NAICU Washington Update
Determining Eligibility for Minority-Serving Institutions
January 07, 2022
Details on the process an institution must follow to be designated as a Minority-Serving Institution (MSI) have been
released by the Department of Education. The Higher Education Act includes specific
requirements that institutions must meet in order to be designated as an MSI.
To help institutions determine whether they are eligible for an MSI designation, the Department creates an annual
eligibility matrix. If a college or university leader checks the eligibility matrix and does not see their institution listed, then they are able to apply for designation status.
Institutions must be designated as an MSI before they are eligible to apply for funding. Applications to be designated as an MSI are due January 21.