American Indians earn college degrees at half the rate of the U.S. population as a whole.

According to 2000 Census statistics, 24.4 percent of Americans 25 years and older have college degrees, compared to 12.1 percent of the Indian population.

Among Maine tribes, 18.9 percent of the Penobscot Tribe and 13.0 percent of the Passamaquoddy Tribe have college degrees. About 18 percent of the Maliseets and 9 percent of the Micmacs have degrees, the Census Bureau says.

Elsewhere in New England, 15.9 percent of Rhode Island’s Narragansett Tribe have college degrees, as do 14.3 percent of the Mohegan Tribe in Connecticut, 14.1 percent of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe in Connecticut, and 18.6 percent of the Gay Head Wampanoag Tribe in Massachusetts, according to the Census.

In Maine, the state waives college tuition at state universities for members of the Penobscot, Passamaquoddy, Houlton Band of Maliseet and Aroostook Band of Micmac tribes.

There are now 593 Indian students at the state’s seven campuses, according to the University of Maine System.