Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) have long been engines of opportunity for students who have historically faced barriers to higher education. New findings from the American Council on Education and the MSI (ACE-MSI) Data Project reinforce what many already know to be true. MSIs, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs) and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), play a transformative role in shaping the academic and economic futures of their students.
Delivering Impact Through Student Success
These institutions serve millions of students, many of whom are the first in their families to attend college. They expand access to higher education and deliver strong economic returns. According to the ACE-MSI Data Project, students who attend MSIs often graduate at rates comparable to or higher than their peers at non-MSI institutions, despite facing greater financial and structural hurdles. The data also shows that MSIs play a key role in improving post-college earnings, an important factor in long-term financial stability and upward mobility.
Meeting Students Where They Are
These outcomes are not accidental. MSIs often offer culturally responsive support systems, smaller class sizes and mission-driven leadership that centers student success. They are often rooted within the communities they serve and are designed to meet the needs of students too often overlooked in the traditional higher education system. Their impact stretches far beyond campus boundaries — educating the next generation of scientists, engineers, teachers, entrepreneurs and civic leaders.
The Role of Investment and Partnership
Despite their outsized impact, MSIs are often underfunded and face persistent capacity challenges. That is where partnership and investment come in. Through targeted support, we can help MSIs build stronger infrastructure, expand programming and modernize services that help students thrive.
Advancing Economic Mobility Through Student Freedom Initiative
One such initiative doing this critical work is Student Freedom Initiative (SFI), which Robert F. Smith co-founded to remove financial barriers and increase access to STEM pathways at HBCUs, other MSIs and TCUs. SFI provides flexible funding alternatives to traditional debt, empowering students to pursue careers without the burden of high interest rate student loans. But financial support is only one part of the equation. SFI also provides capacity-building resources, modern technology infrastructure and hands-on career development programs that connect students to real-world opportunities.
By partnering with MSIs, SFI is helping institutions scale their impact while also giving students the tools to shape their own futures. The goal is clear: equip students with the knowledge, financial freedom and professional experience they need to lead.
Looking Ahead
There is still more to do. Continued investment in MSIs, from both the public and private sectors, is essential. So is collaboration — across education, business and philanthropy — to align resources with outcomes that truly move the needle. We must also continue to elevate the voices of MSI leaders and students, whose insights are central to designing effective solutions.
As the demand for skilled talent continues to grow, MSIs play a critical role in preparing students to meet the needs of a changing workforce. These institutions help ensure that innovation and opportunity reach communities across the U.S., supporting long-term economic growth.
At the heart of this effort is a belief that opportunity should not be dictated by ZIP code, income bracket or background. By investing in MSIs and the students they serve, we invest in a more just, innovative and economically vibrant future for all.
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