Spotlight B: Characteristics of Postsecondary Institutions Serving Specific Minority Racial/Ethnic Groups
(Last Updated: February 2019)

In 2016–17, there were 4,360 degree-granting institutions in the United States, including four types of institutions serving specific minority racial/ethnic communities: 102 historically Black colleges and universities, 290 Hispanic-serving institutions, 35 tribally controlled colleges and universities, and 113 Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institutions.

In academic year 2016–17, there were 4,360 degree-granting institutions in the United States,¹ including institutions serving specific minority racial/ethnic communities. This spotlight discusses the characteristics, enrollment, and degrees conferred at four types of these institutions: historically Black colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, tribally controlled colleges and universities, and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institutions.

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Figure B.1. Total enrollment and Black enrollment at historically Black colleges and universities: Selected years, fall 1976 through fall 2016

¹ Includes U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and nonresident alien students.
NOTE: Includes institutions from the 50 states, the District of Columbia, as well as one institution in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Includes only degree-granting institutions that grant associate’s or higher degrees and participate in Title IV federal financial aid programs.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Higher Education General Information Survey (HEGIS), “Fall Enrollment in Colleges and Universities,” 1976 through 1985 surveys; Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), “Fall Enrollment Survey” (IPEDS-EF:86–99); and IPEDS Spring 2001 through Spring 2017, Fall Enrollment component. See Digest of Education Statistics 2017, table 313.20.

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In fall 2016, there were 102 historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), including twelve 2-year institutions and ninety 4-year institutions. HBCUs were established with the passing of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, and are defined as “any historically Black college or university that was established prior to 1964, whose principal mission was, and is, the education of Black Americans.” This act, as well as subsequent executive orders, established federal programs “to overcome the effects of discriminatory treatment” by providing HBCUs with adequate resources and funds to strengthen the education of Black students in the United States.² In 2016, there were HBCUs in 19 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In 2016, there were 95 HBCUs in the South, while there were 4 HBCUs in the Midwest and 2 in the Northeast. Although HBCUs were originally founded to educate Black students, they also enroll students of other races. In 2016, non-Black students made up 23 percent of enrollment at HBCUs, compared with 15 percent in 1976.

In fall 2016, about 292,100 students, including 223,500 Black students, were enrolled at HBCUs. Overall enrollment at HBCUs increased 47 percent between 1976 and 2010 (from 222,600 to 326,600 students), and then decreased 11 percent between 2010 and 2016. In comparison, the number of students in all degree-granting institutions increased 91 percent between 1976 and 2010, and then decreased 6 percent between 2010 and 2016. While Black enrollment at HBCUs increased by 17 percent between 1976 and 2016 (from 190,300 to 223,500 students), the total number of Black students enrolled in all postsecondary institutions across the United States more than doubled, from 1.0 million students in 1976 to 2.6 million students in 2016. As a result, Black enrollment at HBCUs accounted for 9 percent of overall Black enrollment in 2016, which is a decrease from 18 percent in 1976.

Female enrollment at HBCUs has been higher than male enrollment in every year since 1976. The percentage of female enrollment at HBCUs increased from 53 percent in fall 1976 to 61 percent in fall 2016. Similarly, female students accounted for 62 percent of Black enrollment at HBCUs in 2016, an increase from 56 percent in 1976.

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Figure B.2. Percentage distribution of degrees conferred at historically Black colleges and universities, by level of degree, race/ethnicity, and sex: Academic year 2015–16

¹ Includes U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and nonresident alien students.
NOTE: Includes institutions from the 50 states, the District of Columbia, as well as one institution in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Includes only degree-granting institutions that grant associate’s or higher degrees and participate in Title IV federal financial aid programs. Degrees conferred to Black students exclude persons of Hispanic ethnicity. Although rounded numbers are displayed, figures are based on unrounded percentages. Detail may not sum to 100 percent because of rounding.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), Fall 2016, Completions component. See Digest of Education Statistics 2017, tables 313.30, 321.20, 322.20, 323.20, and 324.20.

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In academic year 2015–16, some 48,900 degrees were conferred by HBCUs. Of the degrees conferred by HBCUs, associate’s degrees accounted for 9 percent, more than two thirds were bachelor’s degrees (69 percent), master’s degrees accounted for 16 percent of degrees, and doctor’s degrees accounted for 5 percent.

Of the degrees awarded at HBCUs, the majority (75 percent) were conferred to Black students. Black students earned 46 percent of the associate’s degrees, 81 percent of the bachelor’s degrees, 70 percent of the master’s degrees, and 61 percent of the doctor’s degrees in 2015–16. At all levels, the majority of degrees awarded to Black students were awarded to Black female students: 71 percent of the associate’s degrees, 65 percent of the bachelor’s degrees, 71 percent of the master’s degrees, and 67 percent of the doctor’s degrees.

The degrees awarded to Black students by HBCUs accounted for 9 percent of degrees awarded to Black students by all institutions. However, the percentage of degrees conferred to Black students by HBCUs varied by degree level: 2 percent of associate’s degrees, 14 percent of bachelor’s degrees, 6 percent of master’s degrees, and 11 percent of doctor’s degrees.

