The U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs offers grants from $500 to $4,000 per academic year. The grants are need-based, so students must complete a FAFSA before applying. The grant is open to anyone who is at least 25 percent American Indian. Applications can be made through the student's tribe, the local Bureau of Indian Affairs or a local Indian Education office.
Department of the Interior
Indian Affairs
1849 C St. NW.
Washington, D.C. 20240
202-208-3710
bia.gov
Various American Indian tribes offer grants to higher education-bound members of the tribe. Many of the grant programs prohibit students from receiving grants from other American Indian tribes, even if they are descended from multiple tribes. Award amounts vary from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand.
Almost a quarter of the states have set up funds to provide grants (as well as scholarships) to American Indian students, according to the Native American Rights Fund. These grants are available for students who are attending state schools, including trade or vocational schools, as well as colleges and universities. The states that have set up these grant programs for Native Americans include Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin.