Resources for Native Students

New Mexico State University Indian Resources Development

This booklet prepared by the New Mexico State University Indian Resources Development lists sources of financial aid for Native American college students and potential college students. It does not list every source, but it can be a beginning point in the search for funds, which will finance your education. https://ird.nmsu.edu/documents/2022-Sources-of-Financial-Aid-ST-1209222.pdf

American Indian Student Services UNM

The AISS at UNM provides tribal and private scholarship information for American Indian students. Please visit: https://aiss.unm.edu/scholarshipsfinancial-aid/getting-started.html

National Indian Education Association

The National Indian Education Association advances comprehensive, culture-based educational opportunities for American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians. https://www.niea.org/scholarship-opportunities

Scholarships for Native Students

American Indian College Fund
Eligibility: Any Native American U.S. citizen that is a member or descendant of a state or federally recognized tribe with at least a 2.0 grade point average, and enrolled as a full-time student can apply for a scholarship. For more information: https://collegefund.org/students/scholarships/The American Indian College Fund provides scholarships to American Indian and Alaska Native college students seeking undergraduate and graduate degrees at tribal colleges, nonprofit, and accredited schools.
American Indian Education Fund
The mission of our Scholarship service is to give more American Indians and Alaskan Natives the resources and encouragement they need to learn and succeed. By harnessing the power of knowledge, these future leaders can bring about positive changes in their own lives and in their communities. For more information visit: http://www.nativepartnership.org/site/PageServer?pagename=aief_services_scholarships
American Indian Services
The AIS Scholarship program is to help undergraduate Native American students with financial support to attend college, maintain enrollment, and graduate. Scholarship Awards are based on up to one-half of tuition and need for the term the student is applying for and are allocated directly to the school for the student. Students will need to have their own email account in order to apply. https://www.americanindianservices.org/scholarships
Cobell Scholarship
Providing elevated opportunities for high achieving, community involved Native college students with leadership experience through empowering them with an impactful scholarship experience designed to support their success in higher education. https://cobellscholar.org/
Daughters of the American Revolution
The DAR, founded in 1890 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., is a non-profit, non-political volunteer women's service organization dedicated to promoting patriotism, preserving American history, and securing America's future through better education for children. https://www.dar.org/national-society/scholarships/american-indian
Eight Northern Indian Pueblos Council, Adult Vocational Training Program (AVT) & Higher Education Scholarships

Contact Jolene Nelson Higher Education Interim Director 505-747-1599 Work 505-901-3506  jnelson@enipc.org

The Eight Northern Indian Pueblos Council Inc., Adult Vocational Training (AVT) program provides financial assistance to eligible Native American adults attending an accredited higher education institution working towards a Certificate or Associate's Degree.

  • Applicants must be a Native American adult enrolled in one of the following Pueblos: Tesuque, Pojoaque, Nambe, San Ildefonso, or Picuris. Applicants shall prove enrollment by providing ENIPC Inc., with a copy of his/her Certificate of Indian Blood or a letter from the tribe's enrollment official stating that the applicant is enrolled with the pueblo.
  • Applicants must be in need of training in order to obtain reasonable and satisfactory employment or are underemployed or unemployed.
  • The following program guidelines will be used to determine eligibility:
  • Applicants must not have already earned a Certificate, an Associates, Bachelors, Masters, or Doctoral Degree.
  • Applicants currently working full-time must be earning less than $10/hour. Applicants earning over$10/hour for purposes of this program, shall be determined as already having satisfactory employment and shall not be eligible for program benefits.
  • Applicants working part-time but desiring a full-time position shall be considered underemployed and shall be eligible for program benefits.
  • Applicants must be enrolled as a full-time student at an accredited higher education institution working towards a Certificate or an Associate Degree Program. Students working towards a Bachelor's Degree are not eligible and will be referred to ENIPC's Higher Education Program.
  • Applicants must demonstrate a financial need.
  • Only those applicants who willingly declare intent to accept full-time employment as soon as possible after completion of training shall be selected. The intent of the training program is to assist in the preparation for employment. The program is not meant to serve as a preliminary to immediate further education.
  • The Eight Northern Indian Pueblos Council Inc., Higher Education Scholarship is a federal funding administered by ENIPC for three (3) of the eight northern pueblos. Students applying for this scholarship must be a tribal-enrolled member of either: Picuris Pueblo, Pojoaque Pueblo, or Tesuque Pueblo. Students must also be enrolled full-time and be an undergraduate.
  • The deadline date to turn in your application for the FALL and SPRING Semesters is the last Thursday in July by 5:00 pm (Postmarked, Emailed, Faxed, or Hand-delivered due by 5:00 pm)
Intertribal Agriculture Council (IAC) Scholarship Program
  • Up to 24 recipients will receive a $2,000 scholarship (receiving $1,000 in the fall semester and $1,000 in the spring semester)
  • Preference will be given to full-time, undergraduate students; part-time and/or graduate students will be considered after full-time, undergraduate students.
  • Preference in degree path is given to students pursuing a degree in Agriculture, Agriculture Business, Agriculture Education, Agriculture Engineering, Animal Science, Environmental Management, Horticulture, Natural Resource Management, Range Management, Soil Science, Veterinary Medicine, or other related fields of food or agricultural study. Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.25. More information at https://www.indianag.org/youth
Native Forward Scholars Fund

We provide financial support for American Indians and Alaska Natives seeking higher education and support them in obtaining undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees. We partner with Tribes, the federal government, foundations, corporations, and individuals to ensure the growth and sustainability of scholarships. https://www.nativeforward.org/

Native Fish and Wildlife Society (NAFWS) Scholarship
The Native American Fish and Wildlife Society (NAFWS) received funds to allocate for the NAFWS Scholarship. Their goal is to help Native American and/or Alaskan Native students pursue their career and educational goals in the field of natural resources by providing financial assistance. 
Chaffin Luhana Anti-Distracted Driving Scholarship - HS/UG
They must be registered at an accredited high school, college or university in the Us; Applicant must currently be going into of in final year of high school or enrolled as an undergraduate student; Applicant must be under the age of 25 as of August 31, 2024; Scholarship money must be toward student housing, books, or tuition.
In memory of Chuck Platt Scholarship
This scholarship was established in memory of Chuck Platt, co-founder and longtime Treasurer of The Lincoln Forum, and sponsor of its annual Platt Family Lincoln Essay Contest for college students.  Designed for full-time, undergraduate students in an American college or university, recipients are chosen by the Scholarship Committee of The Lincoln Forum based on their submitted essay. Essay’s topics are chosen each year by this committee.  The first-place winner has the opportunity to attend the annual symposium of The Lincoln Forum in Gettysburg, PA in November.