Minority Serving Institutions: Educating All Students

Minority Serving Institutions emerged in response to a history of inequity, lack of minority people’s access to majority institutions, and significant demographic changes in the country. Now an integral part of American higher education, MSIs—specifically Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs) — have carved out a unique niche in the nation: serving the needs of low-income and underrepresented students of color. Because MSIs enroll a substantial share of minority students, many of whom might not otherwise attend college, the continuous development and success of these institutions is critical for realizing our nation’s higher education and workforce goals and for the benefit of American society. This report demonstrates how MSIs play vital roles for the nation’s economy, especially with respect to elevating the workforce prospects of disadvantaged populations and reducing the underrepresentation of minorities and disadvantaged people in graduate and professional schools and the careers that require post baccalaureate education and training.