Discover Funding Opportunities

The Native American Student Scholarship is available to students at North Dakota State University who are members of a state or federally recognized Native American tribe. This scholarship opportunity is designed to support Native American students who are meeting satisfactory academic progress toward a degree and who demonstrate financial need as determined by the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships. Applicants must demonstrate leadership at NDSU and must have completed at least one semester successfully at the university. The scholarship is administered through the Center for Community and Belonging and aims to promote educational access and success for Native American students pursuing higher education at NDSU.

The Native Student Scholarship is for undergraduate degree-seeking students who are enrolled members in one of Utah's federally recognized tribes and commits to meeting the student's tuition and mandatory fee charges not covered by scholarships and grants from all sources. This scholarship provides full coverage of tuition and mandatory fees for eligible Native American students attending the University of Utah. The scholarship is specifically designed for students who are enrolled members of Utah's federally recognized tribes, including the Confederated Tribes of the Goshute Reservation, Navajo Nation, Northwestern Band of Shoshoni Nation, Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah, San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, Skull Valley Band of Goshute Indians, Ute Indian Tribe of Uintah & Ouray Reservation, Ute Mountain Tribe, Hopi, Zuni, and Shoshone-Bannock. The scholarship is renewable for up to 8 semesters or terms, provided students maintain satisfactory academic progress toward degree completion. Students must be enrolled full-time (12+ units) in a degree-seeking program and must be Utah residents or non-residents who qualify for resident tuition. A completed FAFSA is required each year, though students do not need to demonstrate financial need.

The Beth N. Rom-Rymer Travel Scholarship for Native Psychology Students offers $1,000 to Native psychology graduate students to attend the annual Convention of the American Psychological Association. This scholarship is reserved for psychology students who are members of Society of Indian Psychologists (SIP). The program supports Native students pursuing graduate education in psychology by providing travel funding to attend the APA Convention, where students can present research, network with professionals, and engage with the broader psychology community. Preference is given to applicants who are planning to present at the conference, demonstrate financial need, and have not previously attended the conference.

The James N. Jarvis, MD Native American Indian Medical Student Scholarship is a scholarship opportunity offered through the University at Buffalo. This scholarship is specifically designated for medical students enrolled in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. The award supports Native American Indian students pursuing their medical education at the University at Buffalo, providing financial assistance to help them complete their medical degree.

The Roger S Smith Undergraduate Student Research Award in the Faculty of Native Studies is awarded to students with satisfactory academic standing entering the second or subsequent year of an undergraduate program in the Faculty of Native Studies. This award is specifically intended to cultivate and support research partnerships between undergraduate students and faculty members in SSHRC fundable disciplines. The funding provides support for 15 weeks of research-based activity from May to August. Students must not have completed degree requirements prior to the commencement of the research term, ensuring they are active undergraduate students during the research period.

The American Indian Services (AIS) College Scholarship program provides financial support to undergraduate Native American and Alaska Native students attending accredited colleges and universities in the United States. The scholarship is designed to help students maintain enrollment and graduate by addressing financial need. Awards are need-based and allocated directly to the student's school. The program offers two annual award cycles: the September Award for Fall semester (deadline July 1) and the January Award for Winter/Spring semester (deadline November 1). Applicants must be enrolled members of a U.S. Federally Recognized Tribe or direct descendants of base roll members, maintain a minimum 2.25 GPA after their first term, and complete the FAFSA. The scholarship supports undergraduate students pursuing their first bachelor's degree who are enrolled at least part-time (minimum 6 credits per term).

The Mark K. Ulmer Memorial Native American Scholarship Fund was established in memory of Mark K. Ulmer, a former attorney with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development who worked extensively with Native American programs. Following his untimely death in 1988, his family funded a scholarship to support Native American student athletes pursuing higher education. The Scholarship was an integral part of the All-West Native American Basketball Classic for over three decades, and the All-West Native American Youth Association has re-established a scholarship fund through The Denver Foundation that continues to honor Mark's legacy and provide financial support for Native American youth pursuing undergraduate degrees. The scholarship supports Native American student athletes who participate in the All-West Native American Basketball Classic during their senior year of high school and are enrolled members (or children of enrolled members) of federally-recognized tribes in states represented by the United Native American Housing Association, including Colorado, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming. Recipients are selected based on academic performance, vision for the future, essay quality, and commitment to their tribal community.

