Best Tribal Colleges;-Tribal institutions exist to offer affordable opportunities for higher education to the local American Indian tribes. Native American universities are frequently situated on or near the American Indian Reservations they serve. There are several different types of tribal colleges and universities. While most are universities that provide bachelor’s or master’s level programs, some are community institutions.
While a tribal college may concentrate on upholding a particular tribe’s academic traditions, it is common for them to accept students from all tribes and ethnic backgrounds. The majority of tribal universities are quite inexpensive and have an open admissions policy. Additionally, a significant portion of the institutions listed in our ranking of the best tribal colleges have a very low student-to-faculty ratio.
Anyone who wants to base their higher education in the principles, background, and culture of a particular tribe should consider tribal schools and universities. In order to create this rating, we compared tribal universities based on their tuition, graduation rates, and student-to-faculty ratios. These considerations determined the points that were given, which were then curved to give the top-scoring college a score of 100 on a scale of 100.
It’s critical to realize that tribal colleges and universities are diverse institutions. Each tribal college and university is founded in the history, intellectual heritage, and values of the tribe it serves. American Indian culture encompasses a rich and diverse spectrum.
Author’s Note 2: This ranking article’s author does not belong to any indigenous North American tribe. It is entirely probable that errors were made, despite his best efforts to preserve the names, identities, and chosen nomenclature of each tribe.
Top 30 Best Tribal Colleges
1.Haskell Indian Nations University
Since its establishment 114 years ago, Haskell Indian Nations University has been providing college-level coursework. Haskell provides associate degree programs that are intended to be quickly transferrable to a four-year institution. Associate degree programs in natural sciences, social work, community health, communication studies, and liberal arts are available to students. Additionally, undergraduate degrees in business management, environmental science, primary education, and indigenous and American Indian studies are available to students.Top 30 Best Tribal Colleges
$1,600 for tuition
74% of students graduate.
21 to 1 students to faculty
2.Tohono O’odham Community College
Tohono O’odham’s main objective is to assist the Tohono O’odham people, although it also accepts students from all backgrounds who want to pursue higher education. Associate degrees are available in Tohono O’odham in the following fields: life sciences, physical sciences, indigenous borderlands studies, liberal arts, social work, Tohono O’odham studies, elementary education, and early childhood education.Top 30 Best Tribal Colleges
Expenses: $932
Rate of Graduation: 17%
9 to 1 student to faculty ratio
3.Leech Lake Tribal College
The goal of Leech Lake Tribal College is to offer students excellent degree programs that are based on Anishinaabe principles. The open admissions policy at Leech Lake allows anybody with a high school diploma or GED to enroll in classes. In addition to associate degrees in residential carpentry, Leech Lake also offers diplomas in liberal arts, business management, early childhood education, integrated residential building, forest ecology, and earth systems science.
$4,198 for tuition
Ratio of Graduates: 65%
9 to 1 student to faculty ratio
4.Chief Dull Knife College
On the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation in Lame Deer, Montana, is where you’ll find Chief Dull Knife College. Students of any gender identities, color, nationality, or ethnicity are welcome at the college. Addiction studies, allied health, agriculture/animal science, biology, business, chemistry, Cheyenne studies, elementary education, environmental sciences, and other subjects are among the fields in which CDKC offers associate degree programs.
$2,260 for tuition
44% of students graduate.
12 to 1 student to faculty ratio
5.Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute
Albuquerque, New Mexico is where the Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute is situated. Culinary arts, environmental science, geospatial information technology, natural resources management, pre-engineering (designed for transfer into a full 4-year engineering program), vision care technology, accounting, early childhood education, business administration, and liberal arts are among the fields in which students can obtain associate’s degrees.Top 30 Best Tribal Colleges
$1,095 for tuition
35% of students graduate.
