Scholarships for Native American Students

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Closing in 4 Days
$5,000
25 Award Winners

Milliman Opportunity Scholarship

Milliman Inc. offers the Milliman Opportunity Scholarship of $5,000 to undergraduate students of an ethnic minority to study actuarial science, data science, mathematics, computer science, statistics, finance, economics, or programming.

Eligible Grades
High School Graduate – Undergraduate
Application Open Date
March 1, 2025
Application Deadline
April 29, 2025
Closing in 4 Days
$5,000
25 Award Winners
Closing in 5 Days
$5,000–$10,000
3 Award Winners

AISES Intel Growing The Legacy Scholarship Program

Intel awards the AISES Intel Growing The Legacy Scholarship to support students with scholarships ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Eligible Grades
Undergraduate – Doctorate
Application Open Date
December 15, 2024
Application Deadline
April 30, 2025
Closing in 5 Days
$5,000–$10,000
3 Award Winners
Closing in 5 Days
$5,000
1 Award Winner

ACS Scholars Program

The American Chemical Society offers the ACS Scholars Program of $5,000 to full-time undergraduate minority students in need pursuing a degree in the chemical sciences.

Eligible Grades
College Freshman – College Junior
Application Open Date
January 1, 2025
Application Deadline
April 30, 2025
Closing in 5 Days
$5,000
1 Award Winner
Closing in 5 Days
$5,000
18 Award Winners

AISES Chevron Scholarship

The Scholarship is awarded to students who belong to the American Indian, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, First Nations, and other indigenous communities of North America to further their STEM education.

Eligible Grades
College Freshman – Postgraduate
Application Open Date
December 15, 2024
Application Deadline
April 30, 2025
Closing in 5 Days
$5,000
18 Award Winners
Closing in 5 Days
$2,500–$5,000
15 Award Winners

AISES Aristocrat-VGT Scholarship

The American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES), in partnership with Aristocrat/VGT, offers the AISES Aristocrat Scholarship, ranging from $2,500 to $5,000, to undergraduate and graduate students pursuing a degree in a field related to casino gaming.

Eligible Grades
High School Senior – Postgraduate
Application Open Date
December 15, 2024
Application Deadline
April 30, 2025
Closing in 5 Days
$2,500–$5,000
15 Award Winners
Closing in 5 Days
$4,000
14 Award Winners

APSA Minority Fellowship Program

The American Political Science Association offers the APSA Diversity Fellowship Program of $5,000 to 14 graduate students from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups to pursue their doctorate degrees in political science.

Eligible Grades
Graduate
Application Open Date
January 1, 2025
Application Deadline
April 30, 2025
Closing in 5 Days
$4,000
14 Award Winners
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Closing in 5 Days
$2,750
1 Award Winner

William K. Schubert Minority Nursing Scholarship

William K. Schubert Minority Nursing Scholarship is an annual program to support students from underrepresented groups accepted or enrolled in a prelicensure registered nurse program.

Eligible Grades
Undergraduate
Application Open Date
February 1, 2025
Application Deadline
April 30, 2025
Closing in 5 Days
$2,750
1 Award Winner
Closing in 5 Days
$2,500
1 Award Winner

AISES 3M Scholarship

The AISES 3M Scholarship is for incoming college freshmen from American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, First Nations, and other indigenous communities of North America to enroll in a STEM-related degree.

Eligible Grades
High School Graduate – College Freshman
Application Open Date
December 15, 2024
Application Deadline
April 30, 2025
Closing in 5 Days
$2,500
1 Award Winner
Closing in 5 Days
$1,000
1 Award Winner

APA Judith McManus Price Scholarship

The American Planning Association (APA) provides the APA Judith McManus Price Scholarship of $1,000 to female and minority students to pursue careers as practicing planners in the public sector.

