Department of Education Designations

Minority-Serving Institution (MSI)

Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) are U.S. colleges and universities that enroll a high percentage of minority students. Because minoritized populations have experienced disproportionate barriers to higher education, the federal government provides financial support through various titles of the Higher Education Act. MSIs include Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), and colleges and universities with high enrollments of Native Americans, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians.

Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU)

APU is also a member of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), which was founded in 1986 to champion Hispanic success in higher education and is the only national educational organization representing Hispanic-serving institutions. More than 400 colleges and universities in the United States, Puerto Rico, Latin America, Spain, and Portugal comprise HACU’s membership, and HACU’s advocacy efforts with the federal government have led to more than $1.2 billion in grants targeted to member institutions since 1995.

Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)

APU is designated as an HSI, meaning at least 25% of our full-time undergraduate students are Hispanic.

Our $2.7 million grant, “Advancing Student Achievement and Success: Avanzando Logros y Éxitos Estudiantiles!” works for student success through robust tutoring programs, academic advising, cultural competence training for faculty, renovated campus learning spaces, and more.

Being a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) touches every aspect of campus life from creating tailored cultural events to classroom learning experiences.

Visit APU’s HSI page for more info.

Asian American, Native American, Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI)

The Department of Education also recognizes APU as an AANAPISI, which are institutions that serve an undergraduate population that is low income (at least 50% receiving Title IV needs-based assistance) and in which Asian American, Native American, and/or Pacific Islander students constitute at least 10% of undergraduate full-time equivalent students.

What Does This Mean for APU?

APU is now competing for grants under Title III and Title V of the Higher Education Act. This is a robust, competitive process facilitated and evaluated by the Department of Education. APU is committed to pursuing such grants in an effort to bolster university infrastructure and support for referenced minoritized student populations.