Scholarship Opportunities for American Indian Students
American Indian College Fund Scholarships
Amount: Varies
Requirements: American Indian College Fund provides scholarship support to each tribal college and university and administers several scholarship programs to American Indian and Alaska Native undergraduate and graduates students attending tribal colleges and state and private universities.
Deadline: Tribal College and University Scholarship Deadline: Contact your financial aid office at your tribal college. Full Circle Scholarship Deadline: May 31, 2016
American Indian Education Foundation Scholarships
Amount: Varies
Requirements: Undergraduates students must be of American Indian or Alaska Native descent (student or one parent must be enrolled and have documentation) and be enrolled full-time in an accredited 2 or 4 year college/university or technical/vocational school. Graduate students must be of American Indian or Alaska Native descent and attending an accredited graduate school (online college is not applicable).
Deadline: April 4, 2016
American Indian Graduate Center Wells Fargo Undergraduate Scholarships
Amount: Varies
Requirements: This scholarship is funded by Wells Fargo and administered by American Indian Graduate Center. To be considered an applicant must be enrolled in a federally recognized tribe and be a junior or senior pursuing a career and degree in fields related to banking, resort management, gaming operations, management and administration, including accounting, finance, information technology and human resources.
Deadline: Ongoing
American Indian Graduate Center Graduate Fellowships
Amount: Varies
Requirements: Pursuing a master's or doctoral degree as a full-time student at an accredited U.S. graduate School; demonstrate financial need; and be an enrolled member of a federally recognized American Indian tribe or Alaska Native group, or be able to demonstrate ancestry of 1/4 degree Indian blood.
Deadline: Ongoing
American Indian Services Scholarships
Amount: Varies
Requirements: Enrolled in a university, college, junior college or technical school (1/4) Northern-Native American Indian Blood. Undergraduate student with no more than 150 semester credits or 210 quarter credits. Full-time or part-time status - excluding non-credit courses. Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.25
Deadline: Ongoing
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
Amount: $1000-$5000
Requirements: An underrepresented minority in the accounting profession (including but not limited to: Black or African American; Hispanic or Latino; Native American; Pacific Islander; or Asian American); Enrolled as a full-time undergraduate or a full-time graduate level student pursuing a degree in an “accounting-related” major.
Deadline: The 2016-2017 scholarship applications will be open in late December 2015/early January 2016. Applications due by April 1, 2016.
Association on American Indian Affairs, Inc. Scholarship Program
Amount: Varies
Requirements: Student must be enrolled in a tribe from the Continental US or Alaska. There is no minimum blood quantum requirement. Student must be enrolled full time both fall 2015 and spring 2016 at an accredited institution of higher learning.
Deadline: Deadline to be announced on March 1, 2016 for information about the 2016-2017 school year.
ColoHealth "Healthcare in America" Scholarship
Amount: $500
Requirements: Essay contest for high school seniors or students enrolled full time in at least a 2-yr institution. Essay submissions must be at least 500 words. Please see website for submission details. Scholarship will be awarded bi-annually.
Deadline: June 30, 2016
Council of Energy Resource Tribes (CERT) Scholarships
Amount: Varies
Requirements: The CERT Scholarship Program was created to meet the unforeseen need of today’s American Indian college students. CERT Scholarships may be used for books, living expenses, clothing, or other similar needs to assist students in defraying the high costs of education. The award is a gift from the Council of Energy Resource Tribes and should not be counted toward any financial aid the student is currently receiving. A CERT Scholarship is not based on financial need.
Deadline: September 15, 2015 and February 15, 2016
Continental Society Daughters of Indian Wars Scholarships
Amount: $5000
Requirements: Open to Native American, certified tribal members with plans to work on a reservation. Must be an undergraduate junior or senior accepted to or already attending an accredited college/university, be carrying at least eight semester hours, and have a minimum 3.0 GPA. Must be US citizen and demonstrate financial need.
Deadline: June 15, 2016
Amount: Varies
Requirements: The Newberry Library offers several long- and short-term fellowships to American Indian graduate student scholars pursuing research at the Newberry in order to improve the quality of what is written about American Indians and indigenous peoples; educate teachers about American Indian and indigenous cultures, histories, and literatures; and assist American Indian tribal and indigenous historians in their research.
Deadline:
Long-Term Fellowship: December 1, 2015
Short-Term Fellowship: January 15, 2016
Frances Crawford Marvin American Indian Scholarship
Amount: $4,000
Requirements: The American Indians Committee of the Daughters of the American Revolution awards this scholarship to Native Americans and is intended to help Native American students of any age, any tribe and in any state striving to get an education. All awards are judged based on financial need and academic achievement. Graduate students are eligible; however, undergraduate students are given preference.
Deadline: February 15, 2016
Holland & Knight Charitable Foundation, Inc. - Young Native Writers Essay Contest
Amount: $2500 college scholarship and participate in the Washington, DC Scholars' Week
Requirements: Students are asked to write about one or more of the cultural images, symbols or art forms that have been historically developed by their community (American Indian, Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian) to communicate a particular message or value or serve a specific purpose. Essays are to be 1,200 words or less and should cover the following: describe the image(s), symbol(s) or art forms selected; explain how it was originally developed or used by the community; reflect on the student's own experience about it, including thoughts and feelings; and suggest why or how it is still relevant today.
