Native American Scholarships for College Aspirants

I'm Native American and curious about what scholarship opportunities are out there for college. Does anyone have experience with applying to these scholarships or insight into which ones offer the most support?

First of all, it's great that you're looking for scholarships specific to your demographic. There are indeed numerous scholarships aimed at supporting Native American students pursuing higher education.

1. American Indian Graduate Center: This offers undergraduate scholarships for Native American students. It provides around $15 million in scholarships annually to undergraduate, graduate, and professional students.

2. The Indian Health Service Scholarship Program: This one is particularly interesting if you're looking at health-related fields. It's designed for American Indian and Alaska Native students who are pursuing careers in health sciences and committed to serving tribal communities after graduation.

3. Catching The Dream Scholarship: This is a scheme that aims to increase access to higher education for Native American students. They offer three different scholarships, each intended for students pursuing a specific field of study.

4. The Association on American Indian Affairs Displaced Homemaker Scholarship: This is open specifically to men and women who have worked in the home for a significant period and are in need of financial assistance to return to school after their source of support has disappeared.

5. American Indian Services Scholarship: To qualify for this one, students need to be one-quarter (1/4) Northern-Native American Indian and enrolled in undergraduate studies at a university, junior college, or technical school.

It's worth noting that many of these scholarships require proof of tribal affiliation and have different requirements regarding degree of Native American heritage, along with other standard scholarship eligibility criteria.

In addition to these, it would also be beneficial to look into scholarships offered by colleges that have strong support systems for Native American students. Some colleges may also have partnerships with certain tribes, and offer in-state tuition or even full-ride scholarships to members of that tribe.

Remember, your high school counselor is a good resource for this type of information as well, so don't hesitate to reach out to them for help in your scholarship search. And always be sure to start your applications early to give yourself the best chance of success. Good luck!