Five universities in New Jersey — Caldwell, Montclair State, New Jersey City University, NJIT and Rutgers-Newark — were among 52 schools nationally to receive a Higher Education Impact Award from Angeles Investors for their efforts as a Hispanic serving institutions.
Angeles Investors is an angel investment group founded in Chicago in 2020 whose mission is to find, fund, and grow the most promising Hispanic and Latinx ventures. They focus on supporting early-stage startups, especially those led by underrepresented founders, and have made over 35 investments across industries like automotive insurance, business software, legal services, and consumer products.
Its Higher Education Impact Awards honor recipients who represent the best in higher education institutions, driving impact through leadership, innovation and support of entrepreneurs.
Angeles Investors described the honorees this way:
“Through their vision and dedication, these institutions are helping shape the future of entrepreneurship by fostering inclusive opportunities, supporting diverse founders and building pathways for the next generation of leaders.
“Their commitment to empowering students and startup leaders is growing a more inclusive and thriving startup ecosystem, one that reflects the true diversity, talent, and innovation of our communities.
“At Angeles Investors, we proudly recognize and celebrate these institutions for their leadership and impact. Together, we are fueling progress and ensuring that entrepreneurs and innovators have the resources, networks, and opportunities they need to succeed.”
Having five schools on the list was statistically noteworthy: California (with 16 honorees) and Texas (with 9) had nearly half of the schools recognized.
The 2025 Awardees
Arizona State University Campus Immersion
Caldwell University
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
California State University-Fresno (Fresno State)
California State University-Fullerton
California State University-Long Beach
California State University-Northridge
California State University-San Marcos
City Colleges of Chicago
Colorado State University-Pueblo
Dominican University
Florida International University
Illinois Institute of Technology
Indiana University-Northwest IN Gary
Metropolitan State University of Denver
Miami Dade College
Montclair State University
Mount Saint Mary’s University Los Angeles
New Jersey Institute of Technology
New Mexico State University Foundation
NJCU – New Jersey City University
Northern New Mexico College
Purdue University Northwest
Rutgers University-Newark
San Diego State University
San Francisco State University
San Jose State University
St. Augustine College
Texas A&M University-College Station
Texas State University
Texas Tech University
University of Arizona
University of California-LA
University of California-San Diego
University of California-Irvine
University of California-Merced
University of California-Riverside
University of California-Santa Cruz
University of Central Florida
University of Colorado Denver
University of Houston
University of Houston-Downtown
University of Illinois Chicago
University of Miami University of Nevada, Las Vegas
University of New Mexico-Main Campus
University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez
University of Texas at Arlington
University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at El Paso
University of Texas at San Antonio Western Governors University
