Factsheets

According to the Census’ American Community Survey, in 2021 1% of the total U.S. population identified as American Indian or Alaskan Native.1 Among American Indian or Alaskan Native residents aged 25 or over, only 15.4% had earned a bachelor’s degree or higher. This rate is up from 13.4% in 2010, but falls short of the national rate of 32.9%.

• In Fall 2020, Native American students made up 0.6% of all postsecondary enrollment.
• In 2020, 22% of the 18–24-year-old Native American population were enrolled in college compared to 40% of the overall U.S. population.
• Since Fall 2010, Native American enrollment has declined from 196,000 to 123,000, a 37% decrease:
  • Undergraduate enrollment declined from 179,000 to 107,000, a 40% decrease
  • Graduate enrollment declined from 17,000 to 14,000, a nearly 18% decrease
• Native American students are much more likely to attend public versus private institutions of higher education.
  • In Fall 2020, 83% of Native American students attended public institutions:
    • 45% attended public four-year institutions
    • 38% attended public two-year institutions
• Nearly 80% of the Fall 2020 enrollment at Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCU) were Native American students.