Tribal Programs
Higher Education GrantsNorth Dakota Tribal Education Programs
Three Affiliated Tribes
MHA Education Grant offers up to $4,500 per Fall/Spring semester, and up to $2,500 per Summer semester. Students must maintain a 2.0 GPA.
Deadliness:
- Fall October 15th
- Spring February 15th
- Summer June 15th
Helen Gough Scholarship awards $100-$500 scholarships for Three Affiliated Tribes members. Applicants must provide 3 letters of recommendation and proof of college acceptance.
Deadline: June 1
Helen Gough Scholarship Application
Higher Education Office
354 Main Street
New Town ND 58763
(701) 627-4112
Turtle Mountain
Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians
Tribal Scholarship Program requires students to be enrolled full-time, and maintain a 2.0 GPA.
Deadline: September 1st for the Academic Year
Spirit Lake Tribe
Spirit Lake Tribe Education Program
Tribal scholarship requires full-time enrollment, and a minimum 3.0 GPA.
Deadlines:
- November 1st for Fall Semester
- March 1st for Spring Semester
**Students must provide a new scholarship application for each semester**
Printable Tribal Scholarship Application
Helen Bergstrom Ernst Scholarship requires full-time enrollment, and a minimum 2.0 GPA
Deadline: last Friday of September each year
Standing Rock Sioux Tribe
Standing Rock Higher Education
Phone: (701) 854-8545
Need-based scholarship not to exceed $3,500 per semester. Students must have a 2.0 GPA to be eligible.
Deadlines:
- June 30th for Fall Semester
- November 30th for Spring Semester
- April 30th for Summer Semester
South Dakota Tribal Education Programs
Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe
Cheyenne River Education Services
Students must be enrolled full-time and maintain a 2.0 GPA.
**Students may not receive both the Higher Education Scholarship and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Scholarship
Deadlines:
- June 15th for Fall Semester
- November 15th for Spring Semester
- April 15th for Summer Semester
Lower Brule Sioux Tribe
Lower Brule Higher Education Grant Program
$3,000 per school year for all full-time students.
Students must be enrolled full-time and maintain a 2.0 GPA.
Deadlines:
- June 15th for Fall Semester
- November 15th for Spring Semester
Oglala Sioux Tribe
Deadlines:
- June 15th for Academic Year
- November 15th for Spring Semester only
- April 1st for Summer Semester
Rosebud Sioux Tribe
Rosebud Sioux Higher Education
Students must be full time. Minimum GPA of 1.5 for Freshmen, 2.0 for Sophomores, and 2.5 for Juniors and Seniors.
Deadlines:
- July 1st for academic year
- December 1st for Spring semester only
Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate
Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Higher Education
Students will be paid according to creid hours earned. Must pass the course with a grade of “C” or better to receive funding.
Deadlines:
- February 28th for Fall semester
- July 31st for Spring semester
- September 15th for Summer semester
Standing Rock Sioux Tribe
Standing Rock Higher Education
Phone: (701) 854-8545
Need-based scholarship not to exceed $3,500 per semester. Students must have a 2.0 GPA to be eligible.
Deadlines:
- June 30th for Fall Semester
- November 30th for Spring Semester
- April 30th for Summer Semester
Yankton Sioux Tribe
Yankton Sioux Higher Education
Must provide high school transcripts or a copy of diploma/GED. If attended college prior to applying, an official copy of transcripts must be sent directly to the Higher Education office. Students must maintain a GPA of 2.0 or above and remain in contact with the Higher Education office throughout the semester.
Deadlines:
- July 1st for academic year/Fall semester
- December 1st for spring semester
Regional Tribal Education Programs
AK - Association of Village Council Presidents
Education, Employment and Training
Must be an enrolled member of one of the AVCP compact tribes. Provides supplemental financial assistance to degree-seeking tribal members.
Deadlines:
- June 30th – Fall semester
- December 30th – Spring semester
AZ - Navajo Nation
Office of Navajo Nation Scholarship & Financial Assistance
Full or part time students may apply. Must provide applicaiton, CIB, letter of addmission, financial needs analysis, and transcripts.
Deadlines:
- June 25th – Fall semester (application opens March 15th)
- November 25th – Spring semester (application opens September 25th)
MT - Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes
Scholarship funds help for portions of the student’s budget costs that include tuition, fees, books, school supplies, and room & board. Students must maintain a 2.25 GPA.
Deadlines:
- Application due May 1, 2019
- File completion due August 1, 2019 for priority
If a student turns in an application after the May 1st deadline, it will be marked as late and kept on file. Funding is not guaranteed to late applications.
MT - Crow Nation
United Tribes students may apply for the AVT-Job Placement and Traning program. Funding max is $2,000 per semester, for programs that do not exceed 24-months in length. Students must be underemployed or unemployed to qualify for funding.
Deadlines:
- Application due May 1, 2019
- File completion due August 1, 2019 for priority
If a student turns in an application after the deadline, it will be placed on a waitlist. Funding is not guaranteed to late applications.
MT - Fort Peck Tribes
Assiniboine & Sioux Education Department
Returning and new students must provide a scholarship application, needs assessment form (to be completed by the financial aid office), and a copy of the most recent official transcript. New studens must also provide their CIB, copy of HS diploma or GED, and copy of acceptance letter from college.
MT - Northern Cheyenne Tribe
Cheyenne Nation Tribal Education
Deadlines:
- December 1st – Fall
- October 1st – Spring
- April 1st – Summer
NE - Ponca Tribe
Ponca Higher Education
Up to $1000 awarded to assist students in educational expenses. Students must provide an application, certificate of Indian blood, contract, financial needs form (to be filled out by the financial aid office), letter of admission, and transcripts.
Deadlines:
- August 15th – Fall semester
- December 15th – Spring semester
- May 15th – Summer semester
NE - Winnebago Tribe
Winnebago Tribe Higher Education
Applicants must have a 2.50 cumulative GPA or better; those who have not met the 2.50 GPA out of high school are placed on academic probation and must adhere to article
Deadlines:
- April 15th – Fall semester (application and CIB)
- July 15th – Fall semester (education plan, FNA, transcripts, letter of admission/class schedule)
- October 15th – Spring semester (application and CIB)
- November 15th – Spring semester (education plan, FNA, transcripts, letter of admission/class schedule)
WY - Northern Arapaho Sky People
Scholarship funds help for portions of the student’s budget costs that include tuition, fees, books, school supplies, and room & board. Students must maintain a 2.25 GPA.
Deadlines:
- June 1st for Fall semester and academic year
- November 15th for Spring semester
- April 15th for summer semester
Don't See Your Tribe?
We try to keep a current list of Higher Educaiton programs on our page, but we may not have yours listed! If you don’t see your tribe, please contact them to ask about higher education funding programs they offer. You can find your tribal contact information on the National Congress of American Indians tribal directory.