Native American Opportunity Plan

The University of California’s Native American Opportunity Plan ensures that in-state systemwide Tuition and Student Services Fees are fully covered for California students who are also enrolled in federally recognized Native American, American Indian, and Alaska Native tribes. This plan applies to eligible undergraduate and graduate students enrolled for the Fall and/or Spring semesters. Native American Opportunity Plan does not cover Summer tuition and fees.

Plan Overview

Students eligible for the Native American Opportunity Plan will have in-state systemwide Tuition and Student Services Fees fully covered by either UC financial aid or another federal, state or other financial aid program.

The plan combines all sources of grants, scholarships, tuition and fee specific awards you receive from federal, state, UC, and private sources (e.g. Cal Grant; veteran’s tuition benefits; tribal benefits; University, Departmental, or external fellowships; tuition and fee remissions, etc.) to count toward covering your fees.

If the total of your aid from these sources is more than your UC systemwide tuition and fees, then the Native American Opportunity Plan promise has been satisfied.
If the total of your aid from these sources does not fully cover your UC systemwide fees, your Native American Opportunity Plan award will make up the difference with UC grant funding.

Students with greater financial need may qualify for even more grant support to help pay other educational expenses (like books, housing, transportation, etc.) and are encouraged to complete a financial aid application.

Note: If you are a member of a tribe that is not federally recognized, additional support may be available through external organizations, including the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria. We encourage you to work with the Native American Student Development Office or the American Indian Graduate Program to identify these opportunities.

Eligibility requirements

To be eligible for the Native American Opportunity Plan, UC Berkeley students must meet all of the following criteria:

Must be a current or newly admitted UC Berkeley undergraduate, graduate or professional school student;
Must be a California resident for tuition purposes.
Must be an enrolled member in a federally recognized Native American, American Indian and/or Alaska Native tribe.
Must be enrolled in a state-supported, qualifying degree program (i.e., self-supporting and certificate programs do not qualify).
Undergraduate students must apply for financial aid by submitting a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or a California Dream Act Application (CADAA).

Next Steps

The Financial Aid & Scholarships Office will coordinate with the Native American Student Development Office, the American Indian Graduate Program, the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and the Residency Office to identify eligible students. The Financial Aid & Scholarships Office will notify new and continuing students, both undergraduate and graduate, who might be eligible for funding under the Native American Opportunity Plan with guidance on next steps.

Documentation of tribal enrollment will be collected and reviewed prior to awarding. Eligible students may submit any of the following forms of documentation:

Certification of tribal enrollment on tribal letterhead.
Enrollment/membership card that contains the tribal seal and/or official signature of a tribal leader.
Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood (CDIB) if the CDIB includes tribal enrollment information.
Tribal identification card with an enrollment number.

Eligible students also need to submit tribal contact information (address, phone, and email) with the submitted documentation.

Undergraduate Students

Undergraduate students who meet all the eligibility requirements and who have completed either a FAFSA or a California Dream Act Application will be asked to certify eligibility by submitting documentation through the Berkeley Financial Aid Forms Website.

Graduate Students

Graduate Students who meet all the eligibility requirements will be asked to certify eligibility by completing the form below and uploading it through CalCentral.

Graduate Students Download Form

Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What does the UC Native American Opportunity Plan do?

A: The goal of the UC Native American Opportunity Plan is to make college more affordable and accessible for California’s Native American students. This initial phase of the plan will ensure that in-state systemwide Tuition and Student Services Fees are fully covered for California residents who are members of federally recognized Native American, American Indian and Alaska Native tribes. The plan applies to new and continuing undergraduate, graduate and professional school students in state-funded degree programs who don’t already qualify for financial aid that covers their in-state systemwide Tuition and Student Services Fees.

Q: Are the funds provided to students through the UC Native American Opportunity Plan considered loans? Will students have to pay them back?

A: No, these funds are not loans and students do not need to pay them back. They fall under the category of tuition remission, grants, and scholarships from federal, state, university or private sources.

Q: Which fees are covered?

A: The program promises that systemwide Tuition and Student Services Fees, which are assessed to all California residents, will be covered by grants or scholarships. Campus fees and Professional Degree Supplemental Tuition are not part of the Native American Opportunity Plan.

Q: Why is this aid limited to Native American students from federally recognized tribes?

A: UC is bound by state law, specifically Proposition 209, which prohibits the University of California from providing financial aid to students based on race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. UC can provide financial aid to students based on their membership in federally recognized tribes because such membership is legally deemed a political classification, rather than a racial classification, due to the sovereign-to-sovereign relationship that the law recognizes between the federal government and federally recognized tribes.

Q: What kinds of support will be available to Native American students from non-federally recognized tribes?

A: UC consulted with tribal leaders to develop the UC Native American Opportunity Plan. This consultation included discussions on how to benefit all Native American students, including those from non-federally recognized tribes. California’s Native American tribes and other external organizations may provide scholarships to Native American students who are not members of a federally recognized tribe. The Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria recently announced a scholarship fund which will cover UC tuition and mandatory fees for all eligible California Native American students.

Q: How can students demonstrate their eligibility for the plan?

A: The Financial Aid & Scholarships Office will notify new and continuing students who might be eligible for funding under the Native American Opportunity Plan with guidance on next steps. Students will be asked to submit tribal enrollment documentation from their federally recognized tribe or the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). Documentation may include any of the following:
- Certification of tribal enrollment on tribal letterhead
- Enrollment/membership card that contains the tribal seal and/or official signature of a tribal leader
- Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood (CDIB) if the CDIB includes tribal enrollment information
- Tribal identification card with an enrollment number
Eligible students also need to provide tribal contact information (address, phone, and email) with the submitted documentation.

Students may contact Berkeley’s Financial Aid and Scholarships Office, the American Indian Graduate Program or the Native American Student Development Office for more information.

Q: Is the plan only available to members of tribes that are located within California?

A: No. The UC Native American Opportunity Plan is available to California residents who are enrolled members of any federally recognized Native American, American Indian and Alaska Native tribes.

Q: Why is UC doing this, and why now?

A: Native Americans are among the most underrepresented groups within higher education, including at the University of California. The UC Native American Opportunity Plan is part of the university’s larger commitment to expanding diversity and its efforts to make a UC education more affordable and accessible to students of all backgrounds. This plan builds on the UC Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan, the Tuition Stability Plan, and the University of California's commitment to creating pathways to a debt-free education for California students.

Q: How much will the plan cost UC? How is UC funding the program?

A: The plan is estimated to cost $2.4 million in the 2022-23 academic year. It will be funded from a combination of existing and new university financial aid funds.

Q: Is UC planning to provide tuition coverage for students from other underrepresented groups, such as African American or Latinx students?

A: UC will continue to provide robust financial aid for all its eligible students under the Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan, which ensures that undergraduate students have their systemwide tuition and fees covered if they are California residents whose total family income is less than $80,000 a year and demonstrate financial need. Additional financial aid may be available to students depending on their specific circumstances. The University of California is also committed to and working closely with the state of California to establish pathways to a debt-free UC education for California students.

Proposition 209 still prohibits UC from providing financial aid to students based on race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin.

Q: Does the program require approval by the UC Board of Regents?

A: No. The program falls within the authority of the president of the University of California and does not require Regental approval.

Q: Who can I contact for more information about the UC Native American Opportunity Plan?

A: Students may contact Berkeley’s Financial Aid and Scholarships Office, the American Indian Graduate Program or the Native American Student Development Office for more information.