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Higher Education

Higher Education Scholarships, Undergraduate and Graduate

Citizens of the Cherokee Nation actively pursuing a higher education degree may apply to receive educational scholarships payable directly to an accredited college or university. Some scholarships may have restrictions, such as students with multiple tribal lineages may only receive assistance from one tribe.  Students must be working towards an Associates in Arts or Science, Associates of Applied Science in Nursing ONLY, Bachelors, Masters, or Doctorate degrees. Students may receive assistance with one Associates Degree, one Bachelor’s Degree, one Master’s Degree, and one Doctorate Degree. Residency restrictions apply.

Please click on the appropriate program to view more information, under the "Downloads" section.

Applications will be accepted during these enrollment periods: due by 11:59 pm Central Time

Application can be found at https://scholarships.cherokee.org

*If deadline falls on Saturday or Sunday, the application will be available until 11:59pm CST the next business day (Monday)

Cherokee Nation Stole Program

The Cherokee Nation College Resource Center rewards students striving to complete continuing education goals and academic success. The Stole program is available for college students who are currently graduating and are Cherokee Nation citizens. The program offers the opportunity to receive graduation stoles for one Associate (Art, Science or Applied Science –Nursing), Bachelors, Masters, or Doctoral Degree. Under this program citizens will receive one graduation stole per degree level.

Students graduating from high school, vocational programs or proprietary schools are not eligible.

The student is responsible for obtaining permission from the college/university to wear the stole during commencement. Application should be submitted at the beginning of the final semester.

Upon receipt of a complete application packet, the stole will be sent via U.S. Mail to the address listed on the application or stoles may be picked up in the College Resource Center office.

See downloads section below for the paper application.

Applications will be accepted during these periods:

Resource Links:

• Apply for FAFSA - FAFSA® Application | Federal Student Aid
• 7 Easy Steps to FAFSA - 7 Easy Steps to the FAFSA: Student's Guide to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (ucsb.edu)
• UCanGo2 - UCanGo2
• Oklahoma College Assistance Program - Oklahoma College Assistance Program Home Page (ocap.org)
• OK College Start - OKcollegestart - Home
• Start With FAFSA - startwithfafsa.org – What you need to know about submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid
• Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education - Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education | Welcome (okhighered.org)
• Oklahoma’s Promise - Oklahoma's Promise (okhighered.org)
• Indian Health Service Scholarship Program - IHS Scholarship Program | Indian Health Service (IHS)
• American Indian Graduate Center - American Indian Graduate Center - The Center for Native Scholarships (aigcs.org)
• American Indian College Fund - American Indian College Fund
• Cherokee Nation Foundation - Scholarships (cherokeenationfoundation.org)
• Cobell Scholarship - Cobell Scholarship | Native American Scholarships, Native American Scholarship, Indian Scholarship, Indigenous Scholarships, American Indian Scholarship, Indian Academic Scholarships
• 45+ College Scholarships for Minority Students

To reach the Cherokee Nation College Resource Center, call 800-256-0671, ext. 5465, or email collegeresources@cherokee.org