Why Tribal Colleges are Great Places to Recruit Employees and Students

The tribal colleges are preparing more students than ever to help address the changing needs of our world. Many tribal college graduates are looking for employment opportunities in a variety of fields and others are eager to further their education by transferring to a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate program. Below is a list of why the tribal colleges are great places to find well-qualified employees and students.

1. You will reach a talented pool of individuals.

Tribal college graduates earn degrees and certificates in a variety of disciplines, including liberal arts, business, healthcare, STEM, education, and building trades. Offering more than 358 diplomas, certificates, apprenticeships, and degree programs in 36 major disciplines, the tribal colleges continue to expand and develop new programs and departments that meet the needs of their students and tribal nations.

2. You will reach thousands of people all across Indian Country.

Tribal colleges are gathering places. In addition to educating nearly 28,000 full- and part-time students annually, they serve 100,000 community members every year. Community outreach includes language instruction, computer literacy courses, health and wellness classes, leadership development programs, academic readiness classes, entrepreneurship courses, and many others.

3. Many students begin their education journey at tribal colleges. Plant a seed early and watch it grow.

Tribal colleges provide access to education for more than 80% of Indian Country. The 37 tribal colleges operate more than 75 campuses in the United States and serve students from more than half of all federally recognized tribes. See map of tribal colleges.

4. You will reach a diverse population of students, faculty, and staff.

Of the 2,884 faculty and administrators at tribal colleges, American Indians comprise 44% and 67% respectively. Additionally, 84% of the 28,000 full- and part-time tribal college students are American Indian.

5. Tribal colleges set their students up for success.

Tribal colleges and universities are unique institutions created in response to the higher education needs of American Indians. They vary in size, focus, and location. They combine personal attention with cultural relevance to encourage American Indian student success in higher education.

Source: American Indian Higher Education Consortium (2014). AIHEC AIMS 2013-14. Unpublished dataset.