20 Best Deals on Colleges for Hispanic and Latin American Studies

Welcome to our ranking of 20 Best Deals on Colleges for Hispanic and Latin American Studies.

Student interest in Hispanic and Latin American studies is ever-increasing, and many colleges are expanding their educational resources in response to this demand. A degre in Hispanic or Latin American studies can be greatly valuable either as a specialization on its own, or supplemental to another academic discipline. The colleges below were selected and ranked following extensive research of schools with Hispanic and Latin American studies. Included in each selection are pertinent details of importance to someone considering a future in this field.

We awarded points based on the presence of:

  • innovative courses in Hispanic and Latin American studies
  • scholar-level faculty
  • educational campus events dedicated to Hispanic and Latin American culture
  • Spanish language courses
  • multiple study abroad opportunities
  • related scholarships
  • high levels of cultural diversity among faculty and student body
  • one point for any other distinctions of value for students pursuing this field

The 20 colleges profiled here scored the highest among a pool of 60 schools with a net price (per College Navigator) of $34,000 USD or less.

The schools profiled below are ranked in order of points earned. In the event of a tie in points, the schools with the lower net price are ranked higher.

Latin American Studies Graduate Programs Rankings

#20 – Blackburn College

Carlinville, Illinois

Website

Points: 10
Enrollment: 585
Net Price: $15,333

Blackburn College is a Midwestern higher education institution with an average student body of 585. Blackburn is what’s known as a “work college.” In exchange for reduced tuition, students engage in continuous part-time campus employment. One of Blackburn’s most popular study areas is Spanish. Those who declare this major are required to take courses in topics including:

  • Latin American civilization and literature
  • Hispanic fine arts
  • Spanish language
  • Spanish phonetics and syntax, and more

Students who pursue Spanish and Latin American specializations will study abroad in Ecuador or Spain for one semester.

#19 – Metropolitan State University of Denver

Denver, Colorado

Website

Points: 10
Enrollment: 21,674
Net Price: $9,145

Metropolitan State University of Denver is among the largest colleges in Colorado, with a student body of nearly 22,000. This university is also celebrated for its campus diversity. The Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education recently ranked MSU Denver among the nation’s top schools for Latino student enrollment. Students enrolled in Metropolitan’s ethnic studies program get a uniquely well-rounded curriculum in Latin American culture. Some of these topics include:

  • issues in local Latin American communities
  • gender and sexuality
  • politics
  • cultural ecologies.

#18 – Austin College

Sherman, Texas

Website

Points: 11
Enrollment: 1,301
Net Price: $21,875

Considered one of the best liberal arts institutions in the state, Austin College was founded just north of Dallas in 1849. From its beginnings, this college has maintained its mission to:

  • value diversity
  • provide a supportive learning environment
  • provide service to the nearby community

Austin College has a major in Latin American and Iberian studies. It encompasses disciplines including:

  • history
  • political science
  • anthropology
  • economics
  • Spanish language

Additionally, the Latin American studies program has off-campus study opportunities both locally and internationally.

#17 – Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey

New Brunswick, New Jersey

Website

Points: 11
Enrollment: 48,378
Net Price: $15,917

Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, is a widely-recognized research institution. This college has a large, vibrant campus life with hundreds of student-run activities. For students seeking specialization in the field, the Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS) gives a comprehensive education in topics including:

  • social sciences
  • natural sciences
  • culture and society
  • environment and ecology
  • politics and economics
  • humanities

Rutgers has partnerships with Spanish-speaking countries to facilitate study abroad programs. Some of the countries students have traveled to include:

  • Argentina
  • Cuba
  • Bolivia
  • Chile
  • Brazil
  • Costa Rica
  • Mexico
  • Spain.

#16 – Bowdoin College

Brunswick, Maine

Website

Points: 12
Enrollment: 1,805
Net Price: $22,289

Founded in 1794 in the town of Brunswick, Maine’s Bowdoin College is a tight-knit academic community with a student body of under 2,000. Among its over 40 options for majors is Latin American studies. To understand the diverse elements of the Latin American region, the department brings together:

  • students
  • scholars
  • alumni
  • local community

BC undergraduates pursuing Latin American studies receive a curriculum in:

  • history
  • culture
  • language
  • economics
  • politics
  • anthropology, and more

Bowdoin College offers off-campus study options in Spanish-speaking countries including:

  • Chile
  • Buenos Aires
  • Costa Rica
  • Santo Domingo, and others.

#15 – Macalester College

St. Paul, Minnesota

Website

Points: 13
Enrollment: 2,073
Net Price: $27,999

Located in a quaint town only minutes from the city of St. Paul, Macalester College of Minnesota is an academic community of 91 nationalities. One of this college’s finest educational opportunities is in Hispanic and Latin American studies. This includes the intellectual exploration of:

  • language
  • culture
  • history
  • literature
  • economics
  • politics, and more

Three out of five Macalester students take advantage of study abroad programs, with Hispanic studies majors traveling to:

  • Brazil
  • Chile
  • Argentina
  • Bolivia
  • Ecuador.