Established by William Weppner, BS EE '59, to honor the first dean of UB Engineering, Paul E. Mohn. The scholarship is for deserving undergraduate students in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences to help defray book costs with preference given to students of Native American descent. This scholarship provides $500 to support undergraduate engineering students, particularly those from Native American backgrounds, in covering educational expenses related to textbooks and course materials.

The Morris K. Udall and John S. McCain III Native American Graduate Fellowship in Tribal Policy recognizes outstanding Native American and Alaska Native graduate students who are currently pursuing graduate degrees in health care fields. This includes, but is not limited to, health administration, health education, public health, medical practice, policy, research, or related degrees. The fellowship is designed for students who have demonstrated a commitment to Native health care. This prestigious fellowship provides significant financial support to help Native American and Alaska Native students advance their graduate education in healthcare-related fields and contribute to improving health outcomes in tribal communities.

The American Indian College Fund provides scholarships to American Indian and Alaska Native college students who are enrolled in certificate, undergraduate, or graduate programs at tribal colleges and universities, or nonprofit, accredited schools. The College Fund manages a wide portfolio of scholarship programs, with TCU students eligible for all opportunities. Applicants only need to submit one application every year to be considered. The scholarship programs are available to high school students planning to pursue higher education, students at Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), and students at non-tribal accredited nonprofit colleges or universities in the U.S. Applications are available every year starting on February 1st in anticipation of the upcoming fall term, with a priority review deadline of May 31st for current college students.

The Morris K. Udall and John S. McCain III Native American Graduate Fellowship in Tribal Policy recognizes outstanding Native American and Alaska Native graduate students who are currently pursuing advanced degrees in health care fields. These fields include, but are not limited to, health administration, health education, public health, medical practice, policy, research, or related degrees. The fellowship is awarded to students who have demonstrated a commitment to Native health care and honors the legacies of Morris K. Udall and John S. McCain III. In 2026, the Udall Foundation anticipates awarding up to three Fellowships of $25,000 each. The 2026 Native American Graduate Fellowship runs from August 2026 to August 2027, providing financial support for one year to help Native American and Alaska Native graduate students advance their education in health care and tribal policy fields.

The IHS Scholarship Program provides qualified American Indian and Alaska Native health professions students an opportunity to establish an educational foundation for each stage of their pre-professional careers. Since IHS began providing scholarship support to American Indian and Alaska Native students to pursue health profession careers in 1978, the program has grown to support, educate and place health care professionals within medically underserved Indian health programs throughout the continental United States and Alaska. Nearly 7,000 American Indian and Alaska Native students have received scholarship awards and many have committed to serving their health profession careers at IHS, with some returning to serve their own Tribal communities. The scholarship program provides financial support in exchange for a minimum two-year service commitment within an Indian health program in the recipient's chosen health professional discipline. The program is designed for those who envision a career with a true purpose and mission in Indian health programs, serving communities where they can truly make a difference in healthcare delivery to American Indian and Alaska Native populations.

The Herman and Sharon Viegas Scholarship is available to Native American or Alaskan Native students who demonstrate financial need as determined by the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships. This scholarship provides financial support to eligible students pursuing degrees in STEM fields at North Dakota State University. The first preference for awarding this scholarship is to a student pursuing a major in mechanical engineering, with a second preference to a student pursuing a major in the STEM fields more broadly. Recipients are automatically considered based on their completed General Application through the NDSU Scholarship Application system.

The Indian Student Conference Scholarship provides two annual awards of $500 each to Native American students at the undergraduate, M.A., or Ph.D. level to help reduce the financial burden of attending the annual Western History Association conference. The scholarship aims to support Indigenous students pursuing studies in Western history and related fields. In addition to the $500 cash award, recipients receive comprehensive conference support including the cost of conference registration and tickets to multiple WHA events: the Welcoming Reception, Graduate Student Reception, Presidential Lunch, and Indian Scholars Luncheon. This comprehensive support package ensures that Native American students can fully participate in the conference and benefit from networking and professional development opportunities. The application process requires students to submit a letter of interest and CV in a single PDF file to the committee members, along with a letter of recommendation from their faculty advisor. The award cycle opens January 15 each year with a submission deadline of May 15, and recipients are notified by the end of August.

