This ERIC Digest provides an overview of tribal colleges and universities (TCUs), including a discussion of the American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC), TCU curriculum, institutional funding, student demographics, and the role of TCUs in developing local economies. The AIHEC was founded in 1972 and currently represents 32 TCUs. The organization is governed by representatives from each institution and strives to support the network of TCUs and the national movement for self-determination. Tribal college curricula typically offer vocational certificates, two-year associate degrees, and programs that reflect the cultures of chartering tribes (e.g., tribal literature, language, and history). Tribal colleges receive the majority of their funding from the federally administered Tribally Controlled College and University Assistance Act of 1978, but most TCUs charge tuition ($1,950 per year) in order to compensate for funding shortages. With respect to student demographics, the author reports that the average age of TCU students is 30 and that 85% of TCU students live at or below poverty levels. More than 40% of TCU graduates pursue further education and another 50% find jobs. The author also cites a study which reveals that TCU students skip semesters more frequently than traditional undergraduates. (RC)