This story was first published by The 19th
Greta Gustafson knew from a young age that she wanted to become a veterinarian. When it came time to pick a college, Greta Gustafson didn’t have enough money to apply to all the top veterinary schools. Gustafson, who was raised on the Blackfeet Reservation, Browning, Montana and is currently enrolled in the Mandan Hidatsa, Arikara Nation, admitted that she could not afford to apply to many universities.
Gustafson stated that one of the main reasons I remained in my state was due to financial constraints. “And if it hadn’t been for financial constraints, I think I would have gone elsewhere to gain professional growth and experience in my life.” I am happy with the school I went to. Although it was very beneficial, [finances] were a limiting aspect in my application process.”
A study of college affordability for Indigenous students revealed that Native Americans often have to choose where they apply for college, and whether or not they are accepted once they enroll. The landmark study, which included nearly 2,800 Indigenous students and their families, was released as the 2022-23 schoolyear began. It found that half of the participants selected their college based on its cost. The Indigenous student population is overrepresented by women, with 63% of current students and 58% respectively of former students surveyed by the National Native Scholarship Providers, (NNSP), which includes the Cobell Scholarship Program and American Indian Science and Engineering Society, and the Native Forward Scholars Fund.
Angelique Albert, CEO of Native Forward Scholars Fund, stated that “we believe it’s one of the largest data sets of its kind” and “one of the first of their kind.” “A lot times, Native people are the asterisk. There is no data. There is limited data. There is limited data. We are statistically insignificant. It’s good to have some baseline data.
According to the study, 72% of students said they ran out of money within the past six months. More than 25% reported experiencing food insecurity while 16% suffered from homelessness. Over 30% of former Native students cited the first year as the most difficult in terms of finances. Many students, both current and past, come from families with less than $20,000 annually and have struggled to pay for unexpected expenses such as housing, transportation, technology, and books.
Albert stated that affordability is the main barrier to Native students completing college. As scholarship providers, we see this every day. We speak to students who call us and ask for emergency funding. I have also talked to students who had to decide between a house or going to school. They decided to live in their car to get to school. This shows their dedication to education but also means that their basic needs are not being met.
The Lumina Foundation provided funding for the college affordability study through a grant of $30 million that the American Indian College Fund received. This foundation works to increase equity in higher education. Terri Taylor, Lumina’s strategy director of innovation and discovery, stated that it is important to identify the unique challenges faced by Indigenous students, as they are different from other groups, such as students of color.
Taylor stated that it’s more than affordability in a vacuum. It’s about understanding the unique experiences these students bring. Many of these students go to college to bring new knowledge, experience, and connections back to their tribes. Native students are unable to return all this knowledge and experience to their communities if there are high affordability barriers.
It is significant that Native American women are more represented in college than Native American men. Taylor stated that women who have credentials are more likely to empower their entire family. She noted that it immediately increases the chances of their children going to college and having a secure financial future. “Often, women take care of their parents or other family members. They are now working at higher levels, so Native women can access college to help their communities and their families.
Over its 53-year history of Native Forward, more than 20,000 scholars have been supported. Between 60 and 70%, Native Forward’s funding goes to women. Native Forward has been a strong supporter of wraparound services in the COVID-19 crisis. The organization launched an emergency fund to assist students with their living costs, including food, fuel, and transportation. The college affordability study found that only 36.2% of Indigenous students enrolled in four-year colleges in 2014 completed the degree in six years, compared to 60.1% for all students.
Gustafson is now 24, and a doctoral candidate at Washington State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. It was hard for her to manage her finances while she was an undergrad. Instead of relying on her parents for her living expenses, she developed a personal budget that would not exceed the amount of her scholarship and student loans. She said that creating a budget was one of the most difficult things she struggled with her first year. This was on top of having to complete schoolwork and pass classes, as well as trying to survive the transition from college student to college student. Gustafson would have enjoyed a course in money management before she started her college career. This intervention is also recommended by the NNSP study.
The report revealed that Native students who don’t have access to emergency funds often go into debt to pay their bills. To make ends meet in college, 34% of students used subsidized loans. 30% borrowed unsubsidized money, 25% used credit cards, and 11% relied on private loans. Over half of students borrowed $5,000 or less. 22% borrowed between $10,000 to $30,000.
