Minnesota Indian Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Minnesota Office of Higher Education

Minnesota Indian Scholarship — overview and key details

The Minnesota Indian Scholarship provides need-based financial assistance to eligible Minnesota residents who are American Indian. Awards are available up to $4,000 per academic year for undergraduate students and up to $6,000 per academic year for graduate students. A program fact sheet with additional details is available from the Minnesota Office of Higher Education.

Eligibility requirements

Applicants must meet all of the following:
- Be at least one-quarter American Indian by ancestry, or be an enrolled member/citizen of a federally recognized American Indian tribe or a Canadian First Nation.
- Be a Minnesota resident.
- Apply for other applicable state and federal scholarships and grant programs.
- Be enrolled at an eligible, accredited Minnesota postsecondary institution in a program leading to a certificate, diploma, or degree, and meet minimum enrollment intensity: at least ¾ time for undergraduates or at least ½ time for graduate students.
- Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) as defined by the institution.
- Not be in default on a federal or state student loan; if previously in default, have restored eligibility for federal or state student aid.
- Demonstrate financial need: undergraduate applicants must qualify for either a Federal Pell Grant or a Minnesota State Grant and show financial need; graduate applicants must demonstrate financial need.

Award amounts and enrollment limits

- Annual award maximums: up to $4,000 for undergraduates and up to $6,000 for graduate students.
- Two-year programs (certificate, diploma, or associate degree): eligibility for up to 3 annual awards (equivalent to 6 semesters or 8 quarters).
- Four-year bachelor’s degree programs: eligibility for up to 5 annual awards (equivalent to 10 semesters or 14 quarters). This 5-year limit includes any awards previously received while enrolled in shorter programs.
- Graduate or professional degree programs: eligibility for up to 5 annual awards (equivalent to 10 semesters or 14 quarters).
- An award may cover one qualifying summer term in a given year; that summer term counts toward the program’s annual/semester/quarter equivalencies.
- Lifetime limit: a student may receive no more than 10 annual awards in total — up to 5 at the undergraduate level plus up to 5 at the graduate level.
- Students may receive the scholarship for only one degree at each educational level and for only one terminal graduate degree.

If you need the official fact sheet or have specific questions about application procedures, deadlines, or documentation, contact the Minnesota Office of Higher Education or visit their website.