Minority-serving institution


In the higher education system of the United States, minority-serving institutions make up a category of educational establishments based on enrollment criteria. Such schools are eligible for federal funding under Title III of the Higher Education Act of 1965. Until 2007, no federal legislation existed concerning Asian American and Pacific Islander Serving Institutions. The College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007 made history, because it federally recognized the existence of Asian American Pacific Islander serving institutions, making them eligible to be designated as minority serving institutions.

Legal Definitions

Seven categories of MSI are defined in US law under Title III of the Higher Education Act of 1965:
  1. Historically Black Colleges and Universities – institutions founded prior to the enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that were created primarily to educate African Americans
  2. Predominantly Black Institutions – institutions that do not meet the legal definition of HBCUs, but primarily serve African Americans. Eligibility is based on serving an undergraduate population that is both low income and in which African American students constitute at least 40% .
  3. Hispanic-Serving Institutions – institutions that serve an undergraduate population that is both low income and in which Hispanic students constitute at least 25%.
  4. Tribal Colleges or Universities - institutions of higher education which are formally controlled, or have been formally sanctioned, or chartered, by the governing body of an Native American tribe.
  5. Native American Non-Tribal Institutions - institutions other than TCUs that serve an undergraduate population that is both low income and in which American Indian students constitute at least 10%.
  6. Alaskan Native- or Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions - institutions that serve an undergraduate population that is both low income and in which Alaska Native students constitute at least 20% or Hawaiian Native students constitute at least 10%.
  7. Asian American- and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions - institutions that serve an undergraduate population that is both low income and in which Asian American or Native American Pacific Islander students constitute at least 10%.
Strengthening Institutions Program institutions serve a low income undergraduate population and are eligible for federal funding under Title III of the Higher Education Act of 1965. However, as there are no requirements for minority enrollment under Title III Part A, these institutions are not considered MSIs.

Executive Orders

Specific Executive Orders currently referencing MSIs include: