Federal and state aid is the most readily available incentive to all students seeking a college education, including Native Americans. The Federal Application for Financial Student Aid, or FAFSA, is available online (see Resources). In order to qualify for grants and financial assistance as a Native American, the student must be an enrolled member of a federally recognized tribe and may be required to have a Certificate of Blood. Federal aid can come in the form of grants that do not need to be paid back or loans which are required to be paid back.
Some schools, like the University of Arizona and the University of Wisconsin, offer scholarships to Native American students. Scholarships are a form of financial aid that does not need to be paid back. Some scholarships will cover the cost of all college expenses, including tuition, books, room and board. Other scholarships offer smaller amounts of money that can be combined with federal aid. When you apply at a college, be sure to ask specifically for any programs designed to help Native American students.
The Indian Health Service offers scholarships to Native Americans going into health-related fields (see Resources). There are scholarships available for students pursuing careers in pharmacy and nursing, and programs in pre-medicine and pre-dentistry. These types of scholarships don't require the student to be a full-blooded Native American. There are also scholarships available to full-blooded Native American students who are members of a federally recognized tribe going into any health-related field. The scholarships are awarded based on the student's commitment to work in Indian communities after graduation.
Some private programs offer grants to Native American students. These programs are not directly affiliated with specific colleges but work with colleges to help enroll Native American students. Local tribal offices often offer small scholarships for Native Americans seeking higher education. Scholarships are available for 6,000 students each year from the American Indian College Fund. This program works with 33 colleges in the United States to provide financial aid to Native Americans (see Resources).