The American Indian Endowed Scholarship (AIES) helps financially needy students with close social and cultural ties to an American Indian community in the state of Washington. Students can use the scholarships at public colleges and many independent colleges in Washington. The program prioritizes upper division and graduate level students, however, all applicants receive award consideration. Award amounts range from around $500 to $3,000. About 15 students are selected each year to receive the awards. Students may get AIES funding for up to five years, but they must reapply each year. 

Many past recipients have careers in law, medicine, education, business, and resource management. All have returned, or plan to return, to their tribal communities to work on behalf of Indian peoples within the state. Recipients are selected using criteria based on academic merit and a commitment to serve the American Indian community in Washington. Scholarship awards come from the interest earnings of an endowment established from funds appropriated by the Washington State Legislature in 1990, with matching contributions from private individuals, organizations, and tribes.

The Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) will accept completed applications submitted online by close of business March 2, 2026. Applications must be accompanied with all required attachments.

To be eligible to apply, an applicant must:

• Have close social and cultural ties to an American Indian tribe or community in Washington state
• Intend to use his or her education to benefit the American Indian community in this state
• Be enrolled as a full-time student for the 2026-27 academic year, beginning fall term, at a participating college or university in-state
• Have demonstrated financial need (as determined by the college financial aid office, per FAFSA)
• Be a Washington state resident
• Have not received a total of five years of this scholarship

The program includes a priority for upper-division and graduate-level students, however, all qualified applicants are considered. Additional information is described in the application instructions on the website. 

• freshman
• sophomore
• junior
• senior
• graduate

• US Citizen
• Permanent Resident
• Undocumented

Application forms and instructions are available at https://wsac.wa.gov/american-indian-endowed-scholarship.

Ann Voyles

Program Associate

aies@wsac.wa.gov

360.485.1311