Nobel laureates, MacArthur Fellows and Pulitzer Prize winners are among the faculty members who teach on the campus of just under 5,000 undergraduate students. The close-knit campus gives undergraduates opportunities for individual research and study in their later years. And in their spare time, students can choose from among some of the several Hispanic cultural clubs.

Harvard College is the undergraduate institution of the world-class university, which for several years has been considered the No. 1 school in the country. Emphasis on global learning encourages students to branch out in their studies and perhaps take part in Iberian studies or ethnic studies. The institution made news this year when it ended its early admission program.

Specializing in undergraduate study, this 1,000-acre New England college is relatively small in population compared to the others on the list. However, its 1600 students have a world to choose from among the school’s 800 courses in 33 fields of study. Amherst is also a member of the Five Colleges, and students may take class at its sister schools.

Some 12 million volumes fill the university’s library shelves, and its 11,000-plus undergraduate and graduate students take advantage of the opportunity. They can also take advantage of the International Summer Award program and undergraduate fellowship opportunities.

Founded by the Quakers, Swarthmore boasts that no classes are taught by teaching assistants, only professors. And the school has made sure to offer the small institution’s students as many study choices as possible: they may enroll in nearby Bryn Mawr, Haverford College and the University of Pennsylvania.

One of the world’s premiere research institutions is also a learning haven for the bright young students who can count themselves among the very few who are accepted. Those select students have the opportunity to learn from some of the planet’s most brilliant scientists and educators including seven Nobel Prize winners.

With a broad academic catalog that includes such programs as Chicano studies, Spanish and Portuguese, Stanford is one of the most popular universities for selective Hispanic students. The 8,200-acre, palm-tree dotted campus also boasts a mariachi and folkloric group among its 640 student groups.

A tie for the No. 7 spot, this elite institution also draws a particularly large Hispanic population. It caters to small-group learning, and the school’s average class size is 14 pupils. Although the school offers 44 majors and 600 classes on-site, students have access to the more than 2,500 classes at the Claremont Colleges.

A stellar faculty including 17 Nobel Laureates and four Pulitzer Prize winners attract creative and serious students to the New York City-based school. Those hoping to explore more than the Big Apple can take advantage of the undergraduate school’s international programs.

Although Brown has an excellent student to faculty ratio, the Ivy League institution is attempting to better it with the hiring of 100 new professors as part of their Plan for Academic enrichment. Sport and social activities are also of importance as the school offers 300 organizations and 37 athletic teams.

One of Texas’ most selective and well-regarded universities, Rice is also home of the Americas Project, that selects future policymakers for study and discussion about the future of the Western Hemisphere, at the school’s James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy. Undergraduates can also select to study at any of the university’s six schools.

Parents dream of sending children to Notre Dame, where they spend their freshman year enrolled in the First Year of Studied Program, which fosters interest in several fields of study while encouraging students to settle on a path. From there, students can select from the College of Arts and Letters, Mendoza College of Business, College of Engineering, College of Science or School of Architecture.

University of California’s flagship public institution, Berkeley has a reputation for being as selective as some of the country’s best private schools. After getting a well-rounded undergraduate education from where they can study one of 300 degree programs and enjoy a multitude of organizations, they can take part in the school’s stellar graduate programs.

With four undergraduate schools, and a school of foreign service, the Jesuit university instills the importance of diversity, justice and international awareness. And the picturesque campus located in the political realm of the nation’s capital is a prime place for putting those virtues into practice.

The largest of the University of California campuses, the sheer size of Davis 5,300-acre lot mirrors its huge capacity for research. In the last academic year, the school received $544 million in funding. Plus, the school’s devotion to energy research can only secure its place in future scientific endeavors. More than 100 Hispanic faculty and 103 majors, also make the school largely impressive.

Hispanic Outlook for Higher Education
Publisher’s Pick listed: Yes, Top 100
Undergraduate enrollment: 34,618

Another school with 100-plus Hispanic faculty, Florida has a big minority and Latino presence. Not a surprise for one of the five largest universities in the country. Its size and large population make its low tuition rate a surprise and its education, which offers 16 colleges and more then 100 majors, an enormous value.

UT, as it is known to its friends and students, has one of the most diverse student populations in the country and boasts an interesting juxtaposition of rigorous academics against the backdrop of a laid-back campus that mirrors the attitude of surrounding Austin. The enormous campus has seven museums, 17 libraries with a total of 8 million volumes, and 900 student groups.

The lovely campus set in a picturesque part of
Miami, the school encourages travel and study abroad through its 77 International Education and Exchange Programs in 33 countries. If students prefer to stay on campus they can choose from among their stellar programs, among them the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science.

The school’s large population is a reflection of the wealth of knowledge and breadth of student organizations. More than 150 courses of study, 700 clubs, and a new higher Hispanic enrollment this fall only solidify this institution’s well rounded diversity.

One of three sister campuses in New Jersey, this branch of Rutgers has a larger Hispanic population than the Camden and Newark locations. In addition, the university has a en excellent reputation for rigorous academic study offering 4,000 courses and 100 majors.

Baylor, the historically Christian university, the school instills a balance between faith and higher academia. The world’s largest Baptist institution has developed 146 bachelor programs including pre-healthcare and pre-law, and more than half of undergraduate students continue with their education past graduation.