link to page 1 link to page 1 
Updated May 3, 2019
Postsecondary Education of Native Americans
Since the nation’s early years, the United States of America
(Figure 2). The national average degree attainment level of
has enacted federal policies intended to provide educational
all 25-to-29-year-olds in 2018 was 47%.
opportunities to Indian peoples. The federal government
maintains and supports its trust relationship with Indian
Figure 2. Postsecondary Completion Percentage of
tribes through various postsecondary education programs
25-to-29-Year-Olds, by Race/Ethnicity, 2018
and initiatives. The trust relationship is a responsibility
Sorted by percentage with degree
derived from federal statutes, treaties, court decisions,
executive actions, and the Constitution (which assigns
authority over federal-Indian relations to Congress). The
provision of postsecondary education opportunities for
members of the Native American community is one
manifestation of that relationship.
This In Focus reviews college enrollment patterns and
educational attainment levels of Native Americans and
federal programs that support Indian postsecondary
attainment. For information on Indian elementary and
secondary education programs and issues, see CRS Report
Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Institute of
RL34205, Indian Elementary-Secondary Education:
Education Sciences, Center for Education Statistics, Digest of
Programs, Background, and Issues.
Education Statistics 2018, Table 104.20.
Notes: AIAN is American Indian/Alaska Native.
Postsecondary Access
Federal Programs and Support
According to the most recently published statistics of the
Department of Education (ED), as shown in Figure 1, the
The federal government provides support to help members
percentage (61%) of American Indian/Alaska Native
of federally recognized tribes access and complete higher
(AIAN) high school completers who enrolled immediately
education. The efforts described below primarily or
after high school completion in a degree/certificate college
exclusively support tribal members.
program was approximately equivalent to the national
average (60%).
Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) and
AIANs are also eligible for and benefit from general
Figure 1. Percentage of Fall 2009 Ninth-Graders
educational assistance programs. For example, AIANs may
Completing High School Who Enrolled in a
be eligible to receive Pell Grants as a result of their
Postsecondary Degree or Certificate Program by Fall
financial status and not because they are members of
2013, by Race/Ethnicity
federally recognized tribes.
Sorted by percentage enrolled
Federally Operated or Established Institutions
The federal government operates two postsecondary
institutions for tribal members and established one for the
preservation of tribal culture.
The federal government, through the Department of the
Interior (DOI), owns, operates, and funds two
postsecondary institutions for tribal members—Haskell
Indian Nations University in Kansas and the Southwestern
Indian Polytechnic Institute (SIPI) in New Mexico. Haskell
is a four-year liberal arts university with approximately 800
undergraduates. SIPI, a two-year college with almost 400
Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Institute of
students, primarily awards associate’s degrees in liberal
Education Sciences, Center for Education Statistics, Digest of
arts, business, health professions, and computer sciences.
Education Statistics 2014, Table 302.43.
Both institutions charge no tuition and less than $1,100
Notes: AIAN is American Indian/Alaska Native.
annually in fees. In FY2019, the two institutions received a
Postsecondary Completion
direct appropriation of $23 million that excludes funds from
other programs.
ED’s published statistics indicate that associate’s or
baccalaureate degree attainment by young AIAN persons
The federal government established the Institute of
(24%) is lower than that of most other racial/ethnic groups
American Indian Arts (IAIA), formally known as the
https://crsreports.congress.gov
Postsecondary Education of Native Americans
Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and
The ED Tribally Controlled Postsecondary Career and
Arts Development, in New Mexico. IAIA is an
Technical Institutions (Strengthening Career and
independent, multi-tribal nonprofit higher education
Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (P.L. 115-
institution for Native Americans dedicated to the study,
224) funds expenses associated with career and
creative application, preservation, and care of Indian arts
technical education programs for Indian students at the
and culture (20 U.S.C., Chapter 56). IAIA is federally
technical TCCUs. In FY2019, the program was
chartered and under the direction and control of a Board of
appropriated $10 million. For more information, see
Trustees appointed by the President of the United States.
CRS Report R45446, Reauthorization of the Perkins Act
Admissions are not limited to tribal members. The four-
in the 115th Congress: The Strengthening Career and
year university enrolls over 600 undergraduate and graduate
Technical Education for the 21st Century Act.
students. Undergraduate tuition and fees for domestic
students were under $5,000 in AY2017-2018. In FY2019,
The USDA administers four programs authorized by the
the institution received a direct appropriation of $10 million
Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (Title
that excludes funds from other programs.
