Native American College Grants

Sources: Tribal Colleges and More

Did you know that to qualify for most types of grants and scholarships for Native American students that you only need to prove ¼ Indian ancestry? That makes many more American students eligible for Native American college aid than you might think. Unfortunately many don’t even know they qualify….

If you’re of Native American ancestry and exploring all your options for college grant aid, then find out right now where some of your best resources are located.

Federal Sources for Indian Education Grants

The federal government has largely by obligation provided free grant funding for Native Americans for years. The Bureau of Indian Affairs was established to manage the rights of Native Americans including education. The BIA manages the Tribal Colleges along with some of the more popular college grant and scholarship programs.

BIA Grant is available to both undergraduates and graduate students with at least ¼ Indian heritage.

American Indian College Fund

The American Indian College Fund supports the education of Indians and the efforts of the over 30 tribal colleges. AICF offers a variety of college grants and scholarships annually.

Tribal Colleges

Tribal colleges were established specifically to provide post-secondary education to Native Americans. It’s not that they couldn’t attend mainstream colleges but that many large tribal populations are remote and severely disadvantaged. Tribal colleges are primarily located in the upper Midwest and in states with large Indian reservations. Interestingly many tribal colleges serve the educational needs of an entire reservation, including adult learners. And when it comes to funding opportunities many schools provide educational grants and scholarships.

Tribal Nations

When you know what tribal nation you are descended from you may also seek any available funding sources directly. Tribal nations, if financially able, offer college grants and scholarships.

Proving Indian Descent

So when it comes to proving that ¼ Indian blood, exactly what kind of documentation do you need? Tribal nations provide you with an Application for a Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood, or the official document you need to qualify for any Native American grants. You can research your Indian history using the ancestral Indian rolls. These census documents were prepared during the late 1800s when many tribes were being herded onto reservations around the country. It can take some research, but here are your best sources:

  • Bureau of Indian Affairs
  • Tribal nations
  • Indian Rolls
  • Ancestry and genealogical records and resources

Other Sources for Indian Grants

States in which large populations of Native Americans live often provide state-funded grants and scholarships for Indian students.

  • Wisconsin Native American Student Assistance Grant is offered through Wisconsin colleges and universities. The funds are open to undergraduates and graduates.

Native American Grants for Specialized Study

Remember, like many other minority groups, American Indians have been largely absent from many industries. Science, Technology, Engineering and Math – often simply called STEM—are fields in which the push is on to attract Indian students. If any of these are fields that interest you, good news is grants and scholarships are plentiful. Major sources for STEM grants include the federal government (National SMART Grant), states, colleges and universities, and private and public organizations.

  • The Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) maintains a small database of fellowships and grants for students seeking funds for the STEM studies.