Eligible Grades
All
Application Open Date
January 1, 2025
Application Deadline
April 30, 2025
Closing in 5 Days
$1,000
1 Award Winner
Closing in 6 Days
$1,850
1 Award Winner

Kansas Ethnic Minority Scholarship

The Kansas Board of Regents offers the Kansas Ethnic Minority Scholarship of $1,850 to ethnic minority high school senior students in Kansas to pursue undergraduate degree programs of their choice.

Eligible Grades
High School Senior – High School Graduate
Application Open Date
January 1, 2025
Application Deadline
May 1, 2025
Closing in 6 Days
$1,850
1 Award Winner
Closing in 13 Days
$2,500
5 Award Winners

RICOH Scholarship Program

The scholarship awards brilliant students from the minority community keen on advancing their academic careers in certain disciplines while studying at HBCUs.

Eligible Grades
College Sophomore – College Junior
Application Open Date
March 1, 2025
Application Deadline
May 8, 2025
Closing in 13 Days
$2,500
5 Award Winners
Closing in 20 Days
$2,000
1 Award Winner

Illinois CPA Society Freshman Scholarships

The scholarships are awarded annually to brilliant minority students for their academic excellence to pursue a degree in accounting.

Eligible Grades
High School Senior – College Freshman
Application Open Date
January 1, 2025
Application Deadline
May 15, 2025
Closing in 20 Days
$2,000
1 Award Winner
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Closing in 25 Days
$750
1 Award Winner

Ohio News Media Foundation Minority Scholarship

The Scholarship, administered by Ohio Newspaper Association, offers one scholarship to the value of $750 to a high school senior majoring in journalism, advertising, marketing, or communications.

Eligible Grades
High School Senior
Application Open Date
August 1, 2024
Application Deadline
May 20, 2025
Closing in 25 Days
$750
1 Award Winner
Open
$2,500–$10,000
5 Award Winners

For A Bright Future Global Scholarship Program

Annually, college students in the United States apply for the For A Bright Future Global Scholarship to complete their degree programs. The scholarship is renewable.

Eligible Grades
High School Senior – Undergraduate
Application Open Date
February 1, 2025
Application Deadline
May 30, 2025
Open
$2,500–$10,000
5 Award Winners
Open
$3,500
2 Award Winners

The Leon Bradley Scholarship

The American Association of School Personnel Administrators (AASPA) offers the Leon Bradley Scholarship Program of $3,500 to two minority students of all levels pursuing teaching certificates in the U.S.

Eligible Grades
All
Application Open Date
January 1, 2025
Application Deadline
May 31, 2025
Open
$3,500
2 Award Winners
Open
$10,000
1 Award Winner

Funding the Future of Finance in Indian Country/Johnson Scholarship Foundation

Funding the Future of Finance in Indian Country (FFFIC) Scholarship Program offers Native American undergraduates pursuing a business, finance, or accounting degree a scholarship of $10,000 to continue their education.

Eligible Grades
Undergraduate
Application Open Date
January 1, 2025
Application Deadline
June 1, 2025
Open
$10,000
1 Award Winner
Open
$2,500–$5,000

Wells Fargo American Indian Scholarship

The Wells Fargo Scholarship for Undergraduates provides financial assistance to eligible Native American and Alaska Native undergraduate students pursuing degrees full-time at an accredited institution in any field of study.

Eligible Grades
College Junior – Postgraduate
Application Open Date
March 1, 2025
Application Deadline
June 1, 2025
Open
$2,500–$5,000
Open
$5,000–$20,000
2 Award Winners

Warner Norcross & Judd Law Scholarship

The scholarship, administered by Warner Norcross & Judd and Grand Rapids Community Foundation, is offered to a minority student enrolled at or pursuing a law degree at an accredited U.S. institution.

Eligible Grades
All
Application Open Date
January 1, 2025
Application Deadline
June 30, 2025
Open
$5,000–$20,000
2 Award Winners
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Open
$1,000
6 Award Winners

BLM² Scholarship

The BLM² Foundation awards $1,000 to six successful applicants to address the financial needs of minority students to pursue higher education at accredited colleges or universities across the U.S.

