Starting July 1, a new population of prospective students will be eligible for American Indian tuition waivers in Montana — a shift that could make college more affordable for thousands of people and affect campus budgets. The change is also receiving mixed reactions from tribal leaders.
The American Indian tuition waiver is a decades-old program within the Montana University System that encourages eligible Native American students to pursue higher education by covering tuition costs. About 800 Native students receive the funding annually, which costs the state about $3.8 million, according to the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education (OCHE).
