Gaining access to college after high school is a particularly important step for all categories of society. For the past few years, many scholarships have been available for the Native Americans to help them pursue their dreams. Native Americans now can count on those scholarships to go further in their education.
To get acceptance to certain scholarships, Native American students should be able to provide proof that they are of American ancestry. Even though many scholarships are given on a basis of need or merit, Native American students are required to demonstrate the following:
That they have family and tribal records, or they are of Native American descent and lineage. To do so, Native American students should apply for a Certificate of Degree of Indian or Alaska Native Blood from the Federal Bureau of Indian Affairs. This certificate is proof of the relationship of the Native American student to an enrolled member(s) of a federally recognized Indian tribe, whether it is through your birth mother or birth father, or both. A federally recognized Indian tribe means an Indian or Alaska Native tribe, band, nation, pueblo, village, or community which appears on the list of recognized tribes published in the Federal Register by the Secretary of the Interior. Furthermore, the Certificate Degree of Indian Blood will help Native American Students to apply for financial aid programs that strictly conceive for them.
Native American students should pay close attention to the details of the scholarship before applying by the fact that some scholarships are intended for specific tribes such as Cherokee, Caddo, Seminole, Kiowa, or Navajo tribes. However, there are no restrictions for Native American students to apply for other categories of scholarships, grants, loans, or financial aids.
Accenture Undergraduate Scholarships for Native Americans
Deadline: May 1, 2021
Description
These Native American Scholarships provide financial assistance to high school seniors who plan to major in business or technology. Degree fields include engineering, computer science, operations management, finance, marketing, management, or other business majors. GPA 3.0 or better and essay required [...]
Criteria & Contact Information
These scholarships are intended for American Indian and Alaskan Native undergraduate and graduate students working on a degree in public health or science. To learn more about these scholarships CLICK HERE.
UH-OHA Hoʻonaʻauao Higher Education Scholarship Program
Deadline: March 1, 2021
Description
The Office of Hawaiian Affairs offers the UH-OHA Ho'ona'auao Scholarship Program, which has two main priorities: supporting scholarships for Native Hawaiians who plan want to pursue vocational certificates, undergraduate and graduate degrees; and providing wrap-around services for non-traditional Native Hawaiian students in order to help them complete a post-secondary degree or vocational or technical education.
Criteria & Contact Information
The following criteria are required:
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be of Native Hawaiian ancestry and be verified;
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be a Hawaiʻi resident or a resident of the continental United States;
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demonstrate financial need based on Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA);
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enrolled at any of the 10 UH System campuses (part-time or full-time);
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maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA for undergraduate or 3.0 GPA for graduate students.
CLICK HERE to learn more about this scholarship.
American Indian Graduate Center
Deadline: June 1, 2021
Description
The AIGC offers merit and need-based scholarships to qualified American Indian and Alaska Native students.
Criteria & Contact Information
CLICK HERE to learn more about this scholarship.
American Indian Science and Engineering Society
Deadline: March 31, 2021
Description
The American Indian Science and Engineering Society offers awards to American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander students in the STEM fields. The AISES helps students move forward in their educational journeys by providing a wide range of programs and scholarship opportunities. AISES scholarships help students acquire skills and training that will help them meet the unique STEM needs of our communities.
Criteria & Contact Information
Students will complete a General Application Profile that can be finished, revised, and submitted year-round and that will automatically match students only with the scholarship opportunities they are eligible for, and those that are open and available to receive. A student must be an AISES member to apply. To learn more about AISES Scholarships please contact Johnny Poolaw, Associate Director of Student Success Services HERE, or CALL NOW.
Cobell Scholarship
Deadline: May 4, 2021
Description
The Cobell Scholarship (awarded by Indigenous Education, Inc.) offers merit- and need-based scholarships to qualified American Indian and Alaska Native students.
Criteria & Contact Information
To learn more about criteria and requirements, CLICK HERE.
Washington Indian Gaming Association
Deadline: March 31, 2021
Description
The Washington Indian Gaming Association will award up to $60,000 for both enrolled members of the WIGA Tribes and Indian students in Washington State. The scholarship may be used to attend two-year and four-year colleges and universities, as well as for advanced degrees. Scholarship recipients from the previous year are also eligible to re-apply under a reduced format. Students can either apply here or mail. In order for an application to be considered, it must be completed with all attachments including financial need statements, personal recommendations, etc.
Criteria & Contact Information
To learn more about this scholarship, please CLICK HERE.
(Z) VEST Scholarship
Deadline: February 15, 2021
Description
The Minot State University offers the (Z) VEST Scholarship, which established by Marvin Zerr, D.D.S., Ph. D., who attended the university from 1980 to 1983.
Criteria & Contact Information
Students should meet the following requirements to be considered:
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recipients must be education majors who are student teaching;
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recipients must be U.S. citizens and be either veteran with honorable/medical discharge, current active duty U.S. military members, or members of the National Guard or Reserve;
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recipients must also be registered with Troops to Teachers.
Preference will be given to students demonstrating financial need. CLICK HERE for more information about the criteria.
