College Guide for Indigenous and Native American Students
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The Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) funds schools to provide educational opportunities to Native American students. It directly runs .
Low Funding at Tribal Colleges
There are currently , is a form that college students can fill out to qualify for financial aid from federal and state governments and their school. It offers more than $150 billion in federal student loans, grants, and work-study funds. By taking the time to fill out the FAFSA, Indigenous students can open the doors to financial aid opportunities that will make it easier to pay for the high cost of college. Depending on where they attend college, students may get enough funding from financial aid and their college to cover the cost of their degree.
Document Your Status
To qualify for some types of financial aid, Native American students must be a member of a federally recognized tribe. Obtaining a is a Native American fraternity with 13 chapters, with almost 400 brothers representing more than 55 tribal nations.
Apply for Scholarships
There are countless scholarships available to many college students, including those who are of Native American or Alaska Native descent. Some are merit-based, meaning students must meet certain standards to receive them, while others are need-based and dependent on their financial situation. The more scholarships Indigenous students apply for, the greater their chances of securing.
Scholarships for Indigenous and Native American Students
A variety of organizations, from the federal and state governments to colleges and private organizations, offer scholarship funding specifically for Indigenous students. The more grant and scholarship money students can lock in, the less they'll have to pay out of pocket or borrow in student loans.
Here are several scholarship opportunities to explore.
The American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) Native Americans Scholarship is for Native American undergraduate students who are juniors, seniors, or graduate students enrolled in an aviation program.
Award Information
- $1,500
- Two awards
Eligibility
- Must be of Native American origin
- Be enrolled as a junior, senior, or graduate program in an aviation program
- Have a GPA of at least 3.0
Application Information
- February deadline
- Required documents include official transcripts and ACT/SAT scores for undergraduate students
The American Indian College Fund Full Circle scholarship provides scholarships to American Indian and Alaska Native college students who hope to complete undergraduate and graduate degrees at tribal colleges, nonprofit, and accredited schools.
Award Information
- Amount varies
Eligibility
- Must be a member or descendant of a state or federally recognized tribe
- Have a GPA of at least 2.0
- Be enrolled as a full-time student
Application Information
- August deadline
- Required documents include a digital photo, proof of tribal affiliation, and a transcript
The Accenture Native American Scholarship Fund provides financial support to American Indian and Alaska Native incoming college freshman students pursuing degrees on a full-time basis at an accredited institution.
Award Information
- Amount varies
Eligibility
- Must be a member or a descendant of a federally or state-recognized American Indian Tribe or Alaska Native group
- Must be a full-time incoming freshman student pursuing an undergraduate degree and career in engineering, computer science, operations management, management, finance, marketing, or other business-related fields
- Have a high school GPA of 3.25
Application Information
- Deadlines vary
- Required documents include the Native Forward Scholars Fund’s tribal eligibility certification (TEC) form and a transcript
The American Indian Education Fund Scholarships
The American Indian Education Fund offers several undergraduate and graduate scholarships for students who identify as Native American, Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian.
Award Information
- Amount varies
- About 225 awards each year
Eligibility
- Must be of Native American, Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian descent
- Must be enrolled as a full-time undergraduate or graduate student
- Have a GPA between 2.0 and 3.5
- Have an ACT score of at least 14
Application Information
- Deadlines vary
- Required documents include a photo, transcripts, essay, and community involvement form
The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) offers a scholarship "to help Native Americans students of any age, any tribe and in any state striving to get an education at the undergraduate or graduate levels."
Award Information
- $4,000
- Multiple awards each year
Eligibility
- Must be of Native American lineage or tribal status
- Must demonstrate financial need
- Have a GPA of at least 3.25
Application Information
- January deadline
- Required documents include a transcript and proof of Native American lineage or tribal status
The Calista Scholarship Fund is specifically designed for Alaska Native shareholders or lineal descendants of shareholders who are enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program or trade school.
Award Information
- $750-$1,500
- Multiple awards each year
Eligibility
- Must be an Alaska Native shareholder or lineal descendant of a shareholder
- Must have a GPA of 2.0 or higher
- Must be a part-time or full-time student
Application Information
- June and December deadlines
- Required documents include official transcripts, a personal statement, a copy of BIA/CDIB or Tribal Enrollment Documentation, and a copy of a birth certificate for descendants
Other Resources for Indigenous and Native American Students
Indigenous and Native American students and their families may find useful information and resources on the following websites:
Run by the University of Connecticut, NACP helps Native and Indigenous students succeed in college by “educating our surrounding UConn community on our histories, cultures, traditional ways of life and more.”
NAISA is a student-run organization at the University of Connecticut that strives to “educate and advocate on behalf of current events, issues, cultures, traditions, etc.”
The INSPIRE Pre-College Program is a three-week program at George Washington University for Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian rising juniors and seniors. It teaches them about the relationship between federal and tribal governments.
Held at Northern Arizona University, the Nizhoni Academy is a six-week STEM seminar for Native American freshmen and sophomores.
This program is offered to Indigenous high school seniors who want to get an idea of what it’s like to be a Native American student at Dartmouth University.
College Horizons is a five-day summer program for Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian high school sophomores and juniors who would like assistance finding the right college.
Since its inception in 1989, the American Indian College Fund has offered a number of scholarships and tools for Indigenous and Native American students.
The American Indian College Fund’s Native Pathways program supports Native American and Alaska Native students with personalized college admissions coaching.
This organization aims to increase the number of Indigenous students in higher education through research, advocacy, and national events.
Kamehameha Scholars helps Native Hawaiian students earn a degree and pursue a career through workshops and activities that lead to points that can be converted into scholarship dollars.