Native American College Scholarships

Out of all of the recognized minority groups in the United States, Native Americans comprise one of the smallest groups in terms of population. In 2010, the number of American Indians and Alaska Natives made up only 0.9% of the U.S. population, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Many of those who claim Native American heritage are of interracial background, e.g., African American/Native American or Caucasian/ Native American ancestry.

For a long time, few scholarship options were available to Native American students. Native Americans set up their own tribal colleges and universities to educate the members of their tribes and nations. Native American peoples also established tribal scholarships. These scholarships are still available to students who are members of recognized Native American tribes and are offered directly through tribal organizations like the All Indian Pueblo Council Scholarship Grant Program.

Over the years, however, a wider variety of scholarships have become available to Native Americans. Several federally funded scholarship programs are offered to members of federally recognized Native American tribes. Currently, 565 Native American tribes are recognized as individual political societies by the U.S. government, according to the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs, and only members from these tribes qualify for federal scholarship funds.

Also, as with many minorities, scholarships are available through both professional organizations like the American Indian Science and Engineering Society, and from other institutions that focus on minorities in a more general sense. Professional organizations are concerned with furthering Native American employment in specific job markets that are traditionally dominated by whites, while many other organizations are focused on furthering the educational opportunities of all minorities.

List of Native American Scholarships

• American Indian Graduate Center Scholarships — Multiple scholarships awarded each year to varied number of Native American undergraduate and graduate students. Must be a member of a federally recognized American Indian tribe or Alaska Native group, or have 1/4 degree verifiable federally recognized American Indian blood proven through the submission of a Tribal Eligibility Certificate. (Includes the Gates Millennium Scholars Program).


• Catching the Dream Scholarships — Three scholarships ranging from $500 to $5,000 per academic year awarded each year to multiple Native American undergraduate and graduate students who can prove they are 1/4 or more degree American Indian, who have applied for other scholarship options, and who meet the other criteria of the scholarships. Scholarships available for students studying in an area of math, engineering, science, business, education, computers; students studying an area of business who plan to work in economic development for tribes; or paraprofessionals in Indian schools who want to complete their degree in education, school administration, or counseling.


• Cherokee Nation Foundation Scholarships — The Foundation awards a wide variety of privately-funded, tribally-funded, and institutionally-based scholarships each year to Cherokee Nation Members who are undergraduate students. Must show tribal citizenship (Blue Card and CDIB). Affiliated with the Cherokee Nation.


• Judith McManus Price Scholarship — The American Planning Association awards between $2,000 and $4,000 each year to women and minority (including Native American) undergraduate and graduate students who want to enter careers as planners in the public sector. Must be enrolled in a program accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board (PAB).


• Koniag Education Foundation Academic/Graduate Scholarship — Multiple scholarships awarded in various amounts each year to Alaska Natives (Alutiiq) of the Koniag region who meet the individual criteria of each scholarship.


• Minnesota Indian Scholarship Program — Up to $4,000 per year to undergraduates and up to $6,000 per year to graduate students who are Minnesota residents and can demonstrate Indian ancestry of 1/4 or more. Students can receive funding for a maximum of 10 years (five years for undergraduate study and five years for graduate study).


• Osage Tribal Education Committee Scholarship — Multiple scholarships awarded each year to college students who are Osage Tribal members and meet all other criteria for individual scholarships.

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Paying for school is not easy, but we are here to help. OEDb's student finance section will help you find the money you need to pay your tuition and other college expenses. We cover scholarships, college grants, and student loans. Scholarships and grants are both forms of "free money", meaning they don't need to be paid back. Scholarships are typically awarded by businesses or individuals, with the money being earmarked specifically for tuition. They can be awarded based on a student's location or by religious affiliation, such as Catholicism or Islam. Grants are typically awarded by governments or non-profit organizations and the money often can be applied to several different expenses a student may incur, not solely tuition. They can be awarded based on location or ethnicity, for instance African American or Hispanic. Loans are not considered "free money", because unlike scholarships and grants, they do need to be paid back after graduation. Common federal loans include Perkins and Stafford. Loans are also available by location.