Free Tuition For Native Americans At University of Arizona

TUCSON, AZ — Through the new Arizona Native Scholars Grant program, members of Arizona's 22 recognized tribes who seek an undergraduate degree at University of Arizona's Tucson campus will be eligible for free tuition, the university announced this week.

Starting this fall, both new and continuing undergraduate students from the Arizona tribes will be eligible for the grants, according to the UArizona communications department. The program is the first of its kind in the state and is funded through reallocation of financial aid money.

More than 400 students who attended UArizona last school year would have met the criteria to take part in the grant program, the university said.

"Serving Arizona's Native American tribes and tribal students is a crucial part of the University of Arizona's land-grant mission, and the Arizona Native Scholars Grant program is another important step among many to do that," Robert C. Robbins, University of Arizona president told the University communications department. "I am so proud that that this university has found a way to help hundreds of students more easily access and complete a college education, and I look forward to finding ways to take these efforts even further."

To receive a grant, a student must fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, and proof that they are a member of one of Arizona's tribes.