HispanicBusiness

Building a sense of welcome is not just a construct of engineers. Future attorneys at our top campuses also report a sense of belonging.

"This is an inviting place for Latinos," says John Feldman, assistant dean of career and student services at the University of New Mexico Law School. "There is a vibrant community and a vibrant population of Hispanics. It's a ready-made community."

New Mexico has the highest percentage of Hispanics of any state, and a majority of UNM students identify themselves as Hispanic. "We have many role models for the students; Latino faculty, Latinos in high-ranking positions in the judiciary in the state. Students find that there are good examples that they can follow," Mr. Feldman says.

Among the Hispanic faculty at the law school, 86 percent has tenure. Mr. Feldman also points to the small classes that foster greater student-faculty interaction.

The welcome extends to the curriculum. Despite its small size, UNM offers a variety of courses of specific interest to Hispanic students, including classes on immigration law, the rights of indigenous peoples, international business transactions, and other international law courses, including an exchange program, the Summer Law Institute in Guanajuato, Mexico.

A similar tack – classes of special interest to Hispanics and a campus that makes an extra effort to be welcoming – is seen at Los Angeles' Southwestern Law School, No. 8 on this year's list.

"What incoming Hispanic students say about us is that they are immediately integrated into a welcoming and active community," which includes an annual "Bienvenido Brunch" sponsored by the dean, and a host of networking events by Latino lawyers in Los Angeles, says associate dean and professor Christopher Cameron. Some of the courses at the law school include foreign affairs and the U.S. Constitution, Mexican legal institutions, international business, Latin American laws, and race and the legal system.

"Hispanic students at Southwestern beat out students from every other local law school, including UCLA and USC, in claiming the largest share of scholarships awarded by the Mexican American Bar Foundation," adds Mr. Cameron, who is also an expert in employment and immigration law.

Universities in the Sunbelt might be expected to be more Hispanic-friendly, but research by Hispanic Business finds that even in what was once known as the Rust Belt the situation is improving, especially as Hispanic populations grow across the Midwest. While nine of this magazine's top 10 in medicine and law are in Sunbelt states – in particular Florida, Texas, and California – only half of the business schools and six of the engineering schools are in those states.

California's Stanford is the only university to appear on all four of the Hispanic Business top 10 lists, leading the pack in medicine and business. The University of Texas at Austin appears on three lists, and while it doesn't have a medical school, four other University of Texas campuses with one – San Antonio, Galveston, Dallas, and Houston – do make an appearance.

In the Midwest, Michigan State University is sixth on Hispanic Business's engineering list and leads the Big Ten system – which actually includes 11 universities in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin – in minority enrollment.

"The university as a whole and the engineering department is very committed to diversity and affirmative action," says Barbara O'Kelly, coordinator of the Engineering Graduate Diversity program at MSU. "There is a very strong support system here, and there are numerous people students can go to for assistance. There is also a strong minority student community, and very active programs with the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers."