MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, CBS 58 is highlighting Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI) in Wisconsin that have seen a significant rise in their Hispanic student body over the past two decades.

According to a recent study by the Pew Research Center, Latinos have seen the fastest growth in obtaining a collegiate degree than any other ethnic group in the U.S. It was found that 2.5 million Latinos held an advanced degree in 2021, marking a significant increase from 710,000 in 2000 to fewer than 60,000 in 1990. This rise in Latinx student enrollment has shed light onto the unique attributions of the Latinx community and the opportunities for inclusion in higher education.

Over the past decade, the state of Wisconsin has seen a significant rise in the number of developing Hispanic Serving Institutions. According to the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), during the 2021-2022 year, a total of 572 institutions reached this designation nationwide.

Since then, this mark has grown and as of their most recent study, three universities in Wisconsin are among the designated: Alverno College, Herzing University-Kenosha, and Mount Mary University. Another seven are emerging: Beloit College, Carthage College, Gateway Technical College, Marquette University, Milwaukee Area Technical College, Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design, and University of Wisconsin-Parkside.

For a university to earn this designation and receive federal funding from the Department of Education’s Hispanic Serving Programs, a university’s Latinx student body must exceed 25%. Mount Mary, an all-women's university that became a designated HSI in 2020, has seen a rise of more than 35% of Latinx enrollment in their student body. Since then, Mount Mary University has obtained over $40 million in grants that have helped fund and create programs that focus on supporting inclusive initiatives and equal access to education.

"When our students graduate, they're in a much more elevated social mobile position to go out and get good jobs. And many of our students remain in the area, 88% of our students stay in the area. They're going back, literally being the change makers in their communities, where they grew up. So, when we talk about transformative education, transforming the world through education, we are literally doing that,” shared the university's vice president for mission and justice, Andrea Stapleton.

The university also forms part of the Hispanic Serving Institutions Network of Wisconsin (HSI-NOW) a network of local leaders in higher education that have earned or are working towards the HSI designation and are committed to supporting their Latinx students.

You can join Mount Mary University on Oct. 14 for “Mi Futuro,” a bilingual open house event for future students and families where you can learn all about financial aid, their academic programs and hear from their Latinx community.

To register, click here.