First announced in May 2022, the Indigenous & Native Peoples’ Grant is designed to provide funds for tuition and published mandatory fees for undergraduate students who are Colorado residents and enrolled in one of 574 federally recognized Native nations.
In the MSU Denver land acknowledgement, we identify this land as being the original home of the Cheyenne and Arapahoe Nations, land that was frequently also inhabited by the Lakota, Ute, Kiowa, Comanche, Apache, Shoshone and others. Just as we honor the Displaced Aurarians who were forcibly removed from their homes so that our campus could be built, we also honor the Indigenous and Native Peoples who first called this land home by fully funding their tuition and fees to undergraduate programs at MSU Denver.
The Indigenous and Native Peoples’ Grant will cover the student’s share of in-state tuition and published mandatory fees for regular classes up to 15 credit hours per semester for students seeking their first bachelor’s degree.
Students are required to file either the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Colorado Application for State Financial Aid (CASFA). Tuition and published mandatory fees, including program fees, will be covered through a combination of federal, state and institutional grants.
The Indigenous and Native Peoples’ Grant is available for the first 129 credits earned at MSU Denver toward first bachelor’s degree, or certificate programs.
Important note: Structured as a last-dollar award, the Indigenous Grant will supplement the gap between any federal or state grants received and the full cost of tuition, published mandatory fees and program fees.
Beginning Fall Term 2022, MSU Denver students may qualify for this grant by:
Students must complete all requirements to be a Colorado Resident for tuition purposes and be eligible for financial aid disbursement by the Census Date of each term to ensure coverage by the Indigenous and Native Peoples’ Grant. Students who meet eligibility later in the Term will be eligible for funding at the start of the next Term.
Students must file a FAFSA or CASFA each year and must meet the eligibility criteria each year to continue to receive funding.
Students who run out of COF eligibility should complete a COF Waiver with the Bursar’s Office. If denied or ineligible for a waiver, students should contact the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships and an exception will be made to cover the COF portion of tuition.
Summer Term: April 1
Fall Term: July 1
Spring Term: September 1
INPG and FAFSA or CASFA applications received after these deadlines will be reviewed for the next semester.
In order to be considered for the INPG Grant, you must have a complete INPG and Financial Aid file (all required documentation submitted and completed) by these deadlines:
Summer Term: May 1
Fall Term: August 1
Spring Term: October 1
Complete files received after these deadlines will be reviewed for the next semester.
Structured as a last-dollar award, the Indigenous Grant will supplement the gap between any federal or state grants received and the full cost of tuition, published mandatory fees and program fees.
Institutional and Outside Scholarships will be excluded from the calculation with the exception of scholarships that cover the student’s full cost of tuition and published mandatory fees.
Published mandatory fees:
• Auraria Bond Fee
• Intercollegiate Athletic Fee
• Campus Recreation Fee
• Tivoli Park Facility Fee
• Clean Energy Fee
• Health & Wellness Fee
• Phoenix Center Fee
• Metro Bond Fee
• Student Affairs Fee
• Technology Fee
• Program and Course Fees
Fees that ARE NOT included: Health Insurance Fee, Lynx Crossing, parking passes, fines and any other fees not listed in the covered fees above.
Students will receive a letter and/or email notifying them of their approval.
Indigenous Grant includes a combination of any of the following funding:
• Federal Pell Grant
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
• Colorado State Grant
• MSU Denver Supplemental Grant
This also means that although a student is receiving an Indigenous Grant, they will not have an “Indigenous Grant” listed as part of their financial aid offer.
All undergraduate students who are Colorado residents and demonstrate membership in one of the 574 federally recognized American Indian Tribes are eligible.
Indigenous Grant pays for up to 15 credits each semester. Students enrolled in 16 credits or more will pay for the additional credits with other financial aid or out of pocket.
Indigenous Grant is available to all qualified undergraduate students beginning with the Fall 2022 term. New recipients may enroll at the start of any fall, spring or summer term.
No. Indigenous Grant is available to undergraduate students seeking their first bachelor’s degree.
All students are charged tuition and fees. You will see a bill. The financial aid is paid against the bill.
Each student will have different variables involved with their individual balances. Financial Aid may need to make adjustments to your award to ensure that up to 15 credits is covered per semester for students seeking their first bachelor’s degree.
If students have a balance after Census date has passed, please reach out to the Bursar with billing questions.
Census Date is the last date of the registration adjustment period, 15% of the term beginning and end date. This date is also the last day to drop full-term classes for a 50% refund.
You can find the specific census dates for each semester on the academic calendar here.
