As the global work environment continues to evolve, the United States needs to increase its human capital in order remain economically competitive. Whether the nation can meet the demands of the global economy and maintain its standing as a global leader will be tied inextricably to its ability to increase the proportion of Americans with advanced intellectual skills and knowledge, as represented by postsecondary credentials. As the nation continues to grow and the composition of its population shifts, its system of higher education needs to be more conscious of and responsive to these new realities when it comes to developing goals, priorities, and strategies for achieving higher rates of college participation and completion for "all" Americans. This article examines America's higher education policies and practices relative to the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community--a group that is increasingly relevant to the goals of access to and success in college. The perceived success of AAPIs as a whole is heavily influenced by stereotypes and false perceptions that are generalized to all sub-populations of AAPIs. The prevailing "model minority" myth--that AAPIs are universally successful and do not face academic challenges--has been damaging for the AAPI population, particularly for sub-groups with low rates of college participation and degree attainment. Building on recent studies from the National Commission on Asian American and Pacific Islander Research in Education (CARE), this article suggests why and how one must transcend the model minority myth. Specifically, it examines three sets of facts that illuminate the position of AAPIs in the higher education landscape and their implications for the nation looking forward: (1) the AAPI contribution to the changing demographics of the nation as a whole; (2) the distribution of AAPI students in institutions by type and location; and (3) the special role of AAPI-serving institutions in educating AAPI students. Understanding the various realities that AAPI students face relative to higher education is key to positive change for both the AAPI community and for the nation at large. (Contains 2 figures, 1 table, and 9 resources.)