18 to 1 students to faculty
6.Turtle Mountain Community College
In Belcourt, North Dakota, Turtle Mountain Community College has two locations. Associate degrees in Anishinaabe language, Ogimaawi leadership, and resource management are available at TMCC. A bachelor of arts in leadership and management as well as a bachelor of science in teacher education (elementary or secondary science) are available to students. Students who earn a degree in elementary education are qualified to teach in grades 1 through 8, while those who choose the secondary science track can teach in grades 5 through 12.Top 30 Best Tribal Colleges
$2,250 for tuition
% of graduates: 33%
10 to 1 student to faculty ratio
7.Diné College
The 27,000 square mile Navajo Nation, which includes the states of Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah, sends the majority of its students to Diné College. In fields like the fine arts, Diné studies, early childhood education, elementary education, secondary education mathematics, secondary education science, biology, environmental science, health occupation, mathematics, physics, and public health, students can obtain both bachelor’s and associate’s degrees at the institution.Top 30 Best Tribal Colleges
$1,410 for tuition
Rate of Graduation: 29%
14 students for every faculty member
8.Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College
In Mount Pleasant, Missouri, there is a college called Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College. SCTC provides associate degree programs in business, science, liberal arts, and Native American studies. These degrees are specifically created to transfer without any difficulty into four-year schools. Additionally, they provide an online GED curriculum for individuals who want to finish their GED.
$2,210 for tuition
% of graduates: 20%
6 to 1 student to faculty ratio
9.Aaniiih Nakoda College
On the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation of the White Clay in Montana, Aaniiih Nakoda College is situated. Members of the tribal community and non-tribal citizens can both attend the school. American Indian studies, commerce, early childhood education, computer information systems, environmental science, and industrial trades are among the fields in which students can obtain an associate’s degree. Students have the option of earning certificates in health science, welding, and tribal management in addition to their associate degrees.
$2,410 for tuitionTop 30 Best Tribal Colleges
Rate of Graduation: 29%
10 to 1 student to faculty ratio
10.Cankdeska Cikana Community College
A community college called Cankdeska Cikana is situated on the Spirit Lake Dakota Reservation. Social work, business administration, Dakota studies, early childhood teaching, natural resource management, pre-engineering, and pre-nursing are among the associate degree options available to students. There are certificates offered in early childhood education, office technology, professional driver training, and carpentry.Top 30 Best Tribal Colleges
$3,300 for tuition
% of graduates: 20%
5 students for every 1 faculty member
11.Fort Peck Community College
The Sioux and Fort Peck Assiniboine Tribes created Fort Peck Community College, which is managed by the tribes. Fort Peck Community College’s associate of arts program is created specifically to transfer into four-year programs in business administration, education, Native American studies, psychology, and social work. Environmental science, pre-health/nursing, and biomedical science are all offered as associate of science programs.
$2,250 for tuition
15% graduation rate
10 to 1 student to faculty ratio
12.Iḷisaġvik College
The only tribal college in Alaska is Iisavik College, which is situated in Barrow, the state’s most northerly city. Accounting, business management, education, emergency services, information technology, liberal arts, and Inupiaq studies are among the associate degree options offered by the college. There are also non-degree programs available in the fields of construction technology, heavy machinery, and industrial safety.
$4,300 for tuition
Rate of Graduation: 29%
8 students for every faculty member
13.Bay Mills Community College
In the Bay Mills Indian Community, on Lake Superior’s southeast side, is where you’ll find Bay Mills Community College. The first tribally run institution to receive accreditation in Michigan was Bay Mills. Bay Mills grants degrees at the associate and bachelor levels. Early childhood education programs are available at the bachelor’s degree level, and all of the courses are offered online.
$3,320 for tuition
% of graduates: 39%
14 students for every faculty member
14.United Tribes Technical College
The associate and bachelor’s degrees offered by United Tribes Technical College are a mixture. Business administration, primary teaching, and environmental science and research are all available as bachelor’s degree programs. Associate’s degree programs are offered in pre-engineering, automotive technology, culinary arts and nutrition, computer information technology, and criminal justice.