V-C of P.L. 103-382; 7 U.S.C. §301 note) for the 1994 land
grant institutions, also known as TCCUs. Land grant
Institutional Support for Tribally Controlled
institutions are intended to provide agricultural and
Colleges and Universities (TCCUs)
mechanical arts instruction and disseminate college
Tribes formally control, sanction, or charter 32 colleges and
research to practitioners. The First Morrill Act in 1862
universities, enrolling approximately 22,000 students.
provided grants of land to the states to establish the first
TCCUs are located around the Great Lakes, in the plains
land-grant institutions. The Second Morrill Act in 1890
states, in the Southwest and Northwest, and in Alaska.
provided grants for the establishment and funding of land-
TCCUs reflect tribal ideals of self-determination and
grant institutions that would enroll Black students. In 1994,
culturally relevant educational attainment. Admissions are
P.L. 103-382 extended land-grant status to the TCCUs. The
not generally limited to tribal members. AY2017-2018
Tribal College Equity program supports program and
undergraduate tuition and fees range from $900 to $6,600,
course improvement. The Tribal College Extension
depending on the TCCU. Approximately two-thirds of
program supports informal, community-based learning such
TCCUs are two-year colleges. The majority of federal
as farmer education. The Tribal College Research program
funding for TCCUs comes from formula grant programs
helps the 1994 institutions build scientific capacity and
administered by DOI, ED, and the Department of
research knowledge for students. The Tribal College
Agriculture (USDA). Haskell, SIPI, and IAIA are also
Endowment Program (Capacity Grant) may be used at the
generally eligible to receive funding from the TCCU
discretion of the 1994 institutions. In FY2019, the programs
programs.
were appropriated $22 million.
DOI and ED each administer two programs—one for the
Financial Assistance for Indian Students
technical TCCUs (United Tribes Technical College and
Besides the so-called land-grant institutions, two states
Navajo Technical University) and one for the other TCCUs.
received grants of land in exchange for each maintaining a
school that admits Indian students free of tuition charge.
The DOI Tribal Colleges and Universities program
The schools are the University of Minnesota-Morris (35
(Titles I and II of the Tribally Controlled College or
Stat. 781) and Fort Lewis College in Colorado (36 Stat.
University Assistance Act of 1978 (TCCUAA; P.L. 95-
269). In FY2012 (the most recent estimate available), the
471, as amended) funds the operation, improvement,
states valued the benefit at approximately $16 million.
and expansion of the TCCUs to ensure continued and
expanded educational opportunities for Indian students.
The Cobell Education Scholarship Fund (Fund), authorized
In FY2019, the program was appropriated $72 million.
by the Cobell Settlement through the Claims Resolution Act
of 2010 (P.L. 111-291), provides merit- and need-based
The ED Strengthening Tribally Controlled Colleges and
awards to tribal members for postsecondary education. In
Universities program (Title III of the Higher Education
2017, DOI fulfilled its maximum allowable contribution to
Act) aims to improve and expand TCCU institutional
the Fund—$60 million.
capacity. In FY2019, the program was appropriated $60
million. For more information, see CRS Report R43237,
DOI provides financial assistance to tribal members
Programs for Minority-Serving Institutions Under the
pursuing GED completion, undergraduate and graduate-
Higher Education Act.
level study, and post-graduate-level opportunities through
the Scholarships and Adult Education program, Special
The DOI Tribal Technical Colleges program (Title V of
Higher Education Scholarships, and Science Post-Graduate
TCCUAA) funds the costs of operating postsecondary
Scholarship Fund. In FY2019, they were collectively
career and technical education programs for Indian
appropriated $40 million.
students at the technical TCCUs. In FY2019, the
program was appropriated $8 million.
Cassandria Dortch, Specialist in Education Policy
IF10554
https://crsreports.congress.gov
Postsecondary Education of Native Americans
Disclaimer
This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff to
congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of Congress.
Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other than public understanding of information that has
been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in connection with CRS’s institutional role. CRS Reports, as a work of the
United States Government, are not subject to copyright protection in the United States. Any CRS Report may be
reproduced and distributed in its entirety without permission from CRS. However, as a CRS Report may include
copyrighted images or material from a third party, you may need to obtain the permission of the copyright holder if you
wish to copy or otherwise use copyrighted material.
https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF10554 · VERSION 2 · UPDATED