Some states offer free tuition for Indigenous students. However, there are limitations on who can apply. To be eligible, they may have to be part of a federally recognized tribe and meet certain blood quantum requirements. These students will still need to pay for college expenses, even though their tuition may be covered. In some cases, tuition programs that are free have not been implemented as planned.
Taylor stated that Michigan had a law that required the state of Michigan to provide scholarships for Native students whose lives were affected by Michigan’s acquisition of land from Native peoples. It turned out that the didn’t have enough money to fund the scholarships. It’s a myth that many Native students get to college free of charge.
The federal government could increase the amount of Pell grants, which are need-based financial aid, and offer more scholarships and funding to Native Americans. This would give them more options when applying for college. Albert stated that she often encounters Indigenous youth who don’t want to go to elite colleges or universities due to their high cost. She was able to serve a student last year who received admission to University of California, Berkeley and was eager to go. The student was shocked to learn the high cost of attending school. The family she was living with had incorrectly filled out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This denied her much-needed financial assistance. Albert and her team were able to modify the FAFSA for her family in order to receive more financial aid.
Gustafson said that both her parents, Gustafson and her father, were college graduates. Her father is a veterinarian. However, they couldn’t help her with the FAFSA process as they had paid for her higher education elsewhere. She had to fill out the application herself, despite a one-hour information session at her high school about the FAFSA.
She stated that there was nothing that could have helped her decide how she was going to pay for school, how she would apply for student loans, or what options I had. It was a complete disservice. My high school was small and rural. We didn’t have many resources, counselors, or high school advisors, to help us apply for financial aid or schools. It was a quick way to learn how to apply to colleges, financial aid, and scholarships.
(Chanelle Nibbelink, The 19th).
Fivety-eight percent said they were helped to fill out the FAFSA. 44% of students and 51% former students agreed or strongly agreeing that students did not understand the cost of college. Albert stated that this problem is so common that many Indigenous students who are eligible for four-year colleges choose to attend junior college as it’s less expensive.
She stated that students should be able “to choose the institution that best suits their career goals.” We have a lot to do for our students to get them to the place they need to be.
The study suggests that high schools and colleges give Indigenous students and their families the tools they need to navigate financial aid in order to ensure more Native Americans are able to obtain undergraduate degrees. Higher education institutions also need to have staff that understands Indigenous student populations and their financial needs. 67% of these students will be expected to pay for family bills while at college. The study showed that Native American students who had positive experiences with their culture in college were more likely to graduate.
Albert stated, “It’s more than just integrating the culture. It is ensuring that culturally competent people provide that education.” So, do you have Native teachers? Are you using Native curriculum Are there Native peer groups on campus? Are there Native American support services available for students so they have an additional resource area?
Gustafson was a Montana State student, graduating in 2020. She appreciated the American Indian Hall which houses offices for the American Indian/Alaska Native Student Success Services as well as the Department of Native American Studies.
She said that they were great at hosting cultural events. “I enjoy cooking, so I took a lot of Indigenous cooking classes, as well as a few beading workshops. Each year, they also put on a Native American powwow. That was Montana State. I also took many Native American history classes, including Montana Native American history. It was very beneficial. It was a wonderful support system.”
Gustafson stated that Washington State University has provided less opportunities for Gustafson to interact with Native American students and participate in Indigenous-related cultural events. “It’s been difficult to adjust, being away from my home and my culture and then moving to a place with less support.
She is still on track to graduate in 2024 from the university’s veterinarian college. Gustafson said she would like to do an internship and residency in equine medicine, which is a specialty that does not pay as well. The college affordability study found that 35% of participants strongly agreed or agreed that college debt had an impact on which major they choose. Gustafson recognizes, however, that her veterinary work can fulfill a need in her tribe.
Gustafson stated that many students take high-paying jobs, or work in areas they might not have chosen as their first choice, just to be able to repay their student loans. “Scholarships have been very helpful in helping me reduce my student loan debt. I believe it’s something that needs to be addressed. If graduates choose only to work in cities or in areas that pay well, rural communities are left without workers.
