Background:

Washington State University (WSU) received funding from the State of Washington, under the sponsorship of Representative Debra LeKanoff, to create a Native American Scholarship program for students belonging to federally recognized Tribes. This program is being developed in consultation with regional Tribes and will be implemented during fiscal year 2024 and 2025. The scholarships will be distributed to eligible students based on the guidelines and priorities outlined in this document, beginning in the 2023-2024 academic year. Recipients can use the scholarship to help cover the unmet financial cost of attendance, including tuition, housing, books, fees, and other related expenses, subject to available funds.

Who is Eligible?

Washington State residents and non-residents who are Enrolled members of Federally Recognized Tribes in Washington and MOU Federally Recognized tribes whose traditional homelands are in Washington State have Student Group 1 eligibility. Further, Washington State residents who are enrolled in a federally recognized Tribe that are not listed in Student Group 1 category have Student Group 2 eligibility. In addition to being in one on the previously mentioned groups, students must also meet the following criteria listed below.

Criteria for Eligibility:

1. Applicants must be either current undergraduate students at Washington State University (WSU) or newly admitted students seeking their first degree at the university.
2. Applicants must be enrolled members of a federally recognized Native American, American Indian, and/or Alaska Native tribe, falling into one of the two groups mentioned below.
3. Applicants must provide documentation certifying their tribal enrollment.
4. Applicants must file a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) or a WASFA (Washington Application for State Financial Aid) application.
5. To remain eligible for the scholarship, applicants must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), which requires a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 as per state requirements.
6. Applicants must be enrolled in at least half-time status.
7. Eligible students can receive the award for a maximum of 125 percent of the time required to complete their degree or five years, whichever comes first.
8. The scholarship award cannot exceed the resident cost of attendance and will be granted after considering all other financial aid sources, including scholarships, grants, tribal funding, and other forms of aid, except for loans.

How to Apply: Please complete this form, and be prepared to upload proof of tribal enrollment. Priority deadline is July 15, 2023. After that date, we will continue to award as long as funds are available

Maintaining Eligibility: To maintain eligibility, students must also adhere to the following requirements:

• Attend a scholarship orientation with WSU’s Office of Native American Programs by the end of the first semester of receiving the award.
• Meet with their assigned mentor at least once a semester, either a one-on-one mentoring meeting or a group-based mentoring activity provided by your mentor.
• If any student does not meet these requirements, the student will be placed on scholarship probation during the following semester and will need to develop a plan with their assigned Native American programs mentor to maintain eligibility.

Student Group 1: Washington State residents and non-residents who are Enrolled members of Federally Recognized Tribes in Washington and MOU Federally Recognized tribes whose traditional homelands are in Washington State have Group 1 eligibility if they meet the prior stated criteria.

List of Group 1 Tribes: (*Indicates MOU Signatory Tribes) 

Washington Tribes 

• Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation *
• Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation
• Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation *
• Cowlitz Indian Tribe *
• Hoh Indian Tribe
• Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe
• Kalispel Tribe of Indians *
• Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe
• Lummi Nation
• Makah Tribe
• Muckleshoot Indian Tribe
• Nisqually Indian Tribe
• Nooksack Indian Tribe
• Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe
• Puyallup Tribe of Indians
• Quileute Tribe
• Quinault Indian Nation *
• Samish Indian Nation
• Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe
• Shoalwater Bay Tribe
• Skokomish Indian Tribe
• Snoqualmie Tribe
• Spokane Tribe of Indians *
• Squaxin Island Tribe
• Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians
• Suquamish Tribe
• Swinomish Indian Tribal Community *
• Tulalip Tribes
• Upper Skagit Tribe

Idaho Tribes 

• Coeur d’Alene Tribe *
• Kootenai Tribes of Idaho *
• Nez Perce Tribe *

Oregon Tribes 

• Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation *
• Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation *

Montana Tribes 

• Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation * 

Student Group 2: Washington State residents who are enrolled in a federally recognized Tribe that are not listed in Group 1 category have Group 2 eligibility if they meet the prior stated criteria.  

A complete list of all federally recognized tribes can be found by clicking here. 

If you have any additional questions, please contact Joelle Edwards at joelle.edwards@wsu.edu or 509-335-8677