This book focuses on approximately 250 nonprofit, two-year colleges with a student body that is entirely female or at least 25% Black, Hispanic, or Native American. These special-focus colleges include two-year colleges, historically black colleges (HBC), Hispanic-serving institutions (HIS), and tribal colleges, with some of the schools being church-affiliated. Many of these schools serve as examples of how a genuine commitment to access and achievement for female students and students of color can enhance these students' academic success. The initial chapter briefly describes and lists each type of two-year special-focus college, examines their roles in the development of American higher education, and speculates about their future. The following five chapters each examine a particular type of special-focus two-year school: Women's colleges, HBCs; tribal colleges; HISs; and church-affiliated colleges. Each of these chapters also include a case study of an exemplary institution type. The final chapter analyzes the characteristics of these colleges which facilitate their students' success, also indicating to coeducational, predominantly white colleges how they can better serve minority students. (NB)