Eligible Grades
High School Senior
Application Open Date
January 16, 2025
Application Deadline
July 3, 2025
Open
$1,000
6 Award Winners
Open
$500–$2,500
1 Award Winner

Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana Scholarships

The Sovereign Nation of the Chitimacha offers the Chitimacha Scholarship to provide financial assistance to high school graduates from the Chitimacha tribe in Louisiana to continue their education.

Eligible Grades
High School Senior – High School Graduate
Application Open Date
October 1, 2024
Application Deadline
July 15, 2025
Open
$500–$2,500
1 Award Winner
Open
$2,000
1 Award Winner

Law School Diversity Scholarship Program

Buckfire Law firm annually offers the Law School Diversity Scholarship Program to support law school students belonging to minority groups or demonstrating a defined commitment to issues of diversity.

Eligible Grades
Undergraduate
Application Open Date
April 1, 2025
Application Deadline
October 1, 2025
Open
$2,000
1 Award Winner
Open
$500–$2,000
1,000 Award Winners

American Indian Services Scholarship

The AIS Scholarship Program offers $500-$2000 in scholarships to 1,000 students.

Eligible Grades
High School Graduate
Application Open Date
January 1, 2025
Application Deadline
November 1, 2025
Open
$500–$2,000
1,000 Award Winners
Opening in 6 Days
$4,000–$6,000
1 Award Winner

Minnesota Indian Scholarships

The Minnesota Office of Higher Education annually offers the Minnesota Indian Scholarships, ranging from $4,000 to $6,000, to Native American undergraduate and graduate students to further their education.

Eligible Grades
Undergraduate – Graduate
Application Open Date
May 1, 2025
Application Deadline
July 1, 2025
Opening in 6 Days
$4,000–$6,000
1 Award Winner
Opening in 20 Days
$2,500
3 Award Winners

Edna Yelland Minority Scholarship

The California Library Association offers $2,500 to three California minority graduate students pursuing a graduate degree program in library and information science at one of the ALA-accredited universities.

Eligible Grades
All
Application Open Date
May 15, 2025
Application Deadline
July 23, 2025
Opening in 20 Days
$2,500
3 Award Winners
Closed
$5,500
1 Award Winner

Foundation Education Award Scholarship

The Foundation of the Pennsylvania Medical Society offers the $5,500 Foundation Education Award Scholarship to underrepresented minority medical students who are Pennsylvania residents and enrolled at a Pennsylvania medical school.

Eligible Grades
Undergraduate
Application Open Date
July 1, 2024
Application Deadline
September 30, 2024
Closed
$5,500
1 Award Winner

About Native American scholarships

Native American students have several scholarships available to them. Some of these scholarships are offered by the federal government, while others are offered by individual tribes or organizations. The amount and type of scholarship vary, but all aim to help Native American students achieve their education goals.

Native Americans are the indigenous peoples of the United States, Canada, and Mexico. They are often divided into two groups: those who live on reservations (indigenous people) and those who do not (urban Indians). There are about 5 million Native Americans in the United States, making up about 2% of the population. Native American tribes include the Apache, Cherokee, Cheyenne, Chippewa, Choctaw, Comanche, Iroquois, Lakota Sioux, and Navajo Nation.

Native Americans are the indigenous peoples of the United States, Canada, and Mexico. They are often divided into two groups: those who live on reservations (indigenous people) and those who do not (urban Indians). There are about 5 million Native Americans in the United States, making up about 2% of the population. Native American tribes include the Apache, Cherokee, Cheyenne, Chippewa, Choctaw, Comanche, Iroquois, Lakota Sioux, and Navajo Nation.

Top 10 Scholarships for Native American Students

Cost of college for Native Americans

When it comes to the cost of college for Native American students in the United States, several factors come into play. Native Americans have long been underrepresented in higher education, and this is reflected in the high costs of tuition and other fees. The cost of college for Native Americans is typically higher than that for other students due to a variety of factors, including limited access to scholarships, financial aid, and grants. Additionally, many Native American students have difficulty meeting the requirements for traditional college entrance exams or may not have access to the resources necessary to apply for and receive admission into a four-year university.

