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Updated October 17, 2023
Postsecondary Education of Native Americans
Since the nation’s early years, the United States of America
American Community Survey, ACS 1-Year Estimates Detailed Tables,
has enacted federal policies intended to provide educational
Table series B15002, 2022 (accessed on October 6, 2023).
opportunities to Indian peoples. The federal government
Notes: AIAN is American Indian/Alaska Native.
maintains and supports its trust relationship with Indian
tribes through various postsecondary education programs
The percentage of high school completers ages 25 and up
and initiatives. The trust relationship is a responsibility
who had enrolled in postsecondary education at some time
derived from federal statutes, treaties, court decisions,
was lowest for persons who identified as AIAN (60%),
executive actions, and the Constitution (which assigns
Pacific Islander (58%), and Hispanic (62%).
authority over federal-Indian relations to Congress). The
provision of postsecondary education opportunities for
The data also indicate that the percentage of high school
tribal members is one manifestation of that relationship.
completers ages 25 and up who completed a postsecondary
degree (associate’s or higher degree) at some time was
This In Focus reviews college enrollment patterns and
lowest for persons who identified as AIAN (33%) and
educational attainment levels of Native Americans and
Pacific Islander (32%).
federal programs that support Indian postsecondary
attainment.
Federal Programs and Support
The federal government provides support to help members
Postsecondary Access and Completion
of federally recognized tribes (Indians) access and complete
Although data are not available on Indian educational
higher education. Two major mechanisms that primarily or
achievement nationally, the achievements of American
exclusively support tribal members are funding for tribal
Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) students are reported.
colleges and universities (TCUs) and federal aid for Indian
Persons who identify their race/ethnicity as AIAN may not
students. TCUs include federally operated or established
be members of federally recognized Indian tribes, and not
institutions and tribally controlled colleges and universities
all members of such tribes may identify as AIAN.
(TCCUs). FY2023 appropriations for the programs
discussed in this section are presented in Table 1.
According to the most recently published statistics of the
U.S. Census Bureau (Census), as shown in Figure 1,
TCUs and Indian students are eligible for and benefit from
postsecondary enrollment and completion rates when
general federal educational assistance programs. For
examined by race/ethnicity are lowest for persons who
example, Indian students may be eligible to receive Pell
identified as AIAN and Pacific Islander in 2022. Such rates
Grants as a result of their financial status and not because
are highest for persons who identified as Asian or White,
they are members of federally recognized tribes. The
not Hispanic.
following aid programs are specific to TCUs and Indian
students.
Figure 1. Educational Attainment for the Population
25 Years and Over Who have Completed High
Federally Operated or Established Institutions
School, by Race/Ethnicity, 2022
The federal government operates two postsecondary
Sorted by percentage of degree completers
institutions for tribal members and established one for the
preservation of tribal culture.
The federal government, through the U.S. 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 700
undergraduates in fall 2022. SIPI, a two-year college with
almost 300 students in fall 2022, primarily awards
associate’s degrees in liberal arts, business, and education.
Both institutions charge no tuition, and Haskell charged less
than $500 annually in fees in academic year (AY) 2022-
2023.
The Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in New
Source: Table prepared by CRS using U.S. Census Bureau, “Sex by
Mexico is an independent, multi-tribal nonprofit higher
Educational Attainment for the Population 25 Years and Over,”
education institution for Native Americans dedicated to the
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Postsecondary Education of Native Americans
study, creative application, preservation, and care of Indian
provide nonformal education to farmers, ranchers, and other
arts and culture (20 U.S.C., Chapter 56). IAIA is federally
constituents in the states where they are located. The First
chartered and under the direction and control of a Board of
Morrill Act in 1862 provided grants of land to the states to
Trustees appointed by the President of the United States.
establish the first land-grant institutions. The Second
Admissions are not limited to tribal members. The four-
Morrill Act in 1890 provided grants for the establishment
year university enrolls over 800 undergraduate and graduate
and funding of Land Grant Institutions that would enroll
students. Undergraduate tuition and fees for domestic
Black students. In 1994, P.L. 103-382 extended land-grant
students were under $6,000 in AY2022-2023.
status to the TCUs. The Tribal Colleges Equity Grant
Program helps prepare students for roles in tribal
Institutional Support for TCUs
leadership, traditional knowledge, and agricultural careers.