Deadline: April 15, 2016
Indian Health Services Health Professionals Scholarship Program
Amount: Varies
Requirements: Enrolled in a federally recognized tribe Preparatory scholarship can be 1st or 2nd degree descendant of a tribal member (see application) 2.0 GPA or higher Pursuing a degree in a health related profession OR a junior or senior in college planning to get a masters in social work or physical therapy Service obligation upon completion
Deadline: March 28, 2016
International Order of the King's Daughters and Sons North Indian Scholarship Program
Amount: $650
Requirements: No restriction as to Tribal affiliation or Indian blood quantum. The student must provide a Tribal Registration number and fulfill the other requirements. The scholarships are given for technical, vocational or college studies but not granted for studies beyond a Bachelors degree.
Deadline: March 1, 2016
Intertribal Timber Council Truman D. Picard Scholarship Program
Amount: Up to $2,500
Requirements: The Truman D. Picard Scholarship Program is dedicated to the support of Native American students pursuing a higher education in Natural Resources.
Deadline: The 2015 scholarship deadline date was January 16, 2015. Check back with information regarding the 2016 Scholarship.
Morris K. Udall Foundation Scholarship
Amount: Up to $5,000
Requirements: The Udall Foundation awards scholarships to American Indian and Alaska Native college sophomores and juniors for leadership, public service, and commitment to issues related to American Indian nations or to the environment.
Deadline: March 4, 2016
Native American Journalist Association Scholarship
Amount: $500 to $3,000
Requirements: Any Native American graduating high school senior or college student pursuing a career in media is eligible. All student applicants must be current NAJA members in good standing. Annual memberships cost $10 for high school students and $20 for college students.
Deadline: April 30, 2016
Native American Political Leadership Program
Amount: Tuition, housing, transportation
Requirements: The Native American Political Leadership Program at George Washington University is a full scholarship for Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian undergraduate and graduates students who want to take part in Semester in Washington Politics. Scholarship includes tuition and fees for 6 credit hours of undergraduate work, housing, books, transportation to and from Washington, and a stipend.
Deadline: November 1, 2015 and March 1, 2016
Native Vision Johns Hopkins School of Public Health Scholarship
Amount: $5000
Requirements: Native Vision gives scholarships to outstanding American Indian students with a commitment to education, athletics and leadership. Eligibility Candidates must: 1. Be an enrolled member of a federally recognized tribe; 2. Demonstrate a sustained involvement in the community and an applied concern for American Indian issues and initiatives; 3. Maintain a grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 at the time of application; 4. Demonstrate involvement in extracurricular and/or athletic activities; 5. Be admitted to an accredited community college or four year undergraduate.
Deadline: May 4, 2016
National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development Scholarships
Amount: Varies
Requirements: Applicants must be an enrolled member of a federally recognized tribe and majoring in a business filed. Students must be a junior, senior or graduate student and enrolled full time at an accredited university.
Deadline: September 5, 2015
National Native American Youth Initiative
Amount: Lodging, meals and travel expenses
Requirements: The National Native American Youth Initiative is an intense enrichment program funded by the Office of Minority Health and the National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities. NNAYI is designed to better prepare American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) high school students ages 16-18 to remain in the academic pipeline and pursue a career in the health professions and//or biomedical research.
Deadline: April 17, 2016
Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science Scholarships
Amount: Travel, lodging and registration
Requirements: The Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) funds travel scholarships to attend the SACNAS National Conference. SACNAS is a society of scientists dedicated to fostering the success of Chicano/Hispanic and Native American scientists – from college students to professionals – to attain advanced degrees, careers, and positions of leadership in science.
Deadline: Spring notifications have been sent. Summer Application Period: June 29-July 24
Society for American Archaeology Native American Scholarships
Amount: $5,000-$10,000
Requirements: The Native American Scholarships Fund is an endowment established to foster a sense of shared purpose and positive interaction between archaeologists and Native Americans. The Native American Scholarships Fund is an endowment established to foster a sense of shared purpose and positive interaction between archaeologists and Native Americans. Scholarships are open to all Native peoples from anywhere in the Americas, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and Indigenous Pacific Islanders
Deadline: December 14, 2016
United South and Eastern Tribes, Inc. Scholarships
Amount: $750-$1000
Requirements: Scholarship monies are awarded to USET area Indian undergraduate and graduate students who are enrolled members of one of the twenty-six USET member Tribes. Students must be in satisfactory standing and demonstrate a need for financial assistance.
Deadline: April 30, 2016
Washington Internship for Native Students
Amount: Tuition, lodging, travel and meals
Requirements: American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian (AI/AN/NH), and other students enrolled in a college or university as a sophomore, junior, senior, or graduate student in good academic standing are eligible to participate in the WINS program. Sophomores must have completed the equivalent of three (3) semesters of full time study to be eligible to participate in the program.
Deadline: Fall: First Friday in June, Spring: First Friday in October. Summer: First Friday in February
Fellowships and Internships
Morris K. Udall Congressional Internship Program
National Congress of American Indians Fellowship/Internships
Presidential Management Fellowship
Washington Internships for Native Students
Financial Assistance
Montana American Indian Tuition Waiver Flyer(.pdf)