Native Student Success
Our Commitment to Native Students
The American Indian College Fund is creating a college-going culture and college success through funding and programs that increase the persistence and graduation rates of American Indian and Alaska Native students.
Our scholars represent
254
Tribal Nations
Across
45
States
attending
200
Colleges
254
Tribal Nations
Across
45
States
attending
200
Colleges
Student Impact Highlights
2023-2024
The American Indian College Fund is creating a college-going culture and college success through funding and programs that increase the persistence and graduation rates of American Indian and Alaska Native students.
6,648
Scholarships Awarded
2,718
First Year Scholars
$20,579,000
Direct Student Support
Areas of Student Support
The College Fund offers a wide range of student support. Here are some ways we support Native scholars.
Direct Student Support
- Scholarships, including summer school scholarships.
- Student communication support, including motivational text messages and emails.
- Mental wellness.
- Monthly newsletters about scholarships and internships.
- Chats with coaches.
- Summer of Success virtual conference promoting high school college readiness, college student preparedness, and confidence for all levels of students.
- Workshops on topics such as scholarship applications and how to apply for an internship.
- Employment resources.
- High school programs.
- GED programming
- Graduate school fairs.
- Professional development workshops on topics like building a resume, networking, writing a cover letter, and interviewing.
Coaching Support
- Connecting to faculty, professionals, and mentors
- Connecting study to careers
- Connecting students to on-campus resources
- Study skills
- Emotional support, nudges, and encouragement
- Connecting students to events and academic and internship resources
Student Engagement
- Online events
- Website resources
- Social media posts
- Emails
- Messages to students about special opportunities
97%
2024 Event Highlight:
Summer of Success Virtual Conference
The American Indian College Fund (College Fund) hosted its Fifth Annual Summer of Success Conference: Cultivating Connections into Success May 19 to May 21. This three-day, interactive online event is tailored to high school and college students, staff, faculty, and families, centering Native culture, experiences, and determinants of college success. Participants will learn strategies for achieving a meaningful college experience that moves them towards their career aspirations. Faculty and staff will also discuss ways to support student programming for college and career success.
Our Students’ Stories
Meet the American Indian College Fund Scholars
Tori
(Yurok Tribe)
University of California-Davis
Native American Studies
Crystal
(Tlingit and Athabascan)
University of California-Davis
Native American Studies
Tribal College Blanket Design Contest
The Tribal College Blanket Design Contest, now in its sixth year, elevates the voices, work, and representation of tribal college and university (TCU) students through a high-profile platform to recognize and develop the work of promising artists through internationally distributed products—while providing TCU students with additional scholarship opportunities. The winning designs are featured in Pendleton’s American Indian College Fund collection, which features wool blankets. Pendleton, which has worked with the College Fund since 1995, has provided over $1 million in scholarship support for American Indian and Alaska Native students attending TCUs.
Tribal College Blanket Design Contest
The Tribal College Blanket Design Contest, now in its sixth year, elevates the voices, work, and representation of tribal college and university (TCU) students through a high-profile platform to recognize and develop the work of promising artists through internationally distributed products—while providing TCU students with additional scholarship opportunities. The winning designs are featured in Pendleton’s American Indian College Fund collection, which features wool blankets. Pendleton, which has worked with the College Fund since 1995, has provided over $1 million in scholarship support for American Indian and Alaska Native students attending TCUs.
Native Pathways: A College-Going Guidebook
The Native Pathways: A College-Going Guidebook provides relatable college-going content for Native American high school students that speaks to their culture, ways of knowing, and experiences as they consider options for attending college. Specifically, the guidebook offers content related to how to get into college, choose a school, pay for college, and information on what to expect the first year. Native American artists, writers, educators, and advocates contributed to the guidebook to empower Native students to enroll in college with a firm understanding that they have much to offer higher education institutions.
Career Readiness and Employment
Centering culturally-grounded values in resources to support scholars’ employment success.
Find academic programs and career paths that align with your personal and professional goals, helping you grow while giving back to your community. We believe in fostering reciprocity and redistribution, encouraging you to respect your talents, pursue opportunities, and build healthy relationships with fellow professionals.
Our resources are designed to help you reflect on your skills, refine your professional story, and contribute meaningfully to the communities you serve.
