Eligibility Requirements for the Yakama Nation Higher Education Scholarship Program
The Yakama Nation Higher Education program provides scholarships and grants to support enrolled members of the 14 Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation in pursuing higher education at a regionally accredited institution.
Application Deadlines:
Per Yakama Tribal Council Resolution T-111-13, the deadline for the 2025-2026 academic year is: July 1, 2025 – All Students
To be eligible for funding, applicants must meet the following requirements:
General Eligibility:
- Be an enrolled member of the Yakama Nation.
- Be a high school graduate, have earned a GED diploma, or be enrolled in a Pre-College program.
- Be admitted to a regionally accredited college or university.
Financial Aid Requirements:
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.gov.
- Apply for all available federal, state, and institutional aid, including work-study opportunities.
Academic Requirements:
- Maintain the following minimum cumulative GPA:
- Undergraduate students (Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, Senior): 2.0 GPA
- Graduate students, (Masters, Doctoral, and Post-Baccalaureate students): 3.0 GPA
Enrollment Status Guidelines
Part-Time Students:
- Eligible only for the Yakama Nation Tribal Scholarship.
Full-Time Students:
- Required for eligibility for the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Higher Education Grant.
- Required for eligibility for Additional Scholarships (NRS, Wak Wei, Credit, Rental, ERWM)
- Must complete the minimum number of credits per term to maintain full-time status as defined by their institution.
Note: Students enrolled full-time must successfully complete the required credits each term to remain eligible for continued funding. Failure to meet full-time enrollment requirements may impact future scholarship eligibility.
Application Deadlines:
Per Yakama Tribal Council Resolution T-111-13, the deadline for the 2025-2026 academic year is:
July 1, 2025 – All Students
Missed the deadline? If you submit a late application, it will be rolled to the next available review period, which occurs every three months.
Appeals for Late Funding:
Applicants requesting funding after the deadline must submit an appeal within the "Educational Essay" portion of the application.
Pre-College Student Eligibility
Pre-college students are considered for funding on a case-by-case basis, with up to 18 awards available each year.
Eligible students include:
High school students participating in early college programs, such as:
- Running Start
- Bridge
- New Horizons
- College in the High School
- Gear Up
- TRIO Programs
New students of any age enrolling in college for the first time who are required to take foundational math and English refresher courses (below 100 level), such as:
- ALEKS at Heritage University (HU)
- MATH 94 at Yakima Valley College (YVC)
High school students attending summer academic camps at colleges or universities.
Application Deadline:
Rolling Deadline – Applications must be submitted at least four weeks before the start of classes.
2025-2026 Academic Year
Eligibility Requirements for the Yakama Nation Higher Education Scholarship Program
The Yakama Nation Higher Education program provides scholarships and grants to support enrolled members of the 14 Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation in pursuing higher education at a regionally accredited institution.
Application Deadlines:
Per Yakama Tribal Council Resolution T-111-13, the deadline for the 2025-2026 academic year is: July 1, 2025 – All Students
To be eligible for funding, applicants must meet the following requirements:
General Eligibility:
- Be an enrolled member of the Yakama Nation.
- Be a high school graduate, have earned a GED diploma, or be enrolled in a Pre-College program.
- Be admitted to a regionally accredited college or university.
Financial Aid Requirements:
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.gov.
- Apply for all available federal, state, and institutional aid, including work-study opportunities.
Academic Requirements:
- Maintain the following minimum cumulative GPA:
- Undergraduate students (Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, Senior): 2.0 GPA
- Graduate students, (Masters, Doctoral, and Post-Baccalaureate students): 3.0 GPA
Enrollment Status Guidelines
Part-Time Students:
- Eligible only for the Yakama Nation Tribal Scholarship.
Full-Time Students:
- Required for eligibility for the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Higher Education Grant.
- Required for eligibility for Additional Scholarships (NRS, Wak Wei, Credit, Rental, ERWM)
- Must complete the minimum number of credits per term to maintain full-time status as defined by their institution.
Note: Students enrolled full-time must successfully complete the required credits each term to remain eligible for continued funding. Failure to meet full-time enrollment requirements may impact future scholarship eligibility.
Application Deadlines:
Per Yakama Tribal Council Resolution T-111-13, the deadline for the 2025-2026 academic year is:
July 1, 2025 – All Students
Missed the deadline? If you submit a late application, it will be rolled to the next available review period, which occurs every three months.
Appeals for Late Funding:
Applicants requesting funding after the deadline must submit an appeal within the "Educational Essay" portion of the application.
Pre-College Student Eligibility
Pre-college students are considered for funding on a case-by-case basis, with up to 18 awards available each year.
Eligible students include:
High school students participating in early college programs, such as:
- Running Start
- Bridge
- New Horizons
- College in the High School
- Gear Up
- TRIO Programs
New students of any age enrolling in college for the first time who are required to take foundational math and English refresher courses (below 100 level), such as:
- ALEKS at Heritage University (HU)
- MATH 94 at Yakima Valley College (YVC)
High school students attending summer academic camps at colleges or universities.
Application Deadline:
Rolling Deadline – Applications must be submitted at least four weeks before the start of classes.