NATIVE AMERICAN OPPORTUNITY PLAN (NAOP) AND FEDERATED INDIANS OF GRATON RANCHERIA (FIGR) SCHOLARSHIP
If you identify as a Native American student, you may be eligible for the University of California Native American Opportunity Plan. If eligible, your in-state systemwide Tuition and Student Services Fees will be fully covered by either UC financial aid or another federal, state or other financial aid program. Students with greater financial need can qualify for even more grant support to help pay other educational expenses (like books, housing, transportation, etc.) through UC’s other need-based financial aid programs.
You don't need to fill out a separate application to qualify for the Native American Opportunity Plan; just be sure to file your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). If you qualify, UCSC Financial Aid office will contact you directly with further instructions. If you think you may qualify and have not been contacted by UCSC, please connect with your campus financial aid office or graduate division.
If you are a member of a California tribe that is not federally recognized or a disenrolled member of a federally recognized tribe and are a California Resident, you may be eligible for the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria (FIGR) Scholarship Fund. FIGR’s scholarship provides scholarships to cover in-state systemwide Tuition and Student Services Fees, Campus Fees, and Professional Degree Supplemental Tuition (pending available funds) for eligible students. Applications for 2023-2024 academic year are due by August 1, 2023. For additional information, visit the FIGR scholarship website , contact: FIGRUCScholarship@gratonrancheria.com or view flier for the 2023-24 academic year's application.
Background
The University of California Native American Opportunity Plan ensures that financial aid (grants or scholarships), as well as other resources, fully covers in-state systemwide Tuition and Student Services Fees for California residents who are members of federally recognized Native American, American Indian and Alaska Native tribes. In the first year of the plan, $2.3 million was awarded to 211 UC NAOP eligible undergraduate and graduate students.
In May 2022, the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria announced a $2.5 million Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria Scholarship Fund to cover tuition and mandatory fees, as well as professional degree supplemental tuition pending availability of funds, for California residents that are members California non-federally recognized tribes or disenrolled members of California federally recognized tribes. Their gift to the UC also includes support for California residents who are members of a California federal tribe (subset of NAOP eligible students) to cover campus based fees and professional degree supplemental tuition (PDST). In 2023, FIGR awarded 11 scholarships to California residents of non-federally recognized tribes or disenrolled members of federally recognized tribes and covered the campus based fees and PDSTs for 54 California residents of California federally recognized tribes. The program is expected to grow with further outreach and marketing.
Eligibility
• NAOP is only available to California residents who are members of federally recognized tribes because membership is deemed a political classification rather than a racial classification.
• The FIGR Scholarship is available to both federally and non-federally recognized California Native American students.
• Students must demonstrate eligibility for NAOP and/or FIGR Scholarship through a verification process.
• Campus fees and Professional Degree Supplemental Tuition are not part of the NAOP.
For more details, visit NAOP and FIGR Scholarship.
The AIRC is here to help advocate for all Native students through their time at UCSC; please contact us to receive more guidance.
