Minnesota Indian Scholarship

 

If you have questions about this program, please contact the staff member listed on this page via email. If a staff member is not listed, please email financialaid.ohe@state.mn.us and provide a detailed description of your question.

Minnesota Indian Scholarship Program provides postsecondary financial assistance to eligible Minnesota resident students who demonstrate financial need for an award.

Who is Eligible?

Scholarships are available to students who:

• Are one-fourth or more American Indian ancestry OR an enrolled member or citizen of a federally-recognized American Indian tribe or Canadian First Nation
• Are a Minnesota resident
• Apply for other existing state and federal scholarship and grant programs
• Enroll at least ¾ time as an undergraduate OR ½ time as a graduate student in an education program leading to a certificate, diploma, or degree at an accredited postsecondary institution in Minnesota
• Meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
• Are not in default on a federal or state student loan or, if in default, have regained eligibility for federal or state student aid
• Qualify for either a Pell or State Grant and demonstrate financial need as an undergraduate student OR demonstrate financial need as a graduate student.

How Much Money Can You Get?

The annual award amount is up to $4,000 per academic year for undergraduate students and up to $6,000 per academic year for graduate students.

• Students enrolled in two-year degree, certificate, or diploma programs are limited to 3 annual awards or the equivalent.
• Students enrolled in four-year degree programs are limited to 5 annual awards or the equivalent.
• Students enrolled in graduate or professional degree programs are limited to 5 annual awards or the equivalent.

An annual award may include one eligible summer term, which will count towards the equivalent annual maximums.

Students may receive up to 10 annual awards or the equivalent in a lifetime (5 awards at undergraduate level + 5 awards at graduate level).

Students may receive the scholarship for only one degree per educational level and one terminal graduate degree.

What Is the Application Process?

Interested students should complete the Minnesota Indian Scholarship application below. They should also complete the FAFSA or MN Dream Act application and an application for tribal education funds.

Apply Online Now:

• MISP Online Student Application
• Creating a MNAid Student Portal Account/Applying for MISP
• Uploading Ancestry Documents
• Download 2024-2025 Indian Scholarship Application

Students are encouraged to contact the school financial aid administrator at their campus and their tribal education program (see list below). The priority deadline is July 1. Information and application forms also are available from:

Minnesota Indian Scholarship Program
Minnesota Office of Higher Education
1450 Energy Park Drive, Suite 350
St. Paul, MN 55108
Tel: (651) 642-0567 or (800) 657-3866
Fax: (651) 642-0675

Lara Gerhardson, Outreach Liaison
Tel: (651) 259-3939
E-mail: Lara.Gerhardson@state.mn.us

Tribal Education and Scholarship Programs

Bois Forte Reservation
5344 Lakeshore Dr. (Mailing Address)
Nett Lake, MN 55772
Tel: (218) 757-3261 or (800) 221-8129

Fond du Lac Tribal Center
1720 Big Lake Road
Cloquet, MN 55720
Tel: (218) 878-2681 or (800) 365-1613

Grand Portage Reservation
P.O. Box 428
Grand Portage, MN 55605
Tel: (218) 475-2812

Leech Lake Scholarship Office
190 Sailstar Dr. NW
Cass Lake, MN 56633
Tel: (218) 335-8253 or (866) 638-7738

Lower Sioux Community
P.O. Box 308
Morton, MN 56270
Tel: (507) 697-6185 ext 2600

Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Scholarship Office
43408 Oodena Drive
Onamia, MN 56359
Tel: (320) 532-4695 or (800) 709-6445

Prairie Island Indian Community
5636 Sturgeon Lake Road
Welch, MN 55089
Tel: (651) 385-4132

Red Lake Nation
P.O. Box 416
Redby, MN 56670
Tel: (218) 679-3350 or (888) 404-0686

Shakopee Sioux Mdewakanton Community
2330 Sioux Trail NW
Prior Lake, MN 55372
Tel: (952) 445-8900

Upper Sioux Community
P.O. Box 147
Granite Falls, MN 56241
Tel: (320) 564-3853

White Earth Nation
P.O. Box 418
White Earth, MN 56591
Tel: (218) 983-3285 or (800) 950-3248

 

Map of Tribal Scholarship Contacts

 

 

Other Scholarships/Grants/Resources for American Indian Students

 

• Native American Scholarship Database
• Minnesota American Indian Scholars Program
• Augsburg American Indian Recognition Full Tuition Scholarship 
• American Indian College Fund
• Cobell Scholarship Program
• Ethel Curry American Indian Leadership Scholarship at the Minnesota Department of Education
• Maureen L. and Howard N. Blitman, P.E., Scholarship to Promote Diversity in Engineering
• Minneapolis American Indian Center
• Native Forward Scholars Fund
• Indian Health Service Scholarship Program