To address these issues and provide better access to higher education opportunities for Native Americans, several organizations have developed initiatives and programs to help reduce the cost of college for Native American students. For example, Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) are supported by the federal government in order to provide access to higher education opportunities for Native Americans. Many tribal communities have established scholarships specifically designed for Native American students to assist with college expenses.

There are a number of schools that offer excellent opportunities for Native American students. The three schools with the lowest tuition rates are Haskell Indian Nations University, Sinte Gleska University, and United Tribes Technical College. All three universities offer degrees in a variety of fields and have programs specifically designed to help Native American students succeed.

Scholarships for Native American Women

According to the Postsecondary National Policy Institute (PNPI), Native Americans only make up 1% of the U.S. undergraduate and graduate student population. There are a number of factors that contribute to Native American students being left out of postsecondary education and one of these factors is the lack of available funding. The number of Native American women who are going to college, and getting higher-paying jobs or owning businesses is increasing more than ever before. Their success is helping to improve the lives of their communities and tribes.

Our database gives over 10 different scholarships that are available for Native American Women who wish to pursue a qualification in various fields. One of the best scholarships for Native American women is the Mission North The Future Is… Fellowship which offers $15,000 to a female college junior, sophomore, or senior who is studying for a degree toward a career in communications.

Scholarships for Native American High School Seniors

Many scholarship providers want applications from high school seniors who are taking their next steps and preparing for college. Our database gives over 27 different scholarships with a high school senior grade eligibility minimum for Native Americans. We advise you to begin by applying for scholarships that are specifically for Native American high school seniors and not just minority high school seniors.

Check out the NAYA-PSU Scholarship of $10,000, which calls for applications from Native American high school seniors who are residents in Oregon. You can also check out the Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana Scholarships of $2,500, where Louisiana residents are eligible to apply.

Tips for winning Native American scholarships

1. Research thoroughly to identify the available scholarships targeted at Native American students: There are numerous organizations and foundations that provide educational assistance to Indigenous Americans and other minority communities, so it is important to explore all options and opportunities that may be available. Additionally, many colleges, universities, and government agencies have dedicated resources for Native American students who are looking for financial support.

2. Submit your application as early as possible: Make sure that all the required documents are included in the submission package. Native American scholarships tend to be highly competitive, so it is important to get your application in quickly and double-check for any errors or omissions before submitting.

3. Provide a well-written and compelling essay: Ensure that it explains why you are a worthy candidate for the scholarship. Showcase your leadership skills, academic achievements, extracurricular activities, volunteer experience, and community involvement in order to make yourself stand out from other applicants.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if I'm eligible for Native American scholarships?

Native American is a very broad term and covers a lot of different identities, tribes, and people. Broadly speaking, Native American refers to any indigenous person from South-, Central- and North America. Most of the scholarships featured here refer to the indigenous people from the U.S. This includes independent nations or tribes such as the Navajo, Gabrielino/Tongva, Cherokee, Chippewa, and Sioux, to name a few. Native Americans from the U.S. are often referred to as American Indians and you will notice that some scholarships use this terminology while others use Native American or Native North American. It’s best to confirm your eligibility with the organizers before applying.

Where to find scholarships for Native American high school seniors?

Several private scholarship programs are available through various organizations that aim to preserve the history, culture, and community of Native Americans in the U.S. One of the best ways to find these scholarships is to join these organizations and become an active member. Not only will you have access to the scholarship, but you also will get to participate in preserving your heritage. With a wide array of scholarships available, different organizations, businesses and even the government provide plenty of resources for aspiring Native American students to realize their dreams and pursue higher education.

Are there STEM Scholarships for Native American students?

Unfortunately, our database does not give any STEM scholarships for Native American students specifically. But there are a number of STEM scholarships that you can apply to where you are still eligible.

Which scholarships should Native American students apply for in 2023?

Native American students should apply for all scholarships where they meet the requirements and not only for scholarships based on race or demographic eligibility.