Hispanic and Latino Studies: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Hispanic and Latino Studies is an interdisciplinary academic field dedicated to exploring the multifaceted experiences of Hispanic and Latino communities across the United States and Canada. This program examines the historical development, social dynamics, political engagement, cultural expressions, and economic contributions of diverse immigrant populations, fostering a deeper understanding of identity, migration, and belonging in North America.
- Historical Context: Investigates the migration patterns, settlement histories, and pivotal events shaping the presence and evolution of Hispanic and Latino communities in North America.
- Sociological Perspectives: Analyzes social structures, community formation, identity construction, and the challenges of integration, discrimination, and inclusion within broader societal frameworks.
- Political Engagement: Explores civic participation, policy impacts, representation, and the role of advocacy in advancing equity and rights for Hispanic and Latino populations.
- Cultural Expressions: Studies language, literature, music, visual arts, and traditions as vital components of cultural heritage and resistance, resilience, and innovation.
- Economic Contributions: Evaluates labor participation, entrepreneurship, economic disparities, and the impact of immigration on regional and national economies.
- Interdisciplinary Approaches: Integrates methods and insights from history, anthropology, political science, economics, literary studies, and media to provide a comprehensive understanding of lived experiences.
Hispanic and Latino Studies Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Hispanic and Latino Studies Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Hispanic and Latino Studies degrees, including Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 11,430 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1062 | $84,290 | $51,130 - $164,650 | 11,430 | N/A |
Hispanic and Latino Studies Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $61,920 in Florida to $113,070 in California—a 83% difference. The highest-paying states include California, Vermont, and Kansas. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 11,430 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Hispanic and Latino Studies by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 62 institutions offering Hispanic and Latino Studies programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Hispanic and Latino Studies is found at University of California (UCD), Davis (84 graduates), University of California (UCLA), Los Angeles (75 graduates), University of Wisconsin-Madison (60 graduates), University of California (UCSC), Santa Cruz (56 graduates), and California State University (CSUN), Northridge (39 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 698 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of California (UCD) |
Bachelor's
|
84 | Davis, California | Public | ucdavis.edu |
| University of California (UCLA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
75 | Los Angeles, California | Public | ucla.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
60 | Madison, Wisconsin | Public | wisc.edu |
| University of California (UCSC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
56 | Santa Cruz, California | Public | ucsc.edu |
| California State University (CSUN) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
39 | Northridge, California | Public | csun.edu |
| University of California (UCSB) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
31 | Santa Barbara, California | Public | ucsb.edu |
| University of California (UCB) |
Bachelor's
|
24 | Berkeley, California | Public | berkeley.edu |
| San Jose State University (SJSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
21 | San Jose, California | Public | sjsu.edu |
| California State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
20 | Los Angeles, California | Public | calstatela.edu |
| California State University (CSULB) |
Bachelor's
|
19 | Long Beach, California | Public | csulb.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
18 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| California State University |
Bachelor's
|
14 | Fresno, California | Public | fresnostate.edu |
| University of California (UCI) |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Irvine, California | Public | uci.edu |
| San Diego State University (SDSU) |
Bachelor's
|
12 | San Diego, California | Public | sdsu.edu |
| University of Notre Dame (ND) |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Notre Dame, Indiana | Private | nd.edu |
| San Francisco State University (SFSU) |
Bachelor's
|
10 | San Francisco, California | Public | sfsu.edu |
| Sonoma State University (SSU) |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Rohnert Park, California | Public | sonoma.edu |
| University of New Mexico (UNM) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
10 | Albuquerque, New Mexico | Public | unm.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
10 | Austin, Texas | Public | utexas.edu |
| The University of Texas (UTSA) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
|
10 | San Antonio, Texas | Public | utsa.edu |
| California State University (CSUCI) |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Camarillo, California | Public | csuci.edu |
| California State University (CSUDH) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Carson, California | Public | csudh.edu |
| University of California (UCR) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Riverside, California | Public | ucr.edu |
| The University of Texas (UTEP) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | El Paso, Texas | Public | utep.edu |
| Pitzer College (PZ) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Claremont, California | Private | pitzer.edu |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Champaign, Illinois | Public | illinois.edu |
| Wheaton College (Massachusetts) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Norton, Massachusetts | Private | wheatoncollege.edu |
| University of Arizona |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
6 | Tucson, Arizona | Public | arizona.edu |
| Pepperdine University |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Malibu, California | Private | pepperdine.edu |
| Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Denver, Colorado | Public | msudenver.edu |
| Colorado College |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Colorado Springs, Colorado | Private | coloradocollege.edu |
| Northwestern University |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Evanston, Illinois | Private | northwestern.edu |
| Michigan State University (MSU) |
Postbac Cert.
