The Economic Impact of Tribal Colleges in the Northwest Area Foundation Region

Tribal colleges and universities (TCUs) represent a unique set of institutions in the Native-led nonprofit sector. They are often located directly on reservations and provide a vital service on these reservations - education. But they also provide many contributions to community economic development through employment, programs and services, and cultural preservation. This Research Note provides a review of existing research related to the economic and community development impact of TCUs, drawing from reports produced by the American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC) over the past 16 years.