Best institutions to study Hispanic-American, Puerto Rican, and Mexican-American/Chicano Studies
A program that focuses on the history, sociology, politics, culture, and economics of one or more of the Hispanic American immigrant populations within the U.S.
54 U.S. institutions graduated 510 Hispanic-American, Puerto Rican, and Mexican-American/Chicano Studies students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 05.0203, a specialization of Ethnic (CIP 05.02), and leads most directly to the Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary occupation (BLS SOC 25-1062).
About Hispanic-American, Puerto Rican, and Mexican-American/Chicano Studies programs
A program that focuses on the history, sociology, politics, culture, and economics of one or more of the Hispanic American immigrant populations within the U.S. and Canada, including Mexican-American Studies, Cuban American Studies, Puerto Rican Studies, and others.
See also: 05.0107 - Latin American Studies.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Hispanic-American program, formally known as Hispanic-American, Puerto Rican, and Mexican-American/Chicano Studies, is an academic field that explores the history, sociology, politics, culture, and economics of various Hispanic American immigrant populations in the U.S. and Canada. This program is ideal for students interested in understanding the complexities of Hispanic American identities and experiences.
Students in this program develop essential skills such as reading comprehension, critical thinking, and effective communication. Coursework often includes topics related to race and ethnic relations, gender studies, and cross-cultural perspectives, providing a comprehensive understanding of Hispanic American communities.
Credentials awarded
What Hispanic-American, Puerto Rican, and Mexican-American/Chicano Studies graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree353 graduates / yr · 43 institutions69%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year59 graduates / yr · 4 institutions12%
- Master's degree48 graduates / yr · 10 institutions9.4%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship19 graduates / yr · 7 institutions3.7%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate19 graduates / yr · 4 institutions3.7%
- Associate's degree10 graduates / yr · 5 institutions2.0%
- Post-master's certificate2 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.4%
Graduates over time
Hispanic-American, Puerto Rican, and Mexican-American/Chicano Studies completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 522 |
| 2013 | 515 |
| 2014 | 506 |
| 2015 | 433 |
| 2016 | 484 |
| 2017 | 467 |
| 2018 | 519 |
| 2019 | 572 |
| 2020 | 665 |
| 2021 | 611 |
| 2022 | 579 |
| 2023 | 555 |
| 2024 | 523 |
| 2025 | 510 |
Top 50 institutions for Hispanic-American, Puerto Rican, and Mexican-American/Chicano Studies, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearBachelor's | 57 | 90% | — | $28,841 |
| 2 | University of California - Davis Davis, CAPublicBachelor's | 47 | 86% | — | $32,563 |
| 3 | University of California - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 47 | 93% | — | $29,914 |
| 4 | University of California - Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CAPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 47 | 75% | — | $31,140 |
| 5 | California State University - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 24 | 53% | — | $27,058 |
| 6 | University of California - Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 24 | 83% | — | $32,341 |
| 7 | California State University - Northridge Northridge, CAPublicPost-degree cert.Bachelor'sMaster's | 20 | 57% | — | $26,767 |
| 8 | University of California - Berkeley Berkeley, CAPublicBachelor's | 20 | 93% | — | $34,559 |
| 9 | University of New Mexico - Main Campus Albuquerque, NMPublicBachelor'sMaster'sMaster'sDoctoral | 17 | 55% | — | $38,260 |
| 10 | San Francisco State University San Francisco, CAPublicBachelor's | 13 | 50% | — | $31,001 |
| 11 | San Jose State University San Jose, CAPublicMaster'sBachelor's | 13 | 69% | — | — |
| 12 | University of California - Irvine Irvine, CAPublicBachelor's | 12 | 87% | — | $26,712 |
| 13 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZPublicBachelor'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 11 | 68% | — | $40,719 |
| 14 | California State University - Long Beach Long Beach, CAPublicBachelor's | 10 | 69% | — | $27,726 |