Tribes formally control, sanction, or charter 32 colleges and
The Tribal College Extension Program supports informal,
universities, enrolling approximately 21,000 students in
community-based learning such as farmer education. The
AY2021-2022. TCCUs are located around the Great Lakes
Tribal College Research Program helps the 1994
and in the plains states, Southwest, Northwest, and Alaska.
institutions build scientific capacity and research
TCCUs reflect tribal ideals of self-determination and
knowledge for students. The Tribal College Endowment
culturally relevant educational attainment. Admissions are
Program provides capacity grants that may be used at the
not generally limited to tribal members. AY2022-2023
discretion of the 1994 institutions. For more information,
undergraduate tuition and fees range from $900 to $6,700,
see CRS In Focus IF12009, 1994 Land-Grant Universities:
depending on the TCCU. Almost two-thirds of TCCUs are
Background and Selected Issues.
four-year colleges. The majority of federal funding for
TCCUs comes from formula grant programs administered
Financial Assistance for Indian Students
by DOI, U.S. Department of Education (ED), and the U.S.
Besides 1994 Land Grant Institutions, two states received
Department of Agriculture (USDA). Haskell, SIPI, and
grants of land in exchange for each maintaining a school
IAIA are also generally eligible to receive funding from the
that admits Indian students free of tuition charge. The
TCCU programs.
schools are the University of Minnesota-Morris (35 Stat.
781) and Fort Lewis College in Colorado (36 Stat. 269).
DOI and ED each administer two programs—one for the
technical TCCUs (United Tribes Technical College and
The Cobell Education Scholarship Fund (Fund), authorized
Navajo Technical University) and one for the other TCCUs.
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 total, aggregate maximum allowable
Act) aims to improve and expand TCCU institutional
contribution to the Fund—$60 million.
capacity. For more information, see CRS Report
R43237, Programs for Minority-Serving Institutions
DOI provides financial assistance to tribal members
Under the Higher Education Act.
pursuing GED completion, undergraduate and graduate-
level study, and post-graduate-level opportunities through
• The DOI Tribal Colleges and Universities program
the Scholarships and Adult Education program, Special
(Titles I and II of the Tribally Controlled College or
Higher Education Scholarships, and Science Post-Graduate
University Assistance Act of 1978 [TCCUAA; P.L. 95-
Scholarship Fund.
471, as amended]) funds the operation, improvement,
and expansion of 29 TCCUs to ensure continued and
Table 1. Appropriations for Select Postsecondary
expanded educational opportunities for Indian students.
Indian Education Programs, FY2023
• The ED Tribally Controlled Postsecondary Career and
Agency
Program
$ in millions
Technical Institutions (TCPCTI; Carl D. Perkins Career
DOI
Haskell and SIPI
30.325
and Technical Education Act of 2006 [P.L. 109-270])
funds expenses associated with career and technical
IAIA
IAIA
13.482
education programs for Indian students at the technical
DOI
Tribal Colleges and Universities
89.146
TCCUs. For more information, see CRS Report
R47071, Strengthening Career and Technical Education
ED
Strengthening TCCU program
81.549
for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V): A Primer.
DOI
Tribal Technical Colleges
9.156
• The DOI Tribal Technical Colleges program (Title V of
ED
TCPCTI
11.953
TCCUAA) funds the costs of operating postsecondary
career and technical education programs for Indian
USDA
Programs for 1994 Land Grants
34.880
students at the technical TCCUs.
DOI
Scholarships
54.991
The USDA administers four programs authorized by the
Total
315.482
Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (Title
Source: Explanatory Statement to P.L. 117-328.
V, Part C of P.L. 103-382; 7 U.S.C. §301 note) for the 1994
Land Grant Institutions, also known as TCUs. Land Grant
Cassandria Dortch, Specialist in Education Policy
Institutions teach agricultural and mechanical sciences and
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Postsecondary Education of Native Americans
IF10554
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