Postsecondary Education of Native Americans

Postsecondary Education of Native Americans

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Updated June 25, 2024
Postsecondary Education of Native Americans
Since the nation’s early years, the United States of America
Note: AIAN is American Indian/Alaska Native.
has enacted federal policies intended to provide educational
opportunities to Indian peoples. The federal government
The percentage of high school completers ages 25 and up
maintains and supports its trust relationship with Indian
who had enrolled in postsecondary education at some time
tribes, in part, through various postsecondary education
was lowest for persons who identified as AIAN (60%),
programs and initiatives. The trust relationship is a
Pacific Islander (58%), and Hispanic (62%).
responsibility derived from federal statutes, treaties, court
decisions, executive actions, and the Constitution (which
The data also indicate that the percentage of high school
assigns authority over federal-Indian relations to Congress).
completers ages 25 and up who at some time completed a
postsecondary degree (associate’s or higher degree) 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). FY2024 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 under the same terms as other students. The
are highest for persons who identified as Asian or White,
following programs are specific to TCUs and Indian
not Hispanic.
students.
Figure 1. Educational Attainment for the Population
Federally Operated or Established Institutions
25 Years and Over Who have Completed High
The federal government operates two postsecondary
School, by Race/Ethnicity, 2022
institutions for tribal members and established one for the
Sorted by percentage of degree completers
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 over 800
undergraduates in academic year (AY) 2021-2022. SIPI, a
two-year college with over 400 students in AY2021-2022,
primarily awards associate’s degrees. Both institutions
charge no tuition, and Haskell charged less than $500 in
fees in AY2022-2023.
The Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in New
Mexico is an independent, multi-tribal nonprofit higher
education institution for Native Americans dedicated to the
Source: Table prepared by CRS using U.S. Census Bureau, “Sex by
study, creative application, preservation, and care of Indian
Educational Attainment for the Population 25 Years and Over,”
arts and culture (20 U.S.C., Chapter 56). IAIA is federally
American Community Survey, ACS 1-Year Estimates Detailed Tables,
chartered and under the direction and control of a Board of
Table series B15002, 2022 (accessed on October 6, 2023).
Trustees appointed by the President of the United States.
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Postsecondary Education of Native Americans
Admissions are not limited to tribal members. The four-
nonformal education to farmers, ranchers, and other
year university enrolled over 1,100 undergraduate and
constituents in their states. The First Morrill Act in 1862
graduate students in AY2021-2022. Undergraduate tuition
provided grants of land to the states to establish the first
and fees for domestic students were under $6,000 in
land-grant institutions. The Second Morrill Act in 1890
AY2022-2023.
provided grants for the establishment and funding of LGIs
that would enroll Black students. In 1994, P.L. 103-382
Institutional Support for TCUs
extended land-grant status to the LGIs. The Tribal Colleges
Tribes formally control, sanction, or charter 32 colleges and
Equity Grant Program helps prepare students for roles in
universities, enrolling over 20,000 students in AY2021-
tribal leadership, traditional knowledge, and agricultural
2022. TCCUs are located around the Great Lakes and in the
careers. The Tribal College Extension Program supports
Plains states, Southwest, Northwest, and Alaska. TCCUs
informal, community-based learning such as farmer
reflect tribal ideals of self-determination and culturally
education. The Tribal College Research Program helps the
relevant educational attainment. Admissions are not
1994 institutions build scientific capacity and research
generally limited to tribal members. AY2022-2023
knowledge for students. The Tribal College Endowment
undergraduate tuition and fees range from $900 to $6,700,
Program provides capacity grants that may be used at the
depending on the TCCU. Almost two-thirds of TCCUs are
discretion of the 1994 institutions. For more information,
four-year colleges. The majority of federal funding for
see CRS In Focus IF12009, 1994 Land-Grant Universities:
TCCUs comes from formula grant programs administered
Background and Selected Issues.
by the DOI, U.S. Department of Education (ED), and the
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Haskell, SIPI, and
Financial Assistance for Indian Students
IAIA are also generally eligible to receive funding from the
Two states received grants of land in exchange for each
TCCU programs.
maintaining a school that admits Indian students free of
tuition charge. The schools are the University of
DOI and ED each administer two programs—one for the
Minnesota-Morris and Fort Lewis College in Colorado.
technical TCCUs (United Tribes Technical College and
Navajo Technical University) and one for the other TCCUs.
The Cobell Education Scholarship Fund (Fund), authorized
by the Cobell Settlement through the Claims Resolution Act
• The ED Strengthening Tribally Controlled Colleges and
of 2010 (P.L. 111-291), provides merit- and need-based
Universities program (Title III of the Higher Education
awards to tribal members for postsecondary education. In
Act) aims to improve and expand TCCU institutional
2017, DOI fulfilled its total, aggregate maximum allowable
capacity. For more information, see CRS Report
contribution to the Fund—$60 million.
R43237, Programs for Minority-Serving Institutions
Under the Higher Education Act.
DOI provides financial assistance to tribal members
pursuing GED completion, postsecondary education, and
• The DOI Tribal Colleges and Universities program
post-graduate-level opportunities through the Scholarships
(Titles I and II of the Tribally Controlled College or
and Adult Education program, Special Higher Education
University Assistance Act of 1978 [TCCUAA; P.L. 95-
Scholarships, and Science Post-Graduate 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, FY2024
• The ED Tribally Controlled Postsecondary Career and
$ in
Technical Institutions (TCPCTI; Carl D. Perkins Career
Agency
Program
Thousands
and Technical Education Act of 2006 [P.L. 109-270])
DOI
Haskel and SIPI
30,325
funds expenses associated with career and technical
education programs for Indian students at the technical
IAIA
IAIA
13,482
TCCUs. For more information, see CRS Report
DOI
Tribal Col eges and Universities
89,146
R47071, Strengthening Career and Technical Education
for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V): A Primer.
ED
Strengthening TCCU program
80,097
•
DOI
Tribal Technical Col eges
9,156
The DOI Tribal Technical Colleges program (Title V of
TCCUAA) funds the costs of operating postsecondary
ED
TCPCTI
11,953
career and technical education programs for Indian
students at the technical TCCUs.
DOI
Tribal Col eges Facilities
16,000
USDA
Programs for 1994 LGIs
34,880
In addition, since FY2021 DOI has received appropriations
to fund Tribal Colleges Facilities Improvement & Repair.
DOI
Scholarships
54,648
Total

339,687
The USDA administers four programs authorized by the
Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (Title
Source: Federal agency tables of FY2024 congressional actions.
V, Part C of P.L. 103-382; 7 U.S.C. §301 note) for the 1994
Land Grant Institutions (LGIs), also known as TCUs. LGIs
Cassandria Dortch, Specialist in Education Policy
teach agricultural and mechanical sciences and provide
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Postsecondary Education of Native Americans

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