| 15 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TXPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 10 | 89% | — | $37,046 |
| 16 | San Diego State University San Diego, CAPublicBachelor's | 8 | 76% | — | $29,267 |
| 17 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station, TXPublicPost-degree cert.DoctoralMaster's | 8 | 84% | — | — |
| 18 | California State University - Channel Islands Camarillo, CAPublicBachelor's | 8 | 51% | — | — |
| 19 | Sonoma State University Rohnert Park, CAPublicBachelor's | 7 | 58% | — | $35,263 |
| 20 | University of Northern Colorado Greeley, COPublicBachelor's | 7 | 51% | — | — |
| 21 | The University of Texas at El Paso El Paso, TXPublicBachelor's | 7 | 50% | — | — |
| 22 | California State University - Dominguez Hills Carson, CAPublicBachelor's | 6 | 43% | — | — |
| 23 | Michigan State University East Lansing, MIPublicPost-degree cert. | 6 | 81% | — | — |
| 24 | The University of Texas at San Antonio San Antonio, TXPublicBachelor's | 6 | 53% | — | — |
| 25 | Scripps College Claremont, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 5 | 83% | $26,171 | — |
| 26 | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Minneapolis, MNPublicBachelor's | 5 | 85% | — | $33,000 |
| 27 | Pepperdine University Malibu, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 4 | 83% | $41,986 | — |
| 28 | Pomona College Claremont, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 4 | 93% | $16,571 | — |
| 29 | Central New Mexico Community College Albuquerque, NMPublicAssociate's | 4 | 31% | — | — |
| 30 | Portland State University Portland, ORPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearBachelor's | 4 | 53% | — | $32,441 |
| 31 | Vanderbilt University Nashville, TNPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 4 | 94% | $14,854 | — |
| 32 | California State University - Fresno Fresno, CAPublicBachelor's | 3 | 57% | — | — |
| 33 | University of California - Riverside Riverside, CAPublicBachelor's | 3 | 76% | — | $31,443 |
| 34 | Metropolitan State University of Denver Denver, COPublicBachelor's | 3 | 32% | — | $34,906 |
| 35 | University of Illinois Urbana - Champaign Champaign, ILPublicBachelor's | 3 | 85% | — | $32,856 |
| 36 | CUNY Lehman College Bronx, NYPublicBachelor's | 3 | 51% | — | $36,292 |
| 37 | Brown University Providence, RIPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 3 | 96% | $14,644 | $17,527 |
| 38 | El Paso Community College El Paso, TXPublicAssociate's | 3 | 24% | — | — |
| 39 | The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Edinburg, TXPublicBachelor's | 3 | 51% | — | $23,604 |
| 40 | University of Arizona Tucson, AZPublicDoctoral | 2 | 68% | — | $26,875 |
| 41 | Phoenix College Phoenix, AZPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 2 | 14% | — | — |
| 42 | Claremont McKenna College Claremont, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 91% | $22,678 | — |
| 43 | Northwestern University Evanston, ILPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 95% | $14,799 | $39,012 |
| 44 | Wheaton College (Massachusetts) Norton, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 73% | $26,445 | — |
| 45 | Rutgers University - New Brunswick New Brunswick, NJPublicBachelor's | 2 | 84% | — | $30,296 |
| 46 | Fresno City College Fresno, CAPublicAssociate's | 1 | 24% | — | — |
| 47 | Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 79% | $36,488 | $26,868 |
| 48 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 92% | $26,873 | — |
| 49 | Colorado College Colorado Springs, COPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 88% | $23,510 | — |
| 50 | Wichita State University Wichita, KSPublicPost-degree cert. | 1 | 51% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Ethnic field (CIP 05.02) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 16 states
Where Hispanic-American, Puerto Rican, and Mexican-American/Chicano Studies graduates come from. Each state links to all Ethnic programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 25 | 331 | University of California - Davis47 / yr |
| Wisconsin | 1 | 57 | University of Wisconsin - Madison57 / yr |
| Texas | 8 | 39 | The University of Texas at Austin10 / yr |
| New Mexico | 2 | 21 | University of New Mexico - Main Campus17 / yr |
| Arizona | 3 | 15 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion11 / yr |
