2 Ways to Find Financial Assistance for Native Americans Going to College
Posted on: 16 August 2021
Going to college can help you get ahead in life. There are certain careers in which you need to have a college degree in order to work. The problem most students face is that college can is really expensive. Even with grants, you may not be able to afford to go to college unless you can get scholarships and other financial resources to help you. If you are a Native American, there are financial resources that you can take advantage of that can help you specifically. How can you find those resources?
Eligibility
Before you start applying for anything, you are going to have to be able to prove that you are Native American and the degree of your Native American blood. You will also have to show that you are a member of one of the Federally recognized tribes. The way you can prove that you are a member of a tribe is to have a tribal official, elder, or other responsible person fill out an affidavit about your family history and your tribal membership. You can also show birth records. For the degree of your blood, the Bureau of Indian Affairs will have paperwork that you can fill out so that you can get a card that will provide the necessary documentation. Once you have all that information, you can start finding grants and scholarships to apply for.
Tribe
The first place you should check is with your tribe. Many tribes invest in their young people by providing them the financial assistance to go to college. You may have to meet certain requirements, such as coming back to the tribe and working for them for a certain amount of years, but it can be worth it to get some help with your college costs.
BIA
The BIA also provides some financial assistance to young people trying to get money to help them through college. They do this in a few ways. One of the ways that they can do this is to provide financial aid. You should start with your tribal leadership when you are applying for BIA assistance. Once you have done that, you can contact the local BIA about financial assistance. The BIA also financially supports a number of tribal-run community colleges that you may be qualified for.
Going to college and getting a degree can be an important milestone in anyone's life. It can also be a way for you to get a better job and to succeed. But getting into college and paying for college can be two separate issues, and you may need help in order to get your college paid for. Keep these tips in mind if you are looking for college grant programs for Native Americans.
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