BACKGROUND: Minority populations bear a disproportionate burden of chronic disease, due to higher disease prevalence and greater morbidity and mortality. Recent research has shown that several factors, including confidence to self-manage care, are associated with better health behaviors and outcomes among those with chronic disease. OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between minority status and confidence to self-manage cardiovascular disease (CVD). STUDY SAMPLE: Survey respondents admitted to 10 hospitals participating in the "Expecting Success" program, with a diagnosis of CVD, during January-September 2006 (n = 1107). RESULTS: Minority race/ethnicity was substantially associated with lower confidence to self-manage CVD, with 36.5% of Hispanic patients, 30.7% of Black patients, and 16.0% of white patients reporting low confidence (P < 0.001). However, in multivariate analysis controlling for socioeconomic status and clinical severity, minority status was not predictive of low confidence. CONCLUSIONS: Although there is an association between race/ethnicity and confidence to self-manage care, that relationship is explained by the association of race/ethnicity with socioeconomic status and clinical severity.