Cherokee Nation Scholarship Program
The Cherokee Nation's Higher Education Office awards scholarships to selected Cherokee Nation Tribal Citizens pursuing degrees at a college or university accredited with Carnegie units. To apply for these funds, new and continuing students must submit a complete application packet to the Higher Education office on or before June 12.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Applicant must posses a Tribal Citizenship card showing citizenship in the Cherokee Nation.
- Applicant must be attending or plan to attend a regionally accredited post-secondary institution. Accreditation will be verified from the Higher Education Directory; vo-tech schools are not supported by the higher education funds.
- Applicant must apply for financial aid (Pell/FAFSA) at the selected institution, immediately after January 1.
Programs:
- Cherokee Nation PELL Scholarship (Amount varies)
All Cherokee Nation tribal citizens, regardless of permanent residence, who qualify for Pell grant funding, are eligible for Bureau of Indian Affairs scholarship funding. This funding is divided equally to all Pell eligible students who complete the application process.
- Cherokee Nation Pell Supplementation Scholarship (Amount varies)
Tribal citizens who are eligible to receive the Cherokee Nation Pell Scholarship and live within the Cherokee Nation service area. The following formula will be utilized to calculate supplemental funding: Cherokee Nation Pell Scholarship Award plus Federal Pell Grant, must be less than $1,000 to qualify for the supplemental funding. Students will be funded the difference based on the formula to make their total $1,000. If their total is equal to or greater than $1,000, no supplement will be awarded. Verification from the financial aid office will be required.
- Cherokee Nation Scholarship ($1000 per semester)
Open to tribal citizens who are permanent residents of the 14-county Cherokee Nation Service Area and contiguous, not qualify for Pell grant funding. Funding is not available to students living outside these areas.
- Haskell Indian Nations University Scholarship (varies with program and student fees)
Open to all Cherokee Nation tribal members, who are not eligible for Pell grant funding may apply to attend Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, Kansas, at any time during the year. Cherokee Nation will fund the normal fees associated with enrollment at Haskell. This is the equivalent of a full scholarship including room and board to any Cherokee who wishes to attend Haskell.
- Graduate School Scholarship ($1,000 per semester)
Open to tribal citizens who are permanent residents of the 14-county Cherokee Nation Service Area or contiguous. Funding is not available to students living outside these areas.