Good news for Oregon’s aspiring college students from tribal communities!
The state legislature sanctioned $19 million to fund the Tribal Student Grant program aimed at reducing financial barriers for Native Americans looking for a college education.
The program will cover most or all college-related expenses – including tuition, board, and books – for tribal students who attend an in-state college or university.
Communications director for the state Higher Education Coordinating Commission, Endi Hartigan, said that more than 400 people have started grant applications so far, adding that around 700 students are expected to take part in the 2022-23 academic year.
How to Apply
To apply, students need to be registered with one of the state’s nine federally recognized tribes. Then they have to submit the grant application along with the Federal Application For Student Aid or the Oregon Student Aid Application.
The Tribal Student Grant covers the difference between the cost of attending the school and the state or federal aid received by the student.
The measure follows a 2021 report revealing that the number of Native American high school graduates in Oregon attending college has declined in recent years.
“It’s definitely a big relief. It’s exciting to talk about, even just to think about,” 20-year-old Malumaleumu who recently filed her application told Oregon Live.