Indigenous Students Tuition and Fees Grant Program

Indigenous Students Tuition and Fees Grant Program

Status: Active, began Fall 2022

Geographic Scope: Colorado (resident requirement)

Focus Areas:

Support for Indigenous/Native American students

Financial access to higher education

First bachelor's degree completion

Certificates and badges

Award Details:

Covers 100% of tuition and mandatory fees

Coverage limited to costs not covered by other federal or state grants

Funded through combination of federal, state, and institutional grants

Eligibility Requirements:

Colorado resident status required

Enrolled member of one of the 574 federally recognized Indigenous nations

Nations with historical ties to Colorado (preferred, per HB22-1393)

Register for at least one credit toward:

- Badge
- Certificate
- First bachelor's degree (up to 125 credits)

Funding Sources:

Federal grants

State grants (HB22-1393)

Institutional grants from MSU Denver

Program Context:

Builds on HB22-1393 (Colorado legislation requiring in-state tuition classification for Native students)

Part of MSU Denver's broader access initiatives (alongside Roadrunner Promise, Displaced Aurarians scholarship)

Similar programs exist at Fort Lewis College and University of Minnesota-Morris

Recognizes 72% of Indigenous people live in urban/suburban areas

Addresses achievement gap: 14.5% of American Indian/Alaska Native population holds bachelor's degree or higher (vs. 31.3% overall); 41% six-year graduation rate (vs. 62% overall)

Contact: Will Simpkins, Ed.D., Vice President of Student Affairs; Dr. David Heska Wanbli Weiden, Professor of Political Science and Native American Studies Program Director