$4,252 for tuition
% of graduates: 39%
9 to 1 student to faculty ratio
15.Nebraska Indian Community College
The Omaha and Santee Dakota tribe communities, as well as anyone else interested in pursuing higher education, have been served by Nebraska Indian Community College for 40 years. The college provides associate degrees in paraeducator and pre-teacher education, business, early childhood education, liberal arts, human services, and Native American studies.Top 30 Best Tribal Colleges
$4,080 for tuition
Rate of Graduation: 25%
5 students for every 1 faculty member
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16.Blackfeet Community College
Since 1974, Blackfeet Community College has offered higher education to people living in the Blackfeet Nation and nearby areas. Nursing, environmental science, health science, pre-engineering, geographic information systems, psychology, addiction studies, early childhood education, Piikani studies and language, accounting, and business management are among the associate’s degree options available to students.Top 30 Best Tribal Colleges
$3,370 for tuition
% of graduates: 21%
9 to 1 student to faculty ratio
17.Oglala Lakota College
The residents of the area surrounding the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation have access to a number of associate through master’s level degree programs through Oglala Lakota College. Lakota Leadership and Management master’s degrees are available from the college, with a potential specialization in educational administration. Business, education, natural science, Lakota studies, social work, and social science all provide bachelor’s degree options. Additionally, associate’s degrees are offered in plumbing, general construction, automotive technology, information technology, and electrical technology.
$2,684 for tuition
Rate of Graduation: 12%
10 to 1 student to faculty ratio
18.College of Menominee Nation
To meet the educational needs of numerous tribes, including the Menominee, Oneida, Chippewa, Ho-Chunk, Navajo, Potawatomi, and Mohegan tribes, the College of Menominee Nation was established. The college provides bachelor’s degrees in a variety of fields, including early childhood education, business administration, and public administration. The biological and physical sciences, digital media, business administration, natural resources, and public administration are all available as associate degrees.
$6,200 for tuition
Rate of Graduation: 56%
6 to 1 student to faculty ratio
19.White Earth Tribal and Community College
Anishinaabe people control the liberal arts community college known as White Earth Tribal & Community College. The institution grants associate degrees in environmental science, human services, and education. There are tracks for general education and early childhood education in the education degree program. There are tracks for social work and chemical dependency in the human services degree.Top 30 Best Tribal Colleges
$4,232 for tuition
% of graduates: 30%
9 to 1 student to faculty ratio
20.Salish Kootenai College
The Flathead Nation’s residents can complete bachelor’s and associate’s degree programs at Salish Kootenai College, which is situated in Pablo, Montana. Bachelor’s degrees are available in a variety of fields, including as business administration, early childhood education, elementary education, forestry (with options for managing forests and wildfires), information technology, nursing, and social work. The majority of these programs, along with many more, are also available at the associate level.
$6,399 for tuition
Rate of Graduation: 52%
8 students for every faculty member
21.Sitting Bull College
The main campus of Sitting Bull College is located in Fort Yates, North Dakota. The institution grants degrees at all academic levels, from associate to master’s. Students can pursue master’s degrees in environmental science or education, bachelor’s degrees in business administration, social work, education, and Native American studies, as well as associate degrees in education, pre-nursing, pre-engineering, criminal justice, information technology, and teacher preparation.
$4,010 for tuition
Rate of Graduation: 13%
7 to 1 student to faculty ratio
22.Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College
In New Town, North Dakota, Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College grants both bachelor’s and associate’s degrees. The following degrees are available to students: business administration, computer science, elementary education, early childhood education, human services social work, environmental science, equine studies, mathematics, Native studies, and pre-engineering.Top 30 Best Tribal Colleges
$3,870 for tuition
Rate of Graduation: 8%
6 to 1 student to faculty ratio
23.Sinte Gleska University
Private American Indian tribal institution Sinte Gleska University was established in 1971 on the Rosebud Indian Reservation near Mission, South Dakota. 25 associate degrees, 23 bachelor’s degrees, and 2 master’s degrees are all available from the university. These include undergraduate and graduate degrees in education and human services.Top 30 Best Tribal Colleges
$3,154 for tuition
Rate of Graduation: 7%
12 to 1 student to faculty ratio
24.Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College
The Fond du Lac Chippewa tribe established this hybrid public and tribal community college in Cloquet, Minnesota. The college provides associate degrees in business, geography, environmental science, fitness and health, human services, nursing, criminal justice, and American Indian studies.
$5,461 for tuition
Rate of Graduation: 53%
17 to 1 student to faculty ratio
25.Little Big Horn College
The community of Crow Agency, Montana, is home to Little Big Horn College. It is a Crow college run by the tribe with the goal of preserving the cultural and linguistic heritage of the Crow people. Business administration, Crow studies, education, human services, liberal arts, information systems, mathematics, and science are among the associate degree degrees. Additionally, there is a program for focused individual study that enables students to design their own degree.
