The Hispanic community in the United States is a rapidly growing ethnic group, and when it comes to education, more and more Hispanics are seeking out degrees in stable careers such as nursing to better their lives and secure their future in this country. As more Hispanic students are entering undergraduate and graduate nursing programs, somewhere their need to belong and feel comfortable in a college environment comes to the fore. Moreover, some students may not be as fluent in English and this can create hurdles for them during their educational journey. This is why they prefer a Hispanic friendly nursing school as these schools already have a high number of Hispanic students, and many members of the faculty are from this ethnic group. Furthermore, apart from the culture relevance, students also enjoy exclusive scholarship and learning opportunities that are tailor-made for their professional and personal growth. On this page, we have listed the 10 Best Hispanic-Serving Nursing Schools in the nation.
To begin with, we gathered a list of all nursing schools listed on the HACU directory, and then ranked the 10 Best in the nation based on the following five factors:
• Enrollment Rate
• Graduation Rate
• Retention Rate
• Affordability
• Reputation of the School
The 10 best schools on our list are dedicated to the training of Hispanic nurses. Apart from quality nursing education, they are known to offer an enhanced learning experience to Hispanic students. The data required for the evaluation of schools was gathered from reputable sources such as IPEDs, U.S. News & World Report, Niche, Grad Reports, Rate My Professors and the official college websites.
Texas Woman’s University was established primarily to educate women, however today, the college equally attracts male as well as female students. With nursing increasingly growing in demand as a career in Texas, the college provides Hispanic students with a comfortable learning environment that helps them master professional skills and knowledge to succeed in this fulfilling field. For students with no past nursing experience, there is a traditional BSN track that can be completed on a part-time or full-time basis. Working Hispanic nurses can take the RN to BSN online track and advance their nursing career. Furthermore, if you are seeking leadership positions in nursing, the college also offers master’s and doctoral programs.
San Diego State University is located in a city that has a thriving Hispanic population, no wonder one-third of its student population comprises of Hispanics. This Hispanic friendly nursing school is committed to the success of its students and evidently so, provides them with extensive experiential learning opportunities not only at its state-of-art lab but also around the world as students participate in study and travel visits abroad. You can pursue a career in nursing by entering its BSN program, or build upon your past nursing experience with an RN to BSN and LVN to RN bridge program. If you are seeking leadership positions in nursing, then you can choose to complete an MSN, either in the Adult Gerontology Primary Care concentration or the Leadership in Health Care Systems track.
Florida International University helps the Hispanic community of Miami to reach their nursing career goals by offering nursing programs, at the baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral levels. With 67% of its students being Latinos/Hispanics, its nursing graduates add diversity to the nursing workforce across the nation. The college focuses on clinical expertise and designs a curriculum that integrates cultural competence to help cater to the health needs of a diverse patient population. This is achieved by combining the use of simulation technology, where students are provided with ample clinical practice of close to real-world patient scenarios in a non-threatening environment. Nursing graduates, equipped with professional expertise transition seamlessly into the real world of patient-care, soon after they complete the program.
Texas A & M International University is a prominent nursing school that boasts of impressive first time NCLEX-RN pass rates. With a Hispanic student enrollment of 95%, the college is clearly a preferred choice for Latino students. The college produces professional nurses through its undergraduate and graduate nursing programs. While non-nursing students can enter the traditional BSN track, registered Hispanic students can advance their nursing careers with RN to BSN and MSN programs. State-of-art simulation facility, a community-based curriculum and a small student to faculty ratio of 1:10 make this college a conducive place to pursue a degree in nursing. Moreover, with quite a few members of the faculty belonging to the Latino community, students rather feel at home.
California State University’s favorable learning environment has been productive for its 43% Hispanic student population. Known for its quality education, 100% of nursing graduates find suitable placements, soon after graduation. Hispanic students aspiring to become a registered nurse can enroll in the traditional BSN track, whereas RNs can take the bridge program and expand their nursing knowledge. The college also offers an MSN program. Its nurse practitioner program stands out as being the largest in the California State University System. Committed to the success of its students, the faculty is approachable and supportive and helps students from this ethnic group reach career goals. Additionally, students can also avail of free tutoring services to improve reading and writing skills.
Texas State University contributes to the diversity of the nursing workforce by educating students from various ethnic communities, particularly the Hispanics that form more than 38% of its student population. When you graduate from this Hispanic friendly nursing college, you are equipped with vital professional skills such as critical thinking, clinical reasoning, and communication. Its interactive simulation lab provides students with learning opportunities that replicate bedside scenarios, allowing them to perfect nursing skills before they nurse real patients. The college addresses Texas’s shortage of professional nurses by offering a BSN, RN to BSN and an MSN program, all of which are designed for the current trends in nursing and offer a curriculum, grounded in the science and art of nursing.
Located along the Mexico and United States border, New Mexico State University has been an educational hub for Hispanic students looking at entering the field of nursing. The college offers its Hispanic students a number of program options that they can take to fulfill career aspirations. Apart from the traditional BSN and ABSN program, the college offers a nursing early assurance track that allows eligible high school seniors a direct entry into the BSN program. For students interested in an advanced nursing degree, the college offers a completely online MSN, post-master’s APRN certificate and DNP degree programs that allow them to work while pursuing higher education. With its various program offerings, the college has certainly played a significant role in the improvement of healthcare for a diverse population, more so for Hispanics.
One of the popular nursing schools for Hispanic students, the University of Texas at El Paso has a whopping 83% of its students coming from this ethnic group. The college is known for its affordable nursing education that mainly aims towards making you a patient-centric nurse who effectively collaborates with members of an interdisciplinary healthcare team to offer safe and evidence-based nursing care to a culturally diverse population. The college’s high NCLEX-RN first time rate speaks volumes of the faculty’s commitment towards student success. Moreover, small sized classes allow students to enjoy close interaction with their instructors, most of whom are Hispanics.
Whether you decide to enroll for the BSN or the MSN, California State University, San Bernardino provides its 65% Hispanic student population, rigorous nurse training through face-to-face and online programs. While the traditional BSN track is offered on-campus, the RN to BSN and MSN tracks can be taken online, helping working students easily juggle academics alongside other responsibilities. Students are thoroughly prepared to deliver competent nursing that is safe and evidence-based. The nursing curriculum is delivered by a diverse faculty, who actively involve themselves in research and community service. To enhance nursing skills, students can avail of externship opportunities at the college’s clinical partners that include hospitals, local clinics, and community health centers.
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley has an overwhelmingly high number of Hispanic students who enroll in this school to earn a degree in nursing. The college’s location provides for a favorable learning environment to Hispanic students as they not only find the campus close to home but can also actively engage in community service, as part of the curriculum. This learning experience can prove to be fruitful as they gain a better understanding of the healthcare needs of the Hispanic population. Through its traditional BSN, RN to BSN, MSN-FNP and post Master’s psychiatric Mental Health Practitioner, students are taught to use evidence-based knowledge for offering culture relevant and holistic nursing care.