Scholarships for
Alaska Natives

What are Alaska Native Scholarships?

Alaska native scholarships are financial awards awarded to those with native Alaskan ancestry pursuing a college education. Known as Inuit, Alaska’s native people have lived on the continent's northwesternmost peninsula for thousands of years. As both a celebration of their unique culture and a concerted effort to provide support to many first-generation college students among their families, Alaska native scholarships offer an excellent opportunity to take the next step in education for Inuit individuals.

Alaska native scholarships are awarded by both public and private institutions nationwide. Many are set up as endowments in the names of donors, while some are offered through third-party organizations, and others still are provided by schools themselves. On this page, learn how you can apply to Alaska native scholarships and find the right ones to fit your needs by signing up for a Appily account.

How Do I Qualify for Alaska Native Scholarships?

To qualify for an Alaska native scholarship, you need to be able to prove your heritage. More specifically: for most scholarships, you will need to prove that you are at least one-quarter Inuit (though some scholarships accept smaller amounts). There are two primary ways to do this. The first is to provide paperwork for yourself and/or your parents as members of the Inuit tribe. Another widely accepted way of proving your descent to provide a Certificate Degree of Indian Blood from the Bureau of Indian Affairs. If you do not possess this certificate, the BIA has instructions for obtaining it.

Beyond proving your ancestry, you may be asked to fulfill other criteria depending on the scholarship you’re considering. Many Alaska native scholarships require applicants to maintain a 2.0 GPA or higher, and others still require an essay or resume submission. While many Alaska native scholarships are offered in the state of Alaska, there is an extensive amount offered at other colleges and universities around the country. Not sure if there’s one at the school you’re considering? You can always call the admissions office to ask.

Why Are Alaska Native Scholarships Important?

Alaska native scholarships provide tremendous opportunities to those with Inuit heritage. Due to past treatment from the United States government, remote geographical positioning, and a host of other factors, Inuit families often face additional barriers when it comes to admittance into college or university. Alaska native scholarships help even the playing field by giving prospective students from these families the resources they need to make college a reality. In turn, those prospective students will gain a wide range of opportunities through their college experiences — opportunities that can one day turn into successful careers, life-changing perspectives, and the means to give back to the communities they came from. Alaska native scholarships not only benefit students, but native culture as a whole.

Find College Scholarships for Alaska Natives  

Want to learn more about Alaska native scholarships? Ready to discover the extensive array of options available across the country? Your search starts here. Sign up for a Appily account and register for scholarships in seconds.