American Indian Scholars Program
The American Indian Scholars Program was established in the 2023 Legislative Session. This program provides a first-dollar tuition and fee-free pathway for Minnesotans eligible for resident tuition who are enrolled members or citizens of any federally recognized tribe or Canadian First Nation to attend a Minnesota State institution or the University of Minnesota. Students not eligible for resident tuition who are enrolled members or citizens of a Minnesota Tribal Nation are also eligible for the program.
This program provides a first-dollar tuition and fee-free pathway for eligible students, which means that the full cost of tuition and fees is covered at eligible institutions.
Students must:
- Be either a:
- Minnesota resident who qualifies for resident tuition and an enrolled member or citizen of a federally recognized American Indian Tribe or Canadian First Nation; or
- Student who does not qualify for resident tuition but is an enrolled member or citizen of a Minnesota Tribal Nation.
- Be enrolled in an undergraduate certificate, diploma, or degree program at a Minnesota State institution or a campus of the University of Minnesota;
- Not have already obtained a bachelor’s degree;
- Not have been enrolled 12 full time semesters or the equivalent at the college-level; and
- Be meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements.
- Minnesota resident who qualifies for resident tuition and an enrolled member or citizen of a federally recognized American Indian Tribe or Canadian First Nation; or
Student eligibility is determined by the college. The Office of Higher Education is working with Minnesota State and the University of Minnesota on implementation of this program. We will update this page as often as possible as more information becomes available.
If you are a student at the University of Minnesota, information about the program is available on the campus websites below:
If you are a student at a Minnesota State campus, information about the program is available on the websites below:
- Alexandria Technical and Community College
- Anoka Technical College
- Anoka Ramsey Community College
- Bemidji State University
- Central Lakes College
- Century College
- Dakota County Technical College
- Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College
- Hennepin Technical College
- Inver Hills Community College
- Lake Superior College
- Metropolitan State University
- Minneapolis Community and Technical College
- Minnesota North College
- Minnesota State College Southeast
- Minnesota State Community and Technical College
- Minnesota State University Mankato
- Minnesota State University Moorhead
- Minnesota West Community and Technical College
- Normandale Community College
- North Hennepin Community College
- Northland Community and Technical College
- Northwest Technical College
- Pine Technical and Community College
- Ridgewater College
- Riverland Community College
- Rochester Community and Technical College
- Saint Paul College
- South Central College
- Southwest Minnesota State University
- St. Cloud State University
- St. Cloud Technical and Community College
- Winona State University