$3,200 for tuition
Rate of Graduation: 13%
15 to 1 student to faculty ratio
26.Navajo Technical University
Culinary arts, energy systems, engineering technology, environmental science and natural resources, information technology, geographic information technology, public administration, and other fields are all offered as associate degree programs at Navajo Technical University. Both advanced manufacturing technology and hotel and restaurant administration provide bachelor’s degrees. A master of arts degree in Dine leadership, language, and culture is available to students.
$4,070 for tuition
Grade-Point Average: 16%
12 to 1 student to faculty ratio
27.Northwest Indian College
The Lummi Nation owns the site where Northwest Indian College is situated. The college sits roughly 20 miles south of the U.S.-Canadian border and is surrounded by Washington State. Native studies leadership, tribal government and business management, native environmental science, community advocacy, and responsive education in human service are all offered as bachelor’s degree programs at the college. Early childhood education, business and entrepreneurship, studies of drug dependency, and public and tribal administration are all offered as associate’s degree programs.Top 30 Best Tribal Colleges
$4,840 for tuition
% of graduates: 19%
9 to 1 student to faculty ratio
28. Sisseton Wahpeton College
A tribal community college, Sisseton Wahpeton College primarily serves the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate of the Lake Traverse Reservation (80% of the student body is made up of tribe people). In fields like Dakota studies, business administration, early childhood development, addiction and diversity counseling, and sustainable environmental studies, students can receive associate degrees.Top 30 Best Tribal Colleges
$4,510 for tuition
11% of students graduate.
10 to 1 student to faculty ratio
29.Stone Child College
The mission of Stone Child College, a tribally run institution that serves the Chippewa Cree Tribe, is to preserve and transmit that tribe’s language, culture, and history. A bachelor’s degree in elementary education is offered by the institution. Allied health, general science, general business, hospitality, information systems, math, Native American studies, studio art, and rural behavioral health are among the fields where associate degrees are offered.Top 30 Best Tribal Colleges
$2,645 for tuition
Rate of Graduation: 12%
22 to 1 students to faculty
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30.College of the Muscogee Nation
The College of the Muscogee Nation supports the Muscogee tribe and society by offering a tribally owned higher education institution that aims to reflect, uphold, and transmit to subsequent generations the fundamental principles of Muscogee culture. Associate degrees in Native American studies, tribal services, criminal justice, natural resources, and gaming are available to students.Top 30 Best Tribal Colleges
$6,600 for tuition
% of graduates: 37%
13 students for every faculty member
FAQs
- What are tribal colleges?
Tribal colleges and universities are institutions of higher learning established to meet the demands of the diverse American Indian populations in North America in terms of higher education. There may be one or more tribes served by each tribal college or institution. Tribal governments established and oversee the colleges. Classes frequently focus on themes that are important to a particular tribe and are frequently informed by the identity and values of that tribe.
- How many tribal colleges are there in the United States?
In the United States, there are now 32 tribal colleges and institutions. It’s crucial to remember that there are numerous additional tribes. The Bureau of Indian Affairs now recognizes 574 American Indian tribes on a federal level. Additional unrecognized tribes abound. As there is not a college to tribe ratio of 1:1, many tribal institutions and universities serve multiple tribes.
- Who funds tribal colleges?
The majority of other schools and universities receive funding in a similar manner as tribal colleges and universities. The U.S. federal government provides the majority of the funding. Many tribes add their own funds as a supplement to this support. Of course, scholarships also contribute to the institutions’ partly funding, which comes from tuition. People with American Indian ancestry can apply for a variety of scholarships, many of which can be found through the American Indian College Fund.
- Can I attend a tribal college or university if I am not a member of the tribes it serves?
As far as we are aware, none of the tribal institutions or universities in this ranking discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, tribe affiliation, or sex. The majority of them have open admissions practices, which means that anyone applying with a high school diploma or GED would be accepted. However, several of institutions, particularly those that serve as community colleges, do not offer on-campus accommodation, making it challenging to attend if you do not live close to the school. But whether or not you are a recognized member of the tribe that controls the college, if you want to go and you’re in the area, you shouldn’t have any issues doing so.
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