Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs)

Minority serving institutions are institutions of higher education that serve minority populations.  They are unique both in their missions and in their day-to-day operations.  Some of these colleges and universities are located in remote regions of the country, whereas others serve urban neighborhoods. Some minority-serving institutions are only a few decades old, whereas others, particularly the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), have been striving for more than a century to give their constituents the social and educational skills needed to overcome racial discrimination and limited economic opportunities.

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU’s)
Link: http://www2.ed.gov/about/inits/list/whhbcu/edlite-list.html

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) include 89 four-year, and 16 two-year, institutions of higher education established prior to 1964, for the primary purpose of educating African-Americans.  The majority of the 105 HBCUs are located in the Southeastern states, the District of Columbia, and the Virgin Islands.  HBCUs comprise 3 percent of America's institutions of higher education, yet enroll 16 percent of all African-American students in higher education and award 24 percent of all baccalaureate degrees earned by African-Americans nationwide.

Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs)
Link: http://www.hacu.net/hacu/HSI_Definition_EN.asp?SnID=2

Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) are accredited, post-secondary higher educational institution with at least 25 percent total full-time enrollment of Hispanic undergraduate student pursuing terminal degrees. HSIs included four-year and two-year, public and private educational institutions. HSIs enroll 40 percent of all Hispanic-American students of higher education. There are 195 institutions of higher education defined as HSIs using the criteria defined by the White House Initiative and the Department of Education.

Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs)
Link: http://www2.ed.gov/about/inits/list/whtc/edlite-tclist.html

Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) were created over the last 32 years, first on a remote reservation community on the Navajo Nation, then throughout the Native Country. The 34 public and private higher educational institutions provide a response to the higher education needs of American Indians, and generally serve geographically-isolated populations that have no other means of accessing education beyond the high school level. TCUs have become increasingly important to educational opportunity for Native American students, an importance they have achieved in a relatively brief period of time.
(Source:  US Department of Energy)