Why is college funding important? Well, going to college is a necessity for those who wish to compete in today’s competitive job market. Sometimes people don’t have the means to pay for their education though, in which case they require additional financial aid. Unfortunately, Native Americans in today’s society tend to belong to one of the most disadvantaged socioeconomic groups in the country. The data that was collected from the 2000 census showed that over 25% of American Indians are living below the poverty level. By contrast, the national percentage for those living below the poverty line was 12.5%. 

Because Native Americans are considered to a minority, there are plenty of minority scholarships and grants that will allow a Native American college student to attend a university or trade school. However, you may not be aware that there is college funding available that is directed toward and for Native Americans only. The American Indian College Fund is one of the oldest sources of college funding for Native Americans. Their primary purpose is to support students from different tribes who wish to attend college. This fund offers approximately 5,000 scholarships a year to Native American students. The Austin Family Scholarship Endowment is another scholarship program that offers financial aid to Native Americans.  

There are some Native Americans who obtain college funding to attend traditional four year universities or colleges. However, there are many Native American students who opt to attend tribal colleges. Tribal colleges have the same accredited status as traditional schools. The main difference is that there is an emphasis placed upon cultural knowledge in addition to the normal academic standards. Regardless of what school you choose to attend, it must be paid for. This is where grants and scholarships, like the Sovereign Nations Scholarship Fund, come into play. Almost 90% of Native American students who receive assistance in returning to school are non-traditional students. This means that the average Native American student is over 24, has children, works full time, or has any combination of these factors.  

Native American students are encouraged to fill out their FAFSA application just as any other college student would. If your family happens to fall into a low income bracket, there will be plenty of scholarship and grant opportunities to pay for your schooling. It will require hard work on your part to unearth and apply for these scholarships. However, college funding is available for those who have the desire to succeed.