USDA 1994 Tribal Scholars Program

The USDA 1994 Tribal Scholars Program aims to expand participation by American Indian and Alaska Native students in agriculture, food, natural resources, and related fields. USDA describes a combination of education support and work experience, with coverage that may follow a student from a Tribal College and University to a four-year institution, subject to an approved academic path and program rules.

USDA materials describe tuition, fees, books, housing or living support, employment, and benefits for selected students at one of 35 federally recognized Tribal Colleges and Universities. Support may last up to four years, depending on the approved plan. Eligibility is tied to citizenship, study at an eligible institution, academic field, performance, and work commitments; this is not an unrestricted award for any major or campus.

The program includes paid work and an internship, and a scholar may be considered for USDA employment after completing the degree and program requirements; conversion is not automatic. USDA says hiring remains subject to agency criteria and needs. Before selecting a school, confirm which TCUs participate, whether the intended major is approved, and how a later transition to another college would be handled.

The current official page describes the program but does not publish an open application deadline for a new 2026–27 cycle. Do not treat old forms or announcements as a current cutoff. Contact Tribal Relations or the program’s official office to confirm when the next selection opens and what documents it requires; prepare transcripts, eligibility records, and an academic plan, but do not send sensitive material outside the federal portal it designates.

Official program information and application