Finding and Applying For Native American Scholarships

Resources for Indian and Alaskan Native Students

There are many Native American and Alaskan Native scholarships out there for students of federally recognized tribes, but so many students fail to put in the work required to find these scholarships. A number of key components are necessary peculiar to these types of scholarships.

Common sources for Native American scholarships include:

  • Federally recognized tribes
  • Tribal colleges
  • Colleges and universities
  • Corporate and business entities
  • Federal and state sources

Qualifications for Native American Scholarships

First you need to be able to prove Indian ancestry and attachment to one of the 562 federally recognized tribes.

It is not enough to merely “know” you are a member of a particular tribe. Rather, you need to be an enrolled member of a tribe recognized by the U.S. government. It may seem a bit absurd to have to “prove” your ancestry, but it is really the only way to prevent people from taking advantage of these scholarships meant for students of underrepresented groups.

Proving Indian Ancestry

One means of proving your Native American ancestry is with a Certificate of Indian Blood or a CIB. This is an official document that proves you are a member of a particular tribe recognized by the federal government. If you do not have this document, you will need to obtain one before applying for any Native American scholarships.

  • You can contact the Bureau of Indian Affairs for further CIB instructions.
  • You may be required to do some ancestry research into your tribal affiliations.
  • Contact the tribe to which your ancestor or relative had affiliation; most maintain very detailed ancestry logs.

Resources for Native American Scholarships

Besides searching for general minority scholarships you will also find scholarships specific to Native American students from these sources:

  • Bureau of Indian Affairs is a component of the Department of the Interior and responsible for disseminating all information relative to the 562 federally recognized tribes. The BIA also provides information and resources for higher education.
  • The nation’s Tribal Colleges and Universities are key to the higher education outcomes of many of the reservation based Indian students. TCUs offer discounted degree and continuing education programs and many help students in remote locations.
  • Mainstream colleges and universities throughout the U.S. offer grants and scholarships for students able to prove at least ¼ Indian blood.
  • The American Indian College Fund (AICF) is “native-operated” and a leader in providing support to both TCUs and students. The organization forges valuable partnerships with key corporate and non-profit organizations that in turn offer valuable scholarships and opportunities for Native American and Alaskan Native students. Scholarship programs include those for Tribal College students, mainstream college scholarships for Native Americans, and graduate school students.
  • The Association on American Indian Affairs (AAIA) works to protect and improve the tribes particularly through cultural and educational support and advocacy. The organization is an important resource for scholarships and offers about a dozen or so programs, including an Emergency Aid scholarship for students with sudden and short-term financial problems.
  • For Native American students pursuing a health science or medicine the Indian Health Service offers scholarships and loan repayment programs.
  • Many tribes offer their own scholarships. If you are enrolled as a member ask about any educational support available.

Internet Search Strategies

Exhaust the above sources, but don’t overlook the simplicity of a basic online scholarship search. Search for native american scholarships, indian scholarships, native american engineering scholarships, tribal scholarships, cherokee scholarships, and more.