The National Hispanic University

What The National Hispanic University does

The National Hispanic University (NHU) was a private, independent higher education institution founded in 1981 in Oakland, California by Dr. B. Roberto Cruz, who served as founding president for 22 years. Its mission was to enable Hispanics, other minorities, women, and other underserved groups to acquire undergraduate degrees or certificates using a multicultural educational experience to obtain professional careers in business, education, or technology. The university moved to an 11-acre campus in East San Jose in 1995 and received WASC Senior College and University Commission accreditation in 2002. In addition to degree and certificate programs, NHU operated community pipeline programs including the Upward Bound program (1990), the Educational Talent Search program (1991), and the Early University Program (2009), all aimed at preparing underrepresented students for college access and completion.

In 2010, NHU joined the Laureate International Universities network — a global higher education operator — and subsequently expanded into online courses, concentrations, and degree programs in education and business. Following a deliberative review process, the Board of Directors determined in March 2014 that the university would cease offering programs after the 2015 academic year, and NHU officially closed on August 23, 2015 after 35 years of operation. The NHU Foundation, in partnership with the Foundation For Hispanic Education, continues to use the East San Jose campus to serve the educational needs of the broader Hispanic community. The current nhu.edu website functions solely as an administrative resource for former students seeking transcripts, student loan information, and outstanding payment records; tuition payment processing is handled through the Laureate bursar portal.

Name

The National Hispanic University

Legal name

The National Hispanic University

Website

https://nhu.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Closed

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The National Hispanic University was a private, independent higher education institution founded in 1981 in Oakland, California, serving Hispanic and other underserved minority students with undergraduate degrees and certificates in business, education, and technology. The university officially closed on August 23, 2015.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Private/Independent Community & Junior Colleges (EDAHADAB)

Keywords

• Higher education access
• Hispanic-serving institution
• Multicultural undergraduate education
• Minority college programs
• Community college outreach

Headquarters

HQ city

San José Casas Caídas

HQ country

Mexico

HQ region

Latin America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Core offering

The National Hispanic University was a private independent higher education institution that offered undergraduate degree programs and certificate programs in business, education, and technology fields, using a multicultural educational experience tailored for Hispanic, minority, and underserved students. It also ran community outreach programs for middle and high school students and later added online courses and degree programs through the Laureate International Universities network. The university officially closed on August 23, 2015, after the 2014-2015 academic year.

Product overview

The National Hispanic University was a small, private independent institution that closed in August 2015 after 35 years of operation. Its core educational offerings included undergraduate degree programs and certificate programs in business, education, and technology fields. The university also operated outreach programs including the Early University Program (introducing high school students to college), the Upward Bound Program (serving economically disadvantaged youth), and the Educational Talent Search Program. Following its 2010 affiliation with the Laureate International Universities network, the institution expanded to offer online courses, concentrations, and degree programs in education and business.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Undergraduate Degree Programs Baccalaureate degree programs in business, education, and technology designed to enable Hispanics, minorities, women, and other underserved groups to obtain professional careers.
• Certificate Programs Certificate programs providing targeted professional skills and credentials in business, education, and technology for career advancement.
• Online Courses and Degree Programs Online courses, concentrations, and degree programs in education and business added following the university's 2010 affiliation with the Laureate International Universities network.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Foundation For Hispanic EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015The NHU Foundation continues to use the campus to serve the educational needs of San Jose and the broader Hispanic community, preserving Dr. Cruz's vision for educational access. The foundation maintains collaboration efforts to support the Hispanic community.
• Laureate International UniversitiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010NHU joined the Laureate International Universities network in 2010. Following this partnership, the university began adding online courses, concentrations, and degree programs in education and business. This partnership ultimately contributed to institutional changes that led to the board's 2014 decision to cease offering programs after 2015.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Regional players

• Santa Barbara City College: Public community college designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution serving coastal California with programs in business, education, and technology pathways. Comparable to NHU's lower-division offerings and Hispanic student focus, representing an alternative credential pathway in California.
• San Jose State University: Public Hispanic-Serving Institution in San Jose, California - the same city as NHU's later campus. Operates in the same geography and serves a similar Hispanic undergraduate demographic, representing the primary public-market competitor for the same student population NHU targeted.
• California State University, Monterey Bay: Public Hispanic-Serving Institution on California's central coast with a founding mission focused on serving historically underserved populations. Comparable to NHU's mission-driven approach to expanding access for Hispanic and minority students in California.

Direct peers

• University of the Incarnate Word: Private Catholic university in San Antonio, Texas, designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution with strong enrollment of Hispanic and first-generation students. Comparable to NHU as a private, mission-driven institution focused on serving Hispanic and underserved populations through undergraduate degree programs.
• National University: Private, nonprofit university headquartered in San Diego, California, with significant online program offerings and a focus on serving adult and nontraditional learners including diverse minority populations. Closely comparable as a California-based private institution with mission-driven orientation toward underserved students, and was part of the same Laureate International Universities network as NHU.
• Mount Saint Mary's University Los Angeles: Private Catholic university in Los Angeles with one of the highest concentrations of Latina students in California and significant programs in business, education, and health sciences. Comparable to NHU as a small private California institution with mission-focused service to Hispanic and underserved undergraduate women.
• Woodbury University: Small private nonprofit university in Burbank, California, that ceased independent operations in 2024. Highly comparable as a small private California institution that shut down due to enrollment and financial pressures, sharing structural similarities with NHU's closure trajectory.
• Our Lady of the Lake University: Private Catholic university in San Antonio, Texas, designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution serving predominantly Hispanic undergraduate populations with programs in business, education, and related fields. Directly comparable as a small private institution focused on Hispanic student outcomes and professional careers.

Broad incumbents

• Laureate International Universities: Global network of for-profit and private universities that was NHU's parent organization from 2010 until closure. Comparable as the institutional context for NHU's online program expansion and eventual winding down amid broader portfolio rationalization.
• Saint Augustine's University: Private HBCU in Raleigh, North Carolina, focused on serving underrepresented minority students through undergraduate programs. Comparable as a private, mission-driven minority-serving institution providing degree pathways to underserved communities.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/fafsa
• Facebookfacebook.com/127559727270567
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-national-hispanic-university

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The National Hispanic University