Yes, but if you pass the same course twice while receiving financial aid, you will no longer be eligible to receive financial aid for that specific course moving forward.
For example, you take a course while receiving financial aid and pass with a D grade. You decide to retake the same course for a higher grade, receive financial aid, and pass with a C grade. If you decide to retake the same course for a third time, you will not be eligible to receive financial aid for that course for the third time.
This is a requirement from the Department of Education.
No. The Indigenous Grant will pay for 1-15 credits per semester.
Indigenous Grant recipients may receive funding for up to 129 credits earned at MSU Denver toward their first bachelor’s degree or certificate programs.
No. Indigenous Grant is available to undergraduate students seeking their first bachelor’s degree.
There are other financing options! Students are strongly encouraged to file the FASFA or CASFA annually along with the MSU Denver Scholarship Application. And, you may also qualify for Roadrunner Promise to help pay tuition and published mandatory fees. Check out our Net Price Calculator to help estimate your financial aid offer.
Student Resources*:
*Resources may change over time to provide the most up-to-date and helpful information for students to reference.
Students can contact Deserea Richards at [email protected] for additional resources.
No, financial aid will only be adjusted based on your enrollment as of census date OR if you qualify for a Frozen Hours Appeal*.
*Federal regulations dictate that you may only have your frozen hours reviewed if you did actually begin your attendance in your classes prior to census date but due to a registration issue you were not able to have the credit hours posted onto the system before census date.
Books, supplies, or any expenses other than tuition and published mandatory fees are NOT covered by INPG unless you are issued a refund from the Office of the Bursar. If you have a refund, you can use these funds to pay for books, supplies, transportation or any other expenses.
Yes. Students must complete the Indigenous and Native Peoples’ Grant certification form AND submit documentation of their membership in one of the 574 federally recognized American Indian Tribes.
In addition, the FAFSA or CASFA is required annually for all Indigenous Grant applicants/recipients.
Students must submit by the deadline:
*The FAFSA/CASFA must be submitted annually to continue your eligibility.
The FAFSA or CASFA is required annually for all recipients. Indigenous Grant recipients who do not qualify for federal or state grants will receive funds from MSU Denver to fully cover tuition, published mandatory fees and program fees.
Registered members of a federally recognized American Indian tribe with historical ties to Colorado may qualify for in-state tuition and the Colorado Opportunity Fund (COF).
To determine your eligibility, please submit the American Indian Certification Form through the MSU Denver Admissions Office.
Students approved for in-state tuition by the MSU Denver Admissions Office do not need to re-submit their tribal documentation to the Office of Financial Aid.
U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents should file the FAFSA.
All other students who are Colorado Residents should file the CASFA. Be sure to file the FAFSA or CASFA every year.
The Federal Pell Grant is guaranteed funding for eligible students, all other federal and state grants are limited pools of money that are not available for all students who demonstrate eligibility.
Indigenous Grant recipients receive priority in funding for these programs and for institutional grants.
Indigenous Grant recipients who are not eligible for federal and state grants will receive full funding for tuition, published mandatory fees and program fees from MSU Denver.
Students must authorize COF. Students who choose lifetime authorization only have to complete this process once during their time as an undergraduate student at MSU Denver.
Students who run out of COF eligibility while still eligible for Indigenous Grant should first complete a COF Waiver. If denied or ineligible, please reach out to the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships and an exception will be made to cover the COF portion of tuition.
Students must be Colorado Residents to receive the Indigenous Grant. If residency status changes, the student is no longer eligible.
Please visit the Change Your Residency Status page for important deadlines and how to contact our admissions office.
Can a student receive Indigenous Grant for Summer?
Yes. Students can receive the Indigenous Grant for summer.
Does Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) affect eligibility?
Yes. Students who do not meet SAP standards are not eligible for Indigenous Grant, unless they successfully appeal.
Will students be given any support services to keep them on track to graduate?
Student success is extremely important and we encourage you to take advantage of existing support services.
What if a student needs more time to finish their degree?
Indigenous Grant is available for the first 129 credits earned at MSU Denver toward first bachelor’s degree. We encourage you to use this funding wisely and work with your academic advisor to make a plan to finish your degree in a timely fashion.
We are here to help!
Whether you're not finding the necessary info on this web page or would rather get in touch with a human, feel free to email us.
Physical Location & Address:
Jordan Student Success Building (JSSB), Suite 130
890 Auraria Pkwy
Denver, CO 80204
For specific Indigenous Grant questions, reach out to:
Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8am – 5pm
Friday: Call Center opens at 9am!
Mailing Address:
Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships
Campus Box 2, PO Box 173362
Denver, CO 80217