Science Post Graduate Scholarship Fund
Deadline: June 1, 2021
Description
The American Indian Graduate Center (AIGC) offers the Science Post Graduate Scholarship Fund (SPGSF) program, which has the specific purpose of providing financial assistance to eligible American Indian and Alaska Native undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree candidates to promote Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) research in and opportunities for careers with Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) and BIE funded organizations on and off-reservation and tribal governments[...] MORE.
Criteria & Contact Information
Students should meet the following requirements to be considered:
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must be pursuing an associate's, bachelor's, master's, doctorate, or professional degree in the STEM fields;
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must be (or will be) pursuing a degree as a full-time degree-seeking student at an accredited institution in the United States;
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must be an enrolled member of a federally recognized American Indian tribe or Alaska Native group OR provide documentation of ancestry to possession of one-fourth degree Indian blood of a federally recognized tribe;
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must be enrolled full-time at an accredited college or university pursuing an associate's, bachelor's, master's, doctorate, or professional degree;
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must be pursuing a degree in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) field, which will be verified by submitting your current transcripts or proof of acceptance to an eligible program.
CLICK HERE for more information about this scholarship.
Golda Cook Scholarship
Deadline: May 1, 2021
Description
Through the American Indian Graduate Center (AIGC), and In honor of the life of Golda Cook (1913 – 2005) and her ongoing support of United National Indian Tribal Youth (UNITY), especially in the organization’s early years, Golda’s friends, family, and UNITY trustees have made contributions to establish the Golda Cook Memorial Fund.
Criteria & Contact Information
Applicants should meet the following requirements to be considered:
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must be in attendance at the National UNITY Conference for this year (Travel expenses incurred by the recipient WILL NOT be covered by AIGC or UNITY);
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must be below the age of 24 before June 30th of the year;
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must be a member of a federally recognized or state-recognized tribe. (Applicant may also be a descendent of either a state or federally recognized tribe, but must provide proof of 1/4 degree American Indian blood or higher);
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must be enrolled full-time as an undergraduate or graduate student at an accredited institution.
CLICK HERE for more information about this scholarship.
CNIGA Journalism Scholarship
Deadline: June 1, 2021
Description
American Indian Graduate Center is pleased to partner with the California Nations Indian Gaming Association to offer the CNIGA Journalism Scholarship program. This program provides a single-year need-based award for an undergraduate or graduate student pursuing a degree in Journalism.
Criteria & Contact Information
Applicants should meet the following requirements to be considered:
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Must be an enrolled member of a federally recognized American Indian tribe or Alaska Native group OR provide documentation of ancestry to possession of one-fourth degree Indian blood of a federally recognized tribe. Preference is given to students who are enrolled in a California-based tribe.
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Must be enrolled full-time at an accredited college or university pursuing an associate's, bachelor's, master's, doctorate, or professional degree.
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Must be pursuing a degree in Journalism or Communications.
CNIGA Seven Generations Scholarship
Deadline: June 1, 2021
Description
American Indian Graduate Center is pleased to partner with the California Nations Indian Gaming Association to offer the CNIGA Seven Generations Scholarship program. This program provides a single year need-based award for an undergraduate or graduate student pursuing a degree in Gaming, Hospitality Management, or Public Policy Public Administration.
Criteria & Contact Information
Applicants should meet the following requirements to be considered:
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Must be an enrolled member of a federally recognized American Indian tribe or Alaska Native group OR provide documentation of ancestry to possession of one-fourth degree Indian blood of a federally recognized tribe. Preference is given to students who are enrolled in a California-based tribe.
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Must be enrolled full-time at an accredited college or university pursuing an associate's, bachelor's, master's, doctorate, or professional degree.
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Must be pursuing a degree in Gaming, Hospitality Management, or Public Policy Public Administration.
Alaska Press Club Scholarships
Deadline: February 15, 2021
Description
The University of Alaska offers scholarships to deserving students in Alaska who want to pursue an education in any campus of the University of Alaska. The focus is more likely in journalism.
Criteria & Contact Information
Applicants should meet the following requirements to be considered:
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must be students attending any campus of the University of Alaska (Anchorage, Fairbanks, Southeast, and all community campuses);
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must demonstrate financial need or outstanding achievement in specialized fields.
To learn more about this scholarship, please CLICK HERE.
See this link on how to apply.
Arlene Kuhner Memorial Scholarship
Deadline: February 15, 2021
Description
The University of Alaska offers financial assistance in the name of Dr. Arlene Kuhner for tuition and other related educational expenses to University of Alaska Anchorage students who have a declared major in English.
Criteria & Contact Information
Applicants should meet the following requirements to be considered:
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must demonstrate academic excellence;
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must be in good academic standing with at least a cumulative GPA of 3.0;
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must be a student attending the University of Alaska Anchorage;
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must have a declared major in English;
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must take a minimum of six credits per semester;
In the event that two or more students are equally qualified for the scholarship, the scholarship will be awarded to the student with the most financial need.
To learn more about this scholarship, please CLICK HERE.
See this link on how to apply.