The Hispanic population is transforming the landscape of higher education in the United States, and community colleges are on the front lines of that change. Between 2017 and 2022, Hispanic students accounted for 80% of the increase in college degree completions in the country. And the trend will continue: the number of Hispanic high school graduates is projected to grow 16% by 2041.
That growth makes the role of institutions that not only open their doors to Latino students increasingly important, but also offer them the tools necessary to graduate, continue toward a four-year university, and improve their economic opportunities.
Among those institutions stands out Hostos Community College, in the Bronx, which ranks No. 4 among the country’s two-year community colleges on Washington Monthly’s 2026 list of the best institutions serving Hispanic students.
The recognition places Hostos among the nation’s leading institutions in supporting Latino students and highlights its efforts to facilitate graduation, transfer to four-year universities, and access to enhanced economic opportunities.
The ranking, published on August 30 and developed in collaboration with Excelencia in Education, evaluates factors such as the graduation and transfer results of Hispanic students, the commitment of institutions to their success, economic accessibility and the percentage of students who receive Pell Grants.
Unlike other college rankings, Washington Monthly views transferring to a four-year institution as a positive outcome for community colleges, where many students begin their higher education before continuing toward a bachelor’s degree.
“Hostos has always believed that access to higher education is just the beginning,” said Hostos President Daisy Cocco De Filippis, Ph.D. “Our responsibility is to ensure that students have the resources, guidance, opportunities and sense of belonging they need to thrive and achieve their educational and career goals.”
Hostos primarily serves Black and Latino students in the South Bronx and has an extensive network of academic support, mentoring, and career guidance programs.
Among them are the Student Success Coaching Unit and the First Year Mentoring Program, which offer guidance and support; the Hostos Academic Learning Center and Writing Center, which provide academic support; and CUNY ASAP, which helps students move toward graduation.
The college also offers specialized programs such as CSTEP, aimed at students in STEM careers. The program provides mentoring, research opportunities, internships, career guidance, and preparation for continued study at four-year institutions.
University transfer is another of Hostos’ pillars. Its students have continued their studies at all of CUNY’s four-year universities and at institutions such as New York University, Columbia University, Princeton University, Yale University, and Rice University.
Programs like the Honors Program and NextGen Scholars offer academic, financial, and mentoring support to help students overcome the challenges of transitioning to four-year universities.
With the No. 4 ranking nationally, Hostos becomes the highest-ranked CUNY community college and reinforces its position as an institution seeking to turn access to higher education into a path to graduation, college transfer and economic mobility.
Founded in 1968, Hostos offers 28 associate degree programs and one certificate program. The college also has a Division of Continuing Education and Workforce Development that offers professional training and programs oriented to the labor market.
