Native American students can offset the cost of higher education with scholarship funding. Programs offered by private foundations, Indian organizations, and government agencies provide scholarships for American Indians, Native Alaskans and Native Hawaiians. Tribally operated colleges and universities in the United States offer undergraduate and graduate degree programs for Native Americans and often enable students to achieve their goals through university-funded scholarship programs.
Funding Organizations
Private foundations and government organizations provide scholarships specifically for Native Americans. The American Indian College Fund awards scholarships to students enrolled in graduate and undergraduate degree programs at tribal colleges and mainstream educational institutions. The organization administers multiple scholarship programs, including the Seven Stars Graduate Scholarship, Sovereign Nations Scholarship, and Anthony A. Welmas Scholarship Funds. The U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) gives scholarships through the American Indian Graduate Center in Albuquerque to students in all courses of study, with priority funding for those seeking degrees in business, natural resources, engineering, law and health. Smaller, private organizations, such as the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Udall Foundation also have scholarship programs for Native American students, with awards ranging from $350 to $5,000.
Tribe-specific Scholarships
Separate tribes often offer financial aid programs specifically for their tribal members. For example, all Osage Nation tribal members attending universities and colleges can apply for the Osage Nation Higher Education Scholarship. Individual tribes often provide scholarships for students who do not qualify for BIA funding. Tribes fund and administer their own scholarship programs and award amounts vary.
Eligibility and Requirements
Scholarship eligibility and requirements vary, depending on the program. Scholarship programs often require applicants to hold a Certificate of Indian Blood card to qualify. Percentages of Indian Blood required can vary depending on the scholarship. Scholarships often require full-time enrollment or can require post-graduation commitments to work in specified careers or with tribal organizations.
Tribal Educational Institutions
The BIA funds more than 25 educational institutions and operates two Native American universities. Students can find colleges and universities across the United States operated by specific tribes or Native American organizations, including the Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, Salish Kootenai College in Pablo, Montana, and Oglala Lakota College in Kyle, South Dakota. Tribal colleges often administer their own scholarship programs for Native American students.
Applying for Scholarships
Application processes vary, depending on the scholarship. Students applying for American Indian College Fund scholarships must apply online at the organization's website and application requirements vary depending on whether a student attends a mainstream or tribal college. Applicants can submit a single application for consideration in all scholarship programs. Students can often apply in person at campus financial aid offices when applying for scholarships at tribal colleges. Private foundations have individual application procedures and often require nomination from a faculty representative.
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