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Figure B.3. Enrollment at all U.S. institutions and Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs), by ethnicity: Fall 2016

NOTE: Includes only institutions located within the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Includes U.S. citizens and permanent residents only. Excludes
nonresident alien students. Includes only degree-granting institutions that grant associate’s or higher degrees and participate in Title IV federal financial aid programs. Although rounded numbers are displayed, figures are based on unrounded data. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), Spring 2017, Fall Enrollment component. See Digest of Education Statistics 2017, tables 306.10 and 312.40.

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In fall 2016, there were 290 Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs), including 147 that were 2-year institutions and 143 that were 4-year institutions. If an institution has an enrollment of undergraduate full-time equivalent students that is at least 25 percent Hispanic and meets additional eligibility requirements, they can apply to be designated an Hispanic-serving institution. This designation allows an institution to apply for federal funding that focuses on expanding educational opportunities for, and improving the attainment of, Hispanic students.³ In 2016, there were HSIs in 18 states, with 157 HSIs in the West and 79 in the South. About 3.0 million students, including 1.5 million Hispanic students, were enrolled at HSIs in 2016.⁴ Hispanic enrollment at HSIs accounted for 44 percent of overall Hispanic enrollment.

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Figure B.4. Percentage distribution of degrees conferred to Hispanic students, by level of degree and institution type: Academic year 2015–16

NOTE: Includes only institutions located within the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Includes U.S. citizens and permanent residents only. Excludes nonresident alien students. Includes only degree-granting institutions that grant associate’s or higher degrees and participate in Title IV federal financial aid programs. Although rounded numbers are displayed, figures are based on unrounded percentages. Detail may not sum to 100 percent because of rounding.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), Fall 2016, Completions component. See Digest of Education Statistics 2017, tables 312.40, 321.20, 322.20, 323.20, and 324.20.

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In academic year 2015–16, some 185,100 degrees were conferred to Hispanic students by HSIs: more than half (54 percent) of these degrees were associate’s degrees, 37 percent were bachelor’s degrees, 8 percent were master’s degrees, and 1 percent were doctor’s degrees. The number of degrees awarded to Hispanic students by HSIs accounted for 37 percent of degrees awarded to Hispanic students by all institutions.

In academic year 2015–16, about 100,500 associate’s degrees were conferred to Hispanic students by HSIs, accounting for 51 percent of associate’s degrees conferred to Hispanic students by all institutions. For other degree levels, the percentage of degrees conferred to Hispanic students by HSIs was smaller: 29 percent for bachelor’s degrees, 23 percent for master’s degrees, and 15 percent for doctor’s degrees.

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Figure B.5. Enrollment at tribally controlled colleges and universities, by race/ethnicity: Fall 2000 and fall 2016

¹ Includes U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and nonresident alien students.
NOTE: Includes only institutions located within the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Includes only degree-granting institutions that grant associate’s or higher degrees and participate in Title IV federal financial aid programs. Degrees conferred to American Indian/Alaska Native students exclude persons of Hispanic ethnicity. Although rounded numbers are displayed, figures are based on unrounded data. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), Spring 2001 and Spring 2017, Fall Enrollment component. See Digest of Education Statistics 2017, table 312.50.

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In fall 2016, there were 35 tribally controlled colleges and universities (TCUs), including twenty-two 2-year institutions and thirteen 4-year institutions. TCUs are members of the American Indian Higher Education Consortium and are generally tribally controlled and located on or near reservations. These institutions create environments that foster American Indian culture, languages, and traditions.⁵ The 35 TCUs were in 13 states, mainly in the Midwest and West.

In fall 2016, some 16,900 students, including 13,200 American Indian/Alaska Native students, were enrolled at TCUs. Overall enrollment at TCUs was 23 percent higher in 2016 than in 2000, and the enrollment of American Indian/Alaska Native students at TCUs was 15 percent higher. In comparison, overall enrollment at all U.S. postsecondary institutions increased 30 percent, while the enrollment of American Indian/Alaska Native students in all institutions was 6 percent lower in 2016 than in 2000. As a result, American Indian/Alaska Native enrollment at TCUs accounted for 9 percent of overall American Indian/Alaska Native students enrolled in 2016, compared to 8 percent in 2000.

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Figure B.6. Percentage distribution of associate’s and bachelor’s degrees conferred to American Indian/Alaska Native students, by institution type: Academic year 2015–16

NOTE: Includes only institutions located within the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Includes U.S. citizens and permanent residents only. Excludes
nonresident alien students. Includes only degree-granting institutions that grant associate’s or higher degrees and participate in Title IV federal financial aid programs. Although rounded numbers are displayed, figures are based on unrounded percentages. Detail may not sum to 100 percent because of rounding.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), Fall 2016, Completions component. See Digest of Education Statistics 2017, tables 312.50, 321.20, and 322.20.