The Dr James Dempsey Resilience Award in Native Studies is awarded to a student who is a First Nation, Inuit, or Metis person of Canada in accordance with the Constitution Act, 1982, Part 2, Section 35(2) with satisfactory academic standing enrolled in any year of a Bachelor of Arts in Native Studies. Selection is based on academic standing and demonstrated financial need. Preference is given to students from Treaty 7. This award recognizes and supports Indigenous students pursuing education in Native Studies at the University of Alberta.

The Tribal Transportation Scholarship recognizes outstanding Native American students who will be enrolling at North Dakota State University with an interest in engineering, economics or agriculture. This scholarship supports junior and senior students who are enrolled members of a Federally Recognized Native American Tribe (FRNAT) and demonstrate the potential for academic excellence. The scholarship aims to foster educational advancement in fields critical to transportation, engineering, economics, and agriculture, with a focus on empowering Native American students to create positive changes in their communities and states. The award amount varies and is administered through the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute at NDSU.

The American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) provides scholarships to fund the STEM futures of American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and First Nations students. AISES recognizes education as a means of empowerment and personal growth, fostering the diversity Indigenous students bring to STEM landscapes. The organization provides financial aid to Indigenous students in STEM through scholarships funded by dedicated donors and partners. AISES scholarships help minimize the barriers of college and university affordability among Indigenous students so they can continue on their paths to education. Contrary to popular belief, college is not free for Indigenous students, and these scholarships address the overwhelming expense many Native American students face when leaving their home communities to pursue higher education. The program has awarded over $7 million in scholarships to students pursuing STEM degrees. The scholarship program operates through the Online Scholarship Application Information System (OASIS), which matches students with scholarships they qualify for based on their eligibility criteria. Various scholarships are available including the AISES Stellantis Scholarship ($20,000) for automotive service technician students and travel scholarships for the AISES National Conference.

The Mickey Witkoff Native American Art Scholarship was established to support Native American high school students in their pursuit of a career in the arts. This scholarship is available to students who graduated from high school in Northern Arizona and are pursuing undergraduate studies in art-related fields. The scholarship honors Mickey Witkoff's commitment to supporting indigenous students in developing their artistic talents and pursuing higher education in the arts. Applicants must submit an essay, a letter of recommendation, and a minimum of 2 pictures of their artwork as part of the application process. The scholarship aims to provide financial assistance to Native American students with a demonstrated interest and ability in the arts, helping them achieve their educational and career goals in creative fields.

The Cobell Scholarship Program is a comprehensive educational funding initiative honoring the legacy of Elouise 'Yellow Bird Woman' Cobell. The program offers a range of scholarships and fellowships to support undergraduate, graduate, vocational, and doctoral students who are enrolled members of U.S. Federally-recognized American Indian Tribes and Alaska Native Corporations. The program includes multiple scholarship types: Undergraduate Scholarships for students pursuing bachelor's or associate degrees, Graduate & Professional Scholarships for master's, doctoral, and professional degree students, Vocational & Trade School Scholarships for those pursuing diplomas, certificates, or AAS degrees, Summer Scholarships for degree-seeking students needing summer coursework, Graduate Summer Research Fellowships for students conducting summer research, and the Elouise Cobell Dissertation Writing-Year Fellowship for doctoral candidates within 12 months of completing their dissertation. All scholarships are merit-based following a thorough application and review process, with awards disbursed according to US Federal Student Aid standards. Recipients must attend nationally, regionally, or industry-accredited nonprofit public or private institutions and be enrolled in full-time study while pursuing a degree.

The Make It So Foundation scholarship was established in 1999 by donors who wish to remain anonymous. It is exclusively for Native American students returning to study for whom funding will bridge a financial gap that may otherwise prevent the student from continuing his or her studies at an accredited post-secondary institution in Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, or Utah. This need-based scholarship supports both undergraduate and graduate students who are enrolled full-time and need financial assistance to continue their education. The scholarship is designed to help Native American students overcome financial barriers and complete their post-secondary education at accredited institutions in the Four Corners region.