| Colorado | 3 | 11 | University of Northern Colorado7 / yr |
| Michigan | 1 | 6 | Michigan State University6 / yr |
| Illinois | 2 | 5 | University of Illinois Urbana - Champaign3 / yr |
| Minnesota | 1 | 5 | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities5 / yr |
| New York | 2 | 4 | CUNY Lehman College3 / yr |
| Oregon | 1 | 4 | Portland State University4 / yr |
| Tennessee | 1 | 4 | Vanderbilt University4 / yr |
| Rhode Island | 1 | 3 | Brown University3 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 2 | Wheaton College (Massachusetts)2 / yr |
| New Jersey | 1 | 2 | Rutgers University - New Brunswick2 / yr |
| Kansas | 1 | 1 | Wichita State University1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 25-1062, Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Hispanic-American program can pursue careers as Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers at the postsecondary level. The job outlook for this occupation is about as fast as average, with an annual growth rate of 2.4% and approximately 1,100 annual openings. The median wage for this role is $84,290, typically requiring a doctoral or professional degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 05.0203
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondaryprimary SOC 25-1062 | $85,020 | +2.4% About as fast as average | ~1,100 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Hispanic-American, Puerto Rican, and Mexican-American/Chicano Studies programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as race and ethnic relations, gender studies, and cross-cultural perspectives.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
- Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
Tools and technology used
Other Ethnic specializations
The 11 other 6-digit CIP codes under Ethnic (CIP 05.02).
- Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group StudiesCIP 05.02992,170 graduates / yr127 institutions
- Women's StudiesCIP 05.02072,141 graduates / yr300 institutions
- African-American/CIP 05.0201
Black Studies 764 graduates / yr164 institutions - Disability StudiesCIP 05.0210583 graduates / yr28 institutions
- American Indian/CIP 05.0202
Native American Studies 528 graduates / yr87 institutions - Ethnic StudiesCIP 05.0200505 graduates / yr74 institutions
- Deaf StudiesCIP 05.0211474 graduates / yr29 institutions
- Asian-American StudiesCIP 05.0206129 graduates / yr16 institutions
- Gay/CIP 05.0208
Lesbian Studies 75 graduates / yr17 institutions - Folklore StudiesCIP 05.0209partial data60 graduates / yr8 institutions
- Comparative Group StudiesCIP 05.0212partial data42 graduates / yr7 institutions
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree, Master's degree, or a Doctor's degree.
How many colleges offer this program in the U.S.?+
There are 54 colleges offering the Hispanic-American program.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, communication, and active learning.
What is the job outlook for graduates?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a median wage of $84,290.
What is the CIP code for Hispanic-American, Puerto Rican, and Mexican-American/Chicano Studies?+
Hispanic-American, Puerto Rican, and Mexican-American/Chicano Studies is CIP 05.0203 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Ethnic (CIP 05.02). NCES defines it as: A program that focuses on the history, sociology, politics, culture, and economics of one or more of the Hispanic American immigrant populations within the U.S. and Canada, including Mexican-American Studies, Cuban American Studies, Puerto Rican Studies, and others.
How many institutions offer Hispanic-American, Puerto Rican, and Mexican-American/Chicano Studies programs?+
54 U.S. institutions reported Hispanic-American, Puerto Rican, and Mexican-American/Chicano Studies graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 16 states, awarding 510 credentials in the year. That is 6.4% of all Ethnic graduates.
How much do Hispanic-American, Puerto Rican, and Mexican-American/Chicano Studies graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary occupation, which Hispanic-American, Puerto Rican, and Mexican-American/Chicano Studies most directly leads to, pays a median of $85,020 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Ethnic field report median earnings of $32,083 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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