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In academic year 2015–16, about 1,300 associate’s degrees and 300 bachelor’s degrees were conferred to American Indian/Alaska Native students by TCUs. The degrees conferred to American Indian/Alaska Native students by TCUs accounted for 14 percent of associate’s degrees and 3 percent of bachelor’s degrees conferred to American Indian/Alaska Native students by all institutions.

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Figure B.7. Enrollment at all U.S. institutions and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institutions (AANAPISIs), by race/ethnicity: Fall 2016

NOTE: Includes only institutions located within the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Includes U.S. citizens and permanent residents only. Excludes nonresident alien students. Includes only degree-granting institutions that grant associate’s or higher degrees and participate in Title IV federal financial aid programs. Degrees conferred to Asian or Pacific Islander students exclude persons of Hispanic ethnicity. Although rounded numbers are displayed, figures are based on unrounded data. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), Spring 2017, Fall Enrollment component. See Digest of Education Statistics 2017, tables 306.10 and 312.60.

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In fall 2016, there were 113 Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institutions (AANAPISIs), including forty-three 2-year institutions and seventy 4-year institutions. If an institution has an enrollment of undergraduate students that is at least 10 percent Asian and Pacific Islander and meets additional eligibility requirements, they can apply to be admitted to the Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions Program. This designation allows an institution to apply for federal funding to improve their academic quality, increase their self-sufficiency, and strengthen their capacity to serve Asian American students and Native American Pacific Islander students.⁶ There were AANAPISIs in 15 states, mainly in the West and Northeast.⁷

In fall 2016, about 1.4 million students, including 277,400 Asian and 8,100 Pacific Islander students, were enrolled at an AANAPISI. Asian enrollment at AANAPISIs accounted for 22 percent of the overall Asian enrollment in all U.S institutions and Pacific Islander enrollment at AANAPISIs accounted for 15 percent of the overall Pacific Islander enrollment in all U.S. institutions.

In academic year 2015–16, some 235,700 degrees were conferred by AANAPISIs, with 20 percent of these degrees conferred to Asian or Pacific Islander students. The number of degrees awarded to Asian and Pacific Islander students by AANAPISIs accounted for 19 percent of the total number of degrees awarded to Asian and Pacific Islander students by all institutions. About half of the degrees conferred by AANAPISIs were bachelor’s degrees (54 percent) while associate’s degrees accounted for 27 percent, master’s degrees for 16 percent, and doctor’s degrees for 4 percent.

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Figure B.8. Percentage distribution of degrees conferred to Asian/Pacific Islander students, by level of degree and institution type: Academic year 2015–16

NOTE: Includes only institutions located within the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Includes U.S. citizens and permanent residents only. Excludes nonresident alien students. Includes only degree-granting institutions that grant associate’s or higher degrees and participate in Title IV federal financial aid programs. Although rounded numbers are displayed, figures are based on unrounded percentages. Detail may not sum to 100 percent because of rounding.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), Fall 2016, Completions component. See Digest of Education Statistics 2017, table 312.60, 321.20, 322.20, 323.20, and 324.20.

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In academic year 2015–16, about 11,900 associate’s degrees were conferred to Asian and Pacific Islander students by AANAPISIs, accounting for 22 percent of associate’s degrees awarded to Asian and Pacific Islander students by all institutions. Similarly, the number of bachelor’s degrees conferred by AANAPISIs to Asian and Pacific Islander students accounted for 21 percent of bachelor’s degrees conferred to Asian and Pacific Islander students by all institutions. In contrast, the degrees conferred to Asian and Pacific Islander students by AANAPISIs accounted for 12 percent of master’s degrees and 10 percent of doctor’s degrees conferred to Asian and Pacific Islander students by all institutions.

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Endnotes

¹ In this indicator, the United States is limited to the 50 states and the District of Columbia, except for the discussion of historically Black colleges and universities which also includes one institution in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
² For more information on historically Black colleges and universities, see: https://sites.ed.gov/whhbcu/one-hundred-and-five-historically-black-colleges-and-universities/ and https://sites.ed.gov/whhbcu/about-us/.
³ For more information regarding criteria for Hispanic-serving institutions, see: https://www2.ed.gov/programs/hsistem/index.html. For additional information on Hispanic-serving institutions, see: https://sites.ed.gov/hispanic-initiative/hispanic-serving-institutions-hsis/.
⁴ An additional 180,600 students, including 179,500 Hispanic students, are enrolled in 55 HSIs located in Puerto Rico.
⁵ For more information regarding tribal colleges and universities, see: https://sites.ed.gov/whiaiane/tribes-tcus/tribal-colleges-and-universities/.
⁶ For more information regarding Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institutions, see: https://www2.ed.gov/programs/aanapi/index.html. The eligible financial assistance programs are the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Federal Work Study, and the Federal Perkins Loan.
⁷ An additional 11,300 students, including 3,200 Asian students and 7,600 Pacific Islander students, are enrolled in 7 AANAPISIs located in American Samoa, Micronesia, Guam, the Marshall Islands, and the Northern Marianas.

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