A Modern History Timeline of Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs)

American Indian education has come a long way since the days of boarding schools in America. Thirty years ago, President Jimmy Carter signed the Tribally Controlled Community College Assistance Act of 1978. The legislation authorized federal assistance to community colleges controlled by American Indians on their reservations in response to the concerns of American Indians nationwide that marched to Washington that summer.

At that time, tribal colleges had already been in existence for nine years. The first tribal college was Diné College, founded as Navajo Community College, in 1968. Today the American Indian College Fund (the Fund) supports 32 tribal colleges and universities (TCUs). These higher education institutions all have three basic criteria: they must be tribally chartered, the majority of American Indians serve on their boards, and to be a tribal college, it must have a majority of students (51%) that are American Indian citizens. These institutions serve not only students seeking a higher education, but also provide much-needed services to American Indian communities. They are the conduits of diabetes education and prevention, HIV education, serve as daycare and health centers, provide libraries and computer centers, provide indigenous research and language preservation classes to the entire community, and are often the hub of activities and lifelong learning.

Diné College and five of the first tribal colleges founded the American Indian Higher Education Consortium to maintain common standards of quality in American Indian education; support the development of new tribally controlled colleges; promote and assist in developing legislation to support American Indian higher education; and encourage greater participation by American Indians in the development of higher education policy.

The Fund was created in 1989 by the tribal colleges and universities and private partners to raise scholarship funds and funding for the tribal colleges. The Fund has raised millions of dollars and other resources, including capital funding for campus infrastructure in its mission, and last year awarded nearly 6,000 scholarships to American Indian students.

In 1994, Congress provided Land Grant status for tribal colleges and universities in U.S. Agricultural legislation, which allowed for equity funding, access to research and extension programs, and other infrastructure grants and loans offered by agencies, Rural Development.

Despite federal recognition and funding and the progress of Indian education, there is still a lot to be done. TCUs remain the most poorly funded higher education institutions in the country. In order to keep the dream of a higher education affordable for its students, TCUs keep tuition rates low for their student bodies. This is because 51% of American Indians living on reservations live below the poverty line and 25.7% of American Indians living off the reservation live below the poverty line, compared to the national poverty rate of 12.4% (Bureau of Indian Affairs). Keeping tuition low necessitates greater reliance on federal grants and private donations (TCUs do not get state assistance). Even so, 95% of tribal college students demonstrate financial need. The average tuition cost at a tribal college is approximately $2,500 while the average per capita income for reservations is less than $8,000 per year. The American Indian College Fund helps fill the gap by awarding nearly 6,000 scholarships annually. But it's not enough.

The American Indian population is young, and a growing number of Indian students are entering college for a better life. Between 1997-2002 enrollment at TCUs grew by 32%, compared to 16% enrollment growth in higher education overall, according to College Fund data. With growing numbers of American Indians entering college, the need is even greater. The Fund's goal is to support every American Indian student who dreams of an education but does not have the financial means to pursue it. Thank you for your support of the American Indian College Fund to ensure that American Indian students realize their dreams and a bright future.