Federal data vastly undercount Native American college students. New federal standards could change that.
Published Feb 2025
Native American students face a crisis in higher education, with enrollment declining at twice the national average. A new report from IHEP, Brookings, and the Urban Institute reveals a critical factor exacerbating this issue: severely flawed federal data collection methods. These inaccuracies systematically undercount Native American students by 80%, hindering effective support and violating federal trust responsibilities to tribal nations.
New federal standards from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) offer an opportunity to improve data collection. This report outlines how the Department of Education can implement these standards effectively, including recommendations for data disaggregation, tribal partnerships, and institutional support. Policymakers should publish disaggregated data, partner with Tribal leaders to share data such as Tribal affiliation, and increased guidance and resources for institutions to improve their own data.
Read the full report to learn how improving data collection can empower Native American students, strengthen tribal sovereignty, and advance educational equity. Discover concrete steps policymakers and institutions can take to ensure accurate representation and support for Native American students in higher education.