A Guide to Tribal Colleges and Scholarships for Native Americans

In the United States, Only 17% of the Native American student population continues their education after high school. Further, Native American students make up only 1% of the undergraduate population. The Postsecondary National Policy Institute states even fewer go to grad school. Financial challenges often contribute to this problem. Financial aid, like scholarships and grants, as well as Tribal colleges for Native American students may help more make their way to college. Financial aid may be available to those who qualify.

Scholarships for Native American Students

Scholarships offer money for college that typically does not need repayment. Many scholarships for Native Americans are specific to their ethnicity. They may come from schools, but also from businesses and non-profit organizations. Some Native American scholarships to consider include:

• Truman D. Picard Scholarship. Members of any recognized tribe who are undergraduate students studying natural resources may apply. The deadline for the $2,500 annual award is March 1, 2021.
• United South & Eastern Tribes. Each year the USET Education Committee awards money to successful applicants of one of the 30 USET Member Tribal Nations. The deadline is January 15. Students need a satisfactory GPA and must be enrolled or accepted to a college degree program.
• Zuni Tribal Scholarship. The Zuni Tribal Scholarship is available to American Indian students from the Zuni Tribe. The award amount varies, and students must be enrolled in college. The deadline is October 30, and the award needs yearly renewal.
• Full Circle Scholarship Fund. This scholarship comes from the American Indian College Fund. The award amount typically varies, and applications are due May 31. Students must have a 2.0 GPA.
• Catching the Dream Program. This program typically offers three different scholarship opportunities to Native American high school seniors. High GPAs are necessary. The award amount varies and the application deadline is September 15. Priority goes to those pursuing STEM topics.
• Chickasaw Nation Scholarship Program. Any student who is a Chickasaw Nation member and who takes three or more credit hours a semester with a 3.0 GPA may receive this award. The award amount varies based on enrollment status and GPA. Application deadlines are February 15, July 1, and September 15.
• Wells Fargo American Indian Scholarship. Members of federally recognized tribes may apply for this scholarship. It provides up to $5,000 per year and requires a GPA of 2.7 or higher. The application deadline is early June.
• Indian Health Services Scholarship. American Indian and Alaska Native health students may apply for this scholarship. Award amount varies, but the application typically requires an essay and strong academic performance. Applications are usually accepted in the winter each year.
• Daughters of the American Revolution American Indian Scholarship. Applications for this scholarship typically open in November. It is a one-time $4,000 scholarship. To be eligible for this scholarship, students must be Native Americans from any tribe and must maintain a 3.25 GPA or higher.
• Association on American Indian Affairs Scholarships. This association typically offers scholarships for Native Americans who are full-time students with a GPA of 2.5 or higher. The application deadline is May 31. The award amount varies.
• Gates Millennium Scholars Program. Native Americans are generally included in the minority students offered this scholarship. Students may need to pursue fields where their ethnic groups have low numbers. The award amount and application deadline vary.
• American Indian Education Fund Scholarship. This award is typically offered to those with tribal enrollment for themselves or their parents. The award is up to $2,000 per year. The deadline is early April.
• REDW Scholarship. This award is typically available to undergrad or grad students who are tribal members or have at least ¼ degree Indian blood. It is merit-based and scholarship amounts vary. The deadline is June 1.
• Continental Society Daughters of Indian Wars, Inc., National American Scholarship. Enrolled tribal members who take at least 8 semester hours and maintain a 3.0 average may apply for this $5,000 renewable award. Applications are due June 15.
• Gates Post Graduate Scholarship. This prestigious award typically gives $5,000 to $30,000 per year for students in post-graduate training in STEM. Applicants must apply by June 1 and must pursue STEM fields.

Grants for Native American Students

In addition to scholarships for Native Americans, many may apply for grants. Grants are similar to scholarships and generally do not need to be repaid. They typically have a requirement for financial need in addition to GPA and native status. Some to consider include:

• Bureau of Indian Education Grant Program. The BIE has a grant program for Native Americans who are at least ¼ Indian blood. Students must be accepted or enrolled in a college program for an associate or four-year bachelor’s degree. They also must have clear financial need, often shown through the FAFSA. Blindness or vision loss
• The Tyonek Native Corporation Scholarship and Grant Fund. This grant is typically available for Alaskan natives to reimburse students for necessities, like books or school supplies, they need for their college education.
• Blackfeet Nation Higher Education Grant. This grant typically awards members of the Blackfeet Tribe between $2,800 and $3,000 to use toward their undergraduate training. Applications may require proven financial need and an essay.
• Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin Higher Education Grant. This grant usually gives up to $2,200 per academic year for full-time students who are members of the tribe. The tribe may also offer an adult vocational training grant for the same amount.
• Indian Higher Education Grant Program. This federal grant program offers help for Native American students with a proven financial need.

