American Indian Services Scholarships

Scholarship Sponsored by American Indian Services

Intro
The AIS Scholarship supports undergraduate Native American and Alaska Native students by providing financial assistance to attend and complete college. Awards are determined based on demonstrated need for the term requested and are disbursed directly to the student’s school. Applicants must have a personal email account to register and apply.

Eligibility
To be considered, applicants must meet all of the following:
- Be enrolled or planning to enroll as a matriculated undergraduate student at an accredited college, university, or junior college in the United States (incoming freshmen who have been accepted are eligible).
- Attend an accredited institution. If your college or university is not accredited by a recognized accrediting agency, it is not eligible.
- Be an enrolled member of a U.S. Federally Recognized American Indian or Alaska Native tribe/entity, OR be a direct descendant of a base roll member. If you are not enrolled but are a descendant, you must provide proof of the relative’s enrollment and your relationship. Contact your tribal enrollment office or the BIA to apply for tribal enrollment or a Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood (CDIB).
- Be pursuing a first bachelor’s degree only. Graduate-level study is not eligible.
- Have no more than 150 semester credits or 210 quarter credits completed.
- Be enrolled at least half-time (minimum of 6 credits per term); non-credit courses do not count.
- Maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.25 after your first semester/quarter of college.
- Have completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

How to Apply / Guidelines
- Review the eligibility criteria before applying.
- Create an account or log in to submit the online application (use a personal email address rather than a school email to avoid access issues if you change schools).
- Upload every required document to your application; hard copies, faxed, or emailed documents will not be accepted.
- Submit the complete application and all documents by the posted deadline. Incomplete or late submissions will not be processed or considered.
- If selected for an award, you will be required to submit a thank you letter by the deadline specified in the award communication. Scholarship funds are released to the school after receipt of the thank you letter.
- Do not call or email AIS to check application status; status updates will be posted online in your application portal and notification emails will be sent during the award month (September award notifications are sent in September; January award notifications are sent in January).

Required Documents (upload only)
All items listed below must be uploaded to your application by the deadline. Request documents early to avoid missing the cutoff.

- Photo of the applicant: A recent, clear photo of the student only. It need not be professionally taken, but must not be old, damaged, blurry, overly filtered, or simply a copy of your ID. Photos may be shared with potential donors and used in marketing. (Follow general tips for taking a good photo.)
- Proof of heritage: Documentation demonstrating either tribal enrollment in a Federally Recognized Tribe or descent from a base roll member. If you are not enrolled, provide the relative’s proof of enrollment plus documentation of your relationship. Tribal offices can issue statements or you may obtain a CDIB from the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
- Essay: Upload a separate essay document (minimum one page, 12-point font, double-spaced). Suggested content: introduce yourself (where you’re from, what is meaningful about your community or upbringing), describe your connection to your tribe, challenges you’ve overcome, your field of study and why you chose it, your goals after graduation, and how this scholarship will help you. You may include additional relevant information.
- Statement of fees / Cost of attendance: A document that includes your name, your school, and the total cost of attendance and financial aid for the term and academic year you are applying for. You may choose to submit this statement yourself or have your school submit it. Acceptable formats include:
- Letter estimating cost of attendance: Should name the student, identify the term (preferably with start date), and list the estimated tuition for the number of credits you plan to take that term.
- Financial Needs Analysis (FNA): May be submitted in lieu of a tuition statement. Note: FNAs from organizations other than the school or AIS will not be accepted.
- Current transcript: An unofficial transcript is acceptable. Do not wait for final grades to be posted; submit the most current transcript available. Incoming freshmen may submit high school or GED transcripts for their first two terms only.
- Thank you letter: Required only if you receive an award. Instructions and tips will be provided in the award email.

Important Notes
- We do not accept emailed, faxed, or mailed hard copy documents. Upload everything through the online application.
- Late or incomplete applications and documents will be disqualified.
- Mark emails from SmarterSelect as safe so you receive notifications.
- Follow American Indian Services on Facebook or Instagram for announcements and program updates.
- Use a personal email for your account to avoid being locked out if you change schools.

Deadlines and Award Cycles
AIS now offers two award cycles tied to the academic calendar. Apply for the cycle that matches your school term.

- Fall semester (September Award)
- Application opens: May 1
- Deadline: July 1
- Award notifications sent in September

- Winter/Spring semester (January Award)
- Application opens: September 1
- Deadline: November 1
- Award notifications sent in January

Your application portal will also reflect your current application status. If selected, funds will be forwarded to your institution after AIS receives your required thank you letter.