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In-State Tuition for Native American Students

Eligibility

According to Colorado Senate Bill SB21-029, section 23-7-112 IV (b) (effective June 28, 2021), "American Indian students who are registered members of a federally recognized American Indian tribe with historical ties to Colorado" (listed below) will be eligible for in-state tuition at Colorado public universities and colleges, beginning fall semester 2021-22.

Apache Tribe of Oklahoma

Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma

Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe

Comanche Nation, Oklahoma

Crow Creek Sioux Tribe

Crow Tribe

Eastern Shoshone Tribe (Wind River Reservation)

Fort Sill Apache Tribe

Jicarilla Apache Nation

Kewa Pueblo (formerly the Pueblo of Santo Domingo)

Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma

Mescalero Apache Tribe

Navajo Nation

Northern Arapaho Tribe

Northern Cheyenne Tribe

Oglala Sioux Tribe

Ohkay Owingeh
(Pueblo of San Juan)

Osage Nation

Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah

Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma

Pueblo de Cochiti

Pueblo of Acoma

Pueblo of Isleta

Pueblo of Jemez

Pueblo of Laguna

Pueblo of Nambe

Pueblo of Picuris

Pueblo of Pojoaque

Pueblo of San Felipe

Pueblo of San Ildefonso

Pueblo of Sandia

Pueblo of Santa Ana

Pueblo of Santa Clara

Pueblo of Taos

Pueblo of Tesuque

Pueblo of Zia

Rosebud Sioux Tribe

San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe

Shoshone-Bannock Tribes

Southern Ute Indian Tribe

Standing Rock Sioux Tribe

The Hopi Tribe

Three Affiliated Tribes

Ute Indian Tribe (Uintah & Ouray Reservation)

Ute Mountain Ute Tribe

Wichita & Affiliated Tribes

Ysleta del Sur Pueblo

Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation



  • Documentation

    Documentation

    In order for UNC to revise tuition classification for out-of-state residents, you must provide proof of tribal enrollment in one of the 48 federally recognized indigenous tribes to Colorado. These documents may include a copy of your tribal enrollment/identification card, or enrollment certificate.

    For more information on how to become an enrolled member of a federally recognized tribe, please visit: https://www.doi.gov/tribes/enrollment

  • Apply

    Apply

    To apply, please click on the link below. Please have appropriate documentation ready to upload.

    Colorado Affiliated Tribe In-State Classification Form

  • Colorado Opportunity Fund (COF) Stipend

    Colorado Opportunity Fund (COF) Stipend

    Students who qualify for the Native American tuition classification legislation (23-7-112), are also eligible to apply for the Colorado Opportunity Fund (COF) stipend, and other state-funded financial aid and private financial aid programs.

    The Colorado Opportunity Fund stipend was established by the Colorado legislature to reduce the cost of tuition for Colorado undergraduate students attending certain colleges in Colorado.

    You can register for the stipend online at COF.COLLEGE-ASSIST.ORG. If you do not apply for the stipend, you will pay a higher in-state tuition rate. 

    Once you’ve applied, you must authorize COF on your Ursa account under the “Financial” tab. Selecting “lifetime authorization” allows the authorization to be done once for the entire time you are at UNC. "Term authorization" requires you to authorize COF every semester.

    Once you’ve applied for COF, check your student bill to view your stipend. It will be applied to your bill.

    For more information about the Colorado Opportunity Fund, please visit UNC’s COF FAQ page. If you have specific questions regarding COF, please contact the Bursar’s Office at 970-351-4862 (Option 3) or bursar@unco.edu. All other questions may be directed to the Financial Aid Office at 970-351-4862 (Option 1) or ofa@unco.edu

  • Questions

    For more information about in-state tuition classification for Native American students, please contact the Registrar’s Office at 970-351-4862 or registrar@unco.edu.