Native American Fellowships

A fellowship typically awards a student money for college in return for service or work in a specific field. Students may need to get a job in a specific area or spend time volunteering in return for their funds. Some Native American fellowships to consider include:

• American Indian Graduate Center Fellowship Program. This program usually awards between $500 and $5,000 to students pursuing graduate degrees in specific fields. This grant application is due June 1.
• Frances C. Allen Fellowship for Women of American Indian Heritage. This fellowship is offered through The Newberry, an independent Chicago research library. Applications are due December 15, and students must be studying a field of interest to the library’s collections.
• Native American Residency Fellowship at the Vermont Studio Center. This fellowship generally provides a one-month residency, including room and board, a studio, and $500 for travel, for Native American visual artists who wish to study at the Vermont Studio Center. Applications are due February 15.
• Smithsonian Native American Awards Program. The Smithsonian typically offers this fellowship to applicants who may formally or informally be affiliated with the Native American community. It generally offers a $175 per day stipend for a research project in Native American concerns for up to 21 days. Deadlines are February 1 for summer and fall semesters and October 1 for spring semesters.
• Native American Health Fellowship. The National Congress of American Indians typically offers this fellowship to Native American students who are pursuing health professions. The award tends to be used for grad studies or professional development, with a focus on promoting tribal health policies.
• AISES Scholarships. The AISES typically partners with several businesses and non profits to provide STEM scholarships to Native American students. Scholarship amounts and deadlines vary based on the program chosen.

Financial Aid for Native American Students

Many different types of financial assistance may be available to Native American students. Getting sufficient help paying for school requires that students understand all of these options. It also requires following the correct steps to apply for aid. Here’s what a student should do to get help paying for school.

Determine Your Status as a Native American

Not everyone who has Native American heritage qualifies for these scholarships. You typically must be an enrolled member of a recognized Native American Indian tribe or an Alaskan Native group to qualify. Another option may be to apply using what is called “blood quantum.” This means the student is at least ¼ Native American. Typically this is because one grandparent is full-blooded Native American. Students who need to prove their ancestry could use the US Dept. of the Interior’s Trace Indian Ancestry page to search their heritage. They may then apply to their tribe to enroll as a tribal member.

Complete the FAFSA

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) establishes a student’s financial need and eligibility for federal programs, like the Pell grant. Many Native American aid programs require proven financial aid. Completing the FAFSA is the first step in proving need.

Understand the Types of Financial Aid

In addition to scholarships, Native Americans typically have these main types of student aid offered to them. These are:

• Scholarships. Scholarships for Native Americans are awarded based on merit or ethnic status and usually do not have to be paid back.
• Grants. Grants also typically do not get paid back. They are often based on financial need.
• Fellowships. Fellowships pay students for work in a field specific to the group’s goals and needs.
• Loans. Loans provide money for school that must be repaid, with interest, after graduation.
• Work-Study. Work-study programs provide money for school in exchange for work at the college.

Check Out Other Sources for Financial Aid

While Native American students may have several financial aid options specific to them, there are other options too. Native American students should look for scholarship and grant options that does not use race or tribal status as a criterion. Scholarships and grants that look at a student’s grades, community service, and other activities could help cover the cost of school.

Challenges Native American College Students Face

Access to college and challenges with the cost of school both impact the native populations.

What are the biggest hurdles that are unique to Native American students when trying to gain admission into school?

Some of the challenges Native Americans face prevent them from getting into college. The cost of college, or the perception about that cost, is typically one hurdle. Sometimes the college admissions process is too complex for students to tackle on their own, and not having parents that went through the process may make this harder. In addition, reservation-based schools tend to have high staff turnover. Without strong relationships with guidance counselors and teachers, students may be less likely to find the perfect college or feel the importance of a college education.

What are some of the biggest challenges once these students are in school?

Many Native American students are likely to overcome these challenges and make it to school, only to find a new set of concerns. Many students find themselves on campuses with few Native students, creating a disconnect between their native culture and their new college community. Often, non-native students and teachers may not understand the cultural traditions of Native American students. If students need to miss class for cultural events, they may suffer socially or academically. Many Native students head to school as older adults. This tends to make finding appropriate, affordable housing difficult. Finally, many Native students may not be prepared well for the challenges of college life. They may feel overwhelmed with the new culture and academic courses.

American Indian College Fund

The American Indian College Fund invests in the education of Native and tribal students. This is the largest charity for this group in the nation. They typically have scholarships for Native American students, but they may also have programming that connects students to the support they need to succeed in college and beyond. Of all the resources available, this is usually one of the most helpful for new Native American college students.

Support Organizations for Native American Students

Support organizations both on campus and off provide could help to get students over these hurdles. Students could reach out to these groups to receive support and find opportunities for advancement. Some of these groups include:

• AICF. The American Indian College Fund is one of the most important and comprehensive support groups for native students.
• AIHEC. The American Indian Higher Education Consortium provides a network of support to sunbonnets while also working hard to change federal policies so they better support Native students.
• AIS. American Indian Services is a non profit group that creates programs and funding for Native Americans. The goal is to help them earn a quality education while maintaining their own heritage and culture.
• AISES. American Indian Science and Engineering Society provides support for Native Americans who are pursuing education and careers in STEM areas.
• PWNA. Partnership with Native Americans provides help and hope for those living on isolated or remote reservations. It gives aid to help improve the economic situation of these people.

What are Tribal Colleges?

Tribal colleges and universities are higher learning schools run by tribal leaders. This is a newer idea and an attempt to deal with some of the challenges Native students face.

How Could Tribal Colleges Help?

Tribal colleges typically assist students because they understand the traditions and cultures of their tribe or native group. This means students generally do not face conflicts between their education and their culture or beliefs.

Why are Tribal Colleges Important?

Tribal college sometimes provides the only college opportunity for local native populations. They are typically located close to the people who need them, sometimes even on the reservation, and have lower cost tuition. This all combines to likely make college more accessible for Native students.

List of Tribal Colleges

There are currently over 30 tribal schools throughout the United States. Many cater to the unique cultures of a specific tribal group, but all welcome Native and non-Native people. As long as students are wiling to embrace tribal culture, they may attend one of these schools: