Minnesota Indian Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Minnesota Office of Higher Education

Minnesota Indian Scholarship — quick guide

Purpose
- The Minnesota Indian Scholarship helps Minnesota resident American Indian students with financial need pay for college. Awards are up to $4,000 per year for undergraduates and up to $6,000 per year for graduate students. (See the Minnesota Indian Scholarship fact sheet for full details.)

Who is eligible
To be considered, students must meet all of the following:
- Be at least one-fourth American Indian ancestry, OR be an enrolled member or citizen of a federally recognized American Indian tribe or a Canadian First Nation.
- Be a Minnesota resident.
- Apply for other available state and federal scholarships and grants (you must pursue those other sources first).
- Enroll at least ¾ time if an undergraduate, or at least ½ time if a graduate student, in a program leading to a certificate, diploma, or degree at an eligible accredited postsecondary institution in Minnesota.
- Meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements.
- Not be in default on a federal or state student loan (or, if previously in default, have regained eligibility for federal/state student aid).
- Demonstrate financial need: undergraduates must qualify for either a Pell Grant or a State Grant and show financial need; graduate students must demonstrate financial need.

Award amounts and time limits
- Award size: up to $4,000 per academic year for undergraduates; up to $6,000 per academic year for graduate students.
- Summer term: an eligible summer term may be included in an annual award and counts toward the annual and program maximums.
- Time limits by program length:
- Two-year programs (certificate, diploma, or associate degree): limited to 3 annual awards (equivalent to 6 semesters or 8 quarters).
- Four-year bachelor’s programs: limited to 5 annual awards total (equivalent to 10 semesters or 14 quarters). This limit includes any awards you may have received while enrolled in shorter programs.
- Graduate/professional degree programs: limited to 5 annual awards (equivalent to 10 semesters or 14 quarters).
- Lifetime maximum: a student may receive up to 10 annual awards in total (typically 5 undergraduate awards + 5 graduate awards).
- Degree limitation: you may receive the scholarship for only one degree at each educational level and for one terminal graduate degree.

Important reminders (teacherly advice)
- Keep an eye on your enrollment level (¾ time undergrad, ½ time grad) and SAP status—losing eligibility on those grounds can stop awards.
- Track how many annual awards you’ve already used so you don’t exceed program or lifetime limits.
- If you’re unsure about tribal status, residency, or whether your institution qualifies, check the official fact sheet or contact the scholarship administrator before applying.