Find support at WSU
Native American Programs facilitates and coordinates Native American early outreach, recruitment, and community relations. We share responsibility for the recruitment of Native American students by working closely with the WSU Office of Admissions and Student Financial Services.
The Native American Outreach Coordinator is here to answer any questions you might have about admissions, financial aid, or student life at WSU. We welcome the opportunity to answer your questions, host you on campus, and share what we think are the best things about being a Native Coug!
Once you are a student at WSU, the Native American Student Center is your home away from home, providing cultural and social events, a computer lab with free printing, student advocacy and support, and a safe and inviting place to relax, study, and network!
Apply for Scholarships
WSU General Scholarship Application
The WSU General Scholarship Application is open to all WSU students, and one application allows you to be considered for over 700 scholarships, including several scholarships that support Tribally enrolled Native American students: Academic Achievement/Diversity Scholarship, Alumni Association Leadership Awards, Creighton Scholarship, Muckleshoot Scholarship, NACI-Hanes Scholarship. Due to recent FAFSA application delays, the scholarship deadline has been extended to May 1.
Outside Scholarships
You may also qualify for scholarships awarded by foundations, corporations, and civic groups. WSU Native American Programs has a list of Outside Scholarships that specifically support Tribally Enrolled Native American students.
Students of all backgrounds can find applicable scholarships using the WSU scholarship search tool.
Submit Tribal Documentation
In order to qualify for scholarships from WSU, you need to have proof of your tribal enrollment on file with SFS. This can be either a copy of your tribal ID or another document from your tribe with your enrollment status. Submit those documents HERE.
American Indian Residency Bill
Students from many regional tribes are eligible for in-state tuition
In 1994, the Washington state legislature passed a bill allowing American Indian students who meet the following two conditions to be eligible for in-state tuition at public colleges and universities in the state of Washington.
- Students must have lived in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, or Washington for one year immediately prior to enrolling in college.
- Students must be members of federally-recognized Indian tribes whose traditional tribal boundaries included portions of the state of Washington, or whose tribe was granted reserved lands within the state of Washington.
For example, a Spokane tribal member who lives in Oregon, could attend WSU without having to pay out-of-state tuition because they are from a Washington tribe and live in Oregon. Likewise, a Kootenai student from Idaho would also be eligible for in-state tuition because their tribe’s traditional boundaries included territory in Washington.
Read the legislation here.
To establish residency using the American Indian Residency Bill, students should send proof of their tribal enrollment to the WSU Registrar’s Office. The Registrar’s Office may be emailed regarding residency questions at residency@wsu.edu.
Eligible tribes:
- All federally-recognized tribes located within the state of Washington
- Coeur d’Alene Tribe
- Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes
- Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation
- Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs
- Kootenai Tribe of Idaho
- Nez Perce Tribe