Even More Potential to Serve: Florida’s Minority Serving Institutions

Few states reflect the changing demographic face of the United States more than Florida. The Sunshine State exists as a tropical oasis for the hundreds of thousands of tourists frequenting its beaches and natural environment each year. It is also home to a growing multiplicity of people of varying races and ethnicities speaking dozens of different languages. The shifting demographics are reshaping enrollment in Florida’s education system, including its postsecondary institutions. Given the increase in students of color attending the state’s colleges and universities, the number of Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) has also continued to increase. This report provides a portrait of MSIs in all higher education sectors in Florida. The authors use longitudinal data to analyze enrollment, financial indicators, student financial aid, and institutional completion measures.