High School Counselors
Your students may be eligible for Cobell scholarships and not know it. This page gives you everything you need to identify eligible students, guide them through the application process, and share materials they can take home. We're here to help you point them in the right direction.
What to know
You don't need to be an expert on Cobell scholarships. Here's a quick reference for eligibility, the application process, and what to tell students at every stage.
Students must be an Enrolled member of a U.S. Federally-recognized American Indian Tribe or Alaska Native Corporation — they'll select their tribe from a dropdown during the application. There's no age limit, and part-time students are welcome.
Four-year universities, community colleges, tribal colleges, vocational programs, and trade schools all qualify. It doesn't have to be a traditional degree path.
Most Cobell scholarships don't require a minimum GPA. Students receiving Pell Grants, tribal scholarships, or other financial aid are still eligible — Cobell awards work alongside other funding.
Point students to cobellscholar.org to browse scholarships and deadlines. Share the deadline calendar so they can plan ahead. Note: transcripts are required for vocational scholarships but not for undergraduate.
Students can save their progress and return anytime before the deadline. A family member can sit with them. If they get stuck, support is available by phone (1-844-415-3520) or email. Encourage honesty over polish.
Applications are reviewed by real people, so the process takes a few weeks. If selected, students must accept their award through OASIS (Online Application and Scholarship Information System) before the deadline. If not selected, encourage them to reapply — many scholars were chosen on their second or third try.
Resources you can share
Download, print, and distribute. These are designed to hand directly to students or post in your office.
PDF · 1 page, printable
Everything you need to know on one page — eligibility, scholarship types, deadlines, and how to direct students. Last updated March 2026.
PDF · 1 page, printable
All six Cobell scholarships side by side — award amounts, eligibility, program types, and application windows. Great for bulletin boards.
PDF · 4 pages, printable
Annotated screenshots walking through every step of the OASIS application portal, from account creation to final submission.
Questions counselors ask us
Straight answers to the things you need to know — so you can pass accurate information to your students.
No. Applications must come from the student's own OASIS account. You can help them navigate the process, sit with them while they fill it out, and answer questions — but the account and submission need to be theirs.
Encourage them to check with their family or their tribal nation's office. During the application, they'll select their tribe from a dropdown — no tribal paperwork or verification documents are required until an applicant is provided an offer of support.
Yes. Cobell scholarships cover vocational programs, trade schools, tribal colleges, community colleges, and four-year universities. Any accredited, nonprofit institution of higher education qualifies.
No — the FAFSA is not required to apply for a Cobell scholarship. Students apply entirely through OASIS. That said, completing the FAFSA is always a good idea: it opens the door to federal grants and loans that can work alongside a Cobell award. If a student hasn't filed yet, encourage them to do both.
Most Cobell scholarships have no minimum GPA requirement. Some advanced awards like research fellowships and dissertation fellowships may have academic criteria, but the majority of scholarships are open to all academic levels.
Students don't choose which scholarships to apply to directly. They complete an eligibility form in OASIS, and the system matches them with every scholarship they qualify for. They can then apply to any or all of their matches.
Application windows vary by scholarship type and cycle throughout the year. The scholarship comparison chart in our downloadable resources section has all current dates, or visit the scholarships page on cobellscholar.org for the latest information.
Absolutely. Many Cobell scholars were selected on their second or third application. Encourage students who weren't selected to try again — the applicant pool changes every cycle, and so do their circumstances.
Awards are sent directly to the student's institution, not to the student. The school applies the funds to the student's account. Students do need to actively accept their award in OASIS before the acceptance deadline.
Scholarships are available to undergraduate and graduate students across all program types. Fellowships (Summer Research Fellowship and The Elouise Cobell Dissertation Writing Year Fellowship) are for graduate students engaged in specific academic research. Fellowships typically have higher award amounts and additional academic requirements.
The downloadable resources section on this page has printable one-sheets, eligibility checklists, and comparison charts you can distribute. If you need bulk printed materials or customized resources for an event, contact us directly and we'll help.
Still need help?
We're here to support counselors directly — whether you need bulk printed materials for a college fair, have a question about a specific student's situation, or want to set up an informational session at your school. Reach out anytime.