Doctorate (Research)
|
4 | East Lansing, Michigan | Public | msu.edu |
| Claremont McKenna College (CMC) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Claremont, California | Private | cmc.edu |
| Loyola Marymount University (LMU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Los Angeles, California | Private | lmu.edu |
| Pomona College |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Claremont, California | Private | pomona.edu |
| University of Northern Colorado (UNCO) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Greeley, Colorado | Public | unco.edu |
| University of Michigan (U‑M) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Ann Arbor, Michigan | Public | umich.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Public | twin-cities.umn.edu |
| Rutgers University |
Bachelor's
|
3 | New Brunswick, New Jersey | Public | newbrunswick.rutgers.edu |
| CUNY Lehman College |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Bronx, New York | Public | lehman.edu |
| Portland State University (PSU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Portland, Oregon | Public | pdx.edu |
| Brown University |
Doctorate (Research)
|
3 | Providence, Rhode Island | Private | brown.edu |
| The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Edinburg, Texas | Public | utrgv.edu |
| Texas A & M University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
3 | College Station, Texas | Public | tamu.edu |
| Arizona State University |
Other Award
|
3 | Scottsdale, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| Glendale Community College (GCC) |
Other Award
|
2 | Glendale, Arizona | Public | gccaz.edu |
| Scripps College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Claremont, California | Private | scrippscollege.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| Boise State University (BBU) |
Other Award
|
2 | Boise, Idaho | Public | boisestate.edu |
| Dallas College |
Associate's
|
2 | Dallas, Texas | Public | dallascollege.edu |
| Chandler-Gilbert Community College (CGCC) |
Other Award
|
2 | Chandler, Arizona | Public | cgc.maricopa.edu |
| Phoenix College (PC) |
Other Award
|
1 | Phoenix, Arizona | Public | phoenixcollege.edu |
| California State University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Chico, California | Public | csuchico.edu |
| Holyoke Community College (HCC) |
Associate's
|
1 | Holyoke, Massachusetts | Public | hcc.edu |
| Central New Mexico Community College (CNM) |
Associate's
|
1 | Albuquerque, New Mexico | Public | cnm.edu |
| CUNY Brooklyn College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Brooklyn, New York | Public | brooklyn.cuny.edu |
| Vanderbilt University (VU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | vanderbilt.edu |
| El Paso Community College (EPCC) |
Associate's
|
1 | El Paso, Texas | Public | epcc.edu |
| University of Houston (UH) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Houston, Texas | Public | uh.edu |
| Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | San Antonio, Texas | Private | ollusa.edu |
| St. Mary's University |
Other Award
|
1 | San Antonio, Texas | Private | stmarytx.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Hispanic and Latino Studies programs
How much can I earn with a Hispanic and Latino Studies degree?
Salaries for Hispanic and Latino Studies graduates vary by role and location. Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $84,290 annually. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $113,070 compared to $61,920 in Florida. Approximately 11,430 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Hispanic and Latino Studies programs?
Currently 62 accredited institutions offer Hispanic and Latino Studies degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include University of California (UCD), Davis (84 graduates), University of California (UCLA), Los Angeles (75 graduates), and University of Wisconsin-Madison (60 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Hispanic and Latino Studies growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 664 in 2010 to a peak of 953 in 2020, before declining slightly to 698 in 2023-24. This represents a 5% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Hispanic and Latino Studies degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary. Related occupations employ approximately 11,430 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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