#14 – Adelphi University

Garden City, New York

Website

Points: 13
Enrollment: 7,610
Net Price: $25,441

Adelphi University, located just outside New York City, is a selective liberal arts college named a “Best Buy” by Fiske Guide to Colleges. Adelphi has a 10:1 student/faculty ratio, and over 46 countries are represented among its student body. This university’s Latin American and Hispanic studies department covers topics including:

  • the natural sciences
  • humanities
  • sociology
  • geography
  • international relations
  • economics, and more

Adelphi offers a uniquely structured five-year baccalaureate/master’s program. It permits students to pursue their degree in Latin American studies while earning their New York State teaching certification.

#13 – University of California at Berkeley

Berkeley, California

Website

Points: 13
Enrollment: 37,565
Net Price: $17,655

The University of California at Berkeley is a large, progressive institution with an outstanding academic reputation. One of UC Berkeley’s best received programs is in the Latin American studies department. Latin American studies is offered as either a major or graduate program. Students are given a well-crafted curriculum of:

  • society
  • culture
  • history

This college is also home to the Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS). The CLAS is a community of:

  • students
  • practitioners
  • scholars

They meet to devise ways to educate the public on Latin American culture and politics.

#12 – Portland State University

Portland, Oregon

Website

Points: 13
Enrollment: 27,696
Net Price: $12,772

Located in downtown Portland, Portland State University provides academic opportunity to more students than any other in Oregon. PSU partners with nearby Portland Community College to further enhance resources and educational facilities. One of the college’s degree options is in international studies, where students may select Latin America as a region for specialization. The Latin American focus area spans course topics in:

  • culture
  • history
  • contemporary society
  • the current evolving political climate

Portland State University provides a long list of study-abroad opportunities. A few of the Spanish-speaking countries available include:

  • Brazil
  • Peru
  • Ecuador
  • Argentina
  • Chile.

#11 – Bard College of Simon’s Rock

Great Barrington, Massachusetts

Website

Points: 14
Enrollment: 329
Net Price: $29,305

A highly distinct academic program, Bard College of Simon’s Rock is an “early college” that admits small incoming classes of 10th or 11th-graders each year. Bard is known for its holistic approach to education. Students are evaluated as unique individuals with different learning needs. This institution’s Spanish and Latin American studies degree consists of 24 credits, 12 of which are required to be taught in Spanish. Students of Latin American studies additionally take elective courses in:

  • politics
  • history
  • culture
  • geography
  • art
  • science

Bard College of Simon’s Rock sends students to Spanish-speaking countries including:

  • Cuba
  • Argentina
  • Puerto Rico.

#10 – Hofstra University

Hempstead, New York

Website

Points: 14
Enrollment: 29,477
Net Price: $18,106

Just outside New York City, Hempstead’s Hofstra University has an active, richly diverse campus life. One of this college’s many academic opportunities is the Latin American and Caribbean Studies (LACS). Students engage in an interdisciplinary curriculum of:

  • politics
  • history
  • economy
  • literature
  • culture

LACS majors graduate from the program with a confident grasp of Latin and Caribbean regions and their relationships with the U.S. Hofstra’s LACS students often go on to careers in:

  • law
  • travel
  • communications
  • government, and many others.

#9 – Indiana University, Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana

Website

Points: 14
Enrollment: 46,416
Net Price: $11,573

Indiana University in Bloomington consistently earns top rankings in higher education. It has:

  • state-of-the-art facilities
  • strong leadership
  • hundreds of field areas

IU’s Latin American and Caribbean studies (CLACS) has been going strong since 1963, providing curriculum focused on the:

  • societies
  • languages
  • literature
  • health
  • indigenous rights
  • related subject areas

Outside the classroom, CLACS sponsors:

  • conferences
  • lectures
  • other special events celebrating Latin American culture

Indiana University provides multiple study abroad programs in partnership with Spanish-speaking countries. Some of these countries include:

  • Chile
  • Argentina
  • Mexico
  • Cuba.

#8 – Connecticut College

New London, Connecticut

Website

Points: 15
Enrollment: 1,900
Net Price: $24,152

Founded in 1911 along the Thames River, Connecticut College is one of best ranked colleges in the nation. One of the college’s 56 fields of specialization is Latin American studies. It’s offered as either a major or minor degree track. Latin American studies students are exposed to a challenging curriculum that requires:

  • Hispanic studies
  • history
  • literature
  • Spanish language proficiency

In order to get the optimum benefit of the Latin American studies degree, undergraduates are encouraged to engage in a Spanish-speaking internship either locally or abroad.

