 percent of Hispanic students cutting their education short for reasons such as supporting their family, and over half citing poor English – these students deserve to know there is an environment that will meet their needs. Online programs are accessible from all across the country, but the safety net of the campus nearby is a wonderful addition to the flexibility, customization, and support received from these schools rigorous online programs.” 

ASU was named a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) by the U.S. Department of Education in 2010 and was the first institution in the Texas Tech University System to receive the HSI designation. To qualify as an HSI, a university must have Hispanic enrollment that exceeds 25 percent of the undergraduate population. ASU’s initial designation was accompanied by a five-year, $3.22 million grant from the Department of Education to fund academic and educational support programs to improve retention and graduation rates for all students. 

In 2011, ASU received another five-year Department of Education HSI grant totaling $5.09 million to fund programs designed to increase the number of students, particularly Hispanic and low-income students, completing degrees in the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. 

ASU and was one of 13 Texas institutions to make the OnlineCollegePlan.com list. The complete rankings list is available at www.onlinecollegeplan.com/hispanic-students/.