#7 – Barnard College

New York, New York

Website

Points: 15
Enrollment: 2,573
Net Price: $21,791

New York City’s Barnard College is a women’s liberal arts college closely affiliated with Columbia University. This college belongs to the Seven Sisters association of women’s colleges. It has a highly selective admissions process. Barnard’s Spanish and Latin American major consists of 11 required courses, including:

  • Hispanic culture
  • literature
  • film
  • history
  • language
  • colonialism
  • other related topics

BC also collaborates with Columbia University’s department of Spanish and Portuguese to expand resources for all students. Barnard College facilitates study abroad opportunities in Spanish-speaking countries.

#6 – San Diego State University

San Diego, California

Website

Points: 15
Enrollment: 33,483
Net Price: $10,085

San Diego State University (SDSU) serves over 30,000 students from around the world. It’s among the largest and oldest colleges in California. One of the most popular departments is Latin American studies, where majors are exposed to courses including:

  • business
  • economics
  • women’s studies
  • political science
  • sociology
  • geography, and more

Additionally, SDSU sponsors the Latin American Studies Student organization (LASSO), which hosts:

  • film screenings
  • guest speakers
  • social events

San Diego State facilitates study-abroad experiences at partnering universities in Latin America.

#5 – Brandeis University

Waltham, Massachusetts

Website

Points: 16
Enrollment: 1,805
Net Price: $26,637

One of the world’s most respected institutions, Brandeis University is a small liberal arts school with scholar-level faculty and alumni. The Latin American and Latino Studies (LALS) program at Brandeis is a cross-disciplinary track. It’s offered as either a major or minor. LALS collaborates with faculty from nine other departments, ensuring a well-rounded curriculum. Brandeis students of LALS graduate with a confident grasp of Latin American and Hispanic:

  • Hispanic geography
  • history
  • politics
  • contemporary issues facing the cultures
  • many more topics critical to the field

LALS alumni frequently pursue professions in:

  • government
  • healthcare
  • journalism
  • law
  • education
  • the arts.

#4 – Dartmouth College

Hanover, New Hampshire

Website

Points: 16
Enrollment: 6,298
Net Price: $21,277

Dartmouth College is an Ivy League school with a student/faculty ratio of 8:1. It has an academic atmosphere that is both competitive and supportive. This college maintains diversity in its:

  • student body
  • faculty
  • campus organizations
  • cultural offerings

Since 2006, Dartmouth has offered degrees from the Latin American, Latino and Caribbean Studies (LALACS) department. This program administers a vast range of curriculum spanning:

  • history
  • literature
  • anthropology
  • imperialism
  • modern society, and more

Dartmouth College has a strong study abroad partnership with Cuba. Select students spend entire semesters in Havana.

#3 – Stanford University

Stanford, California

Website

Points: 16
Enrollment: 16,963
Net Price: $17,952

Recently celebrating 125 years of higher education, California’s Stanford University remains a leader in academic excellence. The institution’s Bay Area location is known for offering cultural diversity and a wide range of off-campus activities. Stanford’s Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS) offers three programs that include:

  • an undergraduate minor
  • interdisciplinary honors
  • a master of arts degree

One of Stanford’s most celebrated study abroad programs is in Santiago, Chile, where CLAS students are immersed in the region’s:

  • culture
  • language
  • environment.

#2 – Tulane University of Louisiana

New Orleans, Louisiana

Website

Points: 17
Enrollment: 12,603
Net Price: $32,797

Among the nation’s most prestigious higher education institutions, the historic Tulane University is in the heart of New Orleans. One of the college’s many honors was its recent ranking in the Gourman Report of Undergraduate and Professional Programs in American and International Universities. The report named Tulane’s Latin American studies program second among all programs of its kind in the nation. TU’s department for Latin American study has:

  • a faculty of 70 scholar instructors
  • top-notch research facilities
  • an expansive network of high-profile contacts in the field.

#1 – Brigham Young University

Provo, Utah

Website

Points: 17
Enrollment: 30,484
Net Price: $12,335

Owned and operated by the Mormon Church, Brigham Young University is the nation’s third largest private university. BYU places high value on international education, and is counted among the most multilingual universities worldwide. One of this college’s academic fields is Latin American studies, which combines faculty from the departments of:

  • political science
  • geography
  • sociology
  • history
  • Spanish
  • Portuguese

Students of Latin American studies develop strong research skills and a well-rounded background in this culture. Brigham Young encourages its students to explore internationally. Many travel to several Spanish-speaking countries for internships and exchange programs.

This concludes our coverage of Latin American studies graduate programs rankings.

Other articles of interest:

By GCD Staff
August 2016

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