NSHE Native American Fee Waiver
Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) Board of Regents (NRS 396.5449)
Members (or certified descendants of members) of federally recognized tribes pay no registration, lab or other mandatory fees at NSHE colleges if they are Nevada residents, belong to a Nevada tribe, or live on qualified tribal land.
- How much
- Registration, laboratory and all other mandatory fees waived (all terms, including summer)
- Who qualifies
- member or certified descendant of a federally recognized tribe or nation
- Plus one of: Nevada resident; member/descendant of a tribe located in Nevada; or 1+ year living on qualified tribal land. FAFSA (except dual-credit-only students). 2.0 semester GPA. NSHE institutions only.
- For high school seniors, students starting college, undergrads, grad students, adults going back to school, transfer students, trade school students
- When to apply
- Apply any time Each term, through the college.
- How to apply
- Complete the FAFSA (not required for high school dual-credit-only students) and give your NSHE college the tribal membership or descendancy documentation it requests (tribal enrollment office or BIA certification)
- What you'll need
- FAFSA + membership
- Last checked
- October 5, 2026, against the official page (nshe.nevada.edu) and page 2
The details
Waives registration fees, lab fees, all mandatory student fees and special course fees, in every term including summer and winter, for state-supported and self-supporting credit courses toward a certificate, associate, bachelor's, master's or professional degree, including dual enrollment courses. Eligible: a member of a federally recognized tribe or nation, or a person certified by the tribe's enrollment department or the Bureau of Indian Affairs as a descendant of an enrolled member, who is admitted to NSHE and is (i) a Nevada resident, (ii) a member or descendant of a tribe located wholly or partly in Nevada, or (iii) has lived for at least a year on qualified tribal land (inside or outside Nevada). Must complete the FAFSA unless enrolled only in dual credit courses while in high school. Recipients are treated as Nevada residents for tuition; a 2.0 semester GPA is required to keep it (for letter-graded courses).
More money from Nevada
- Silver State Opportunity Grant (SSOG)Up to $5,500 per year (up to $4,400 per year at 12 credits per semester; prorated below 15 credits)
- Governor Guinn Millennium Scholarship (GGMS)Up to $10,000 total; $40 (lower division)/$60 (upper division) per credit at NSHE community colleges, $60 per credit at Nevada State University, $80 per credit at all other eligible institutions; up to 15 credits each semester
- Nevada Promise Scholarship (NPS)Up to three years of community college registration fees and mandatory fees not covered by other gift aid (last-dollar)
- Regents' Higher Education Opportunity Award (Nevada Student Access Aid)Varies by college; each NSHE institution sets its own award amounts (no statewide amount published)
Keep looking
- Answer a few questions to see every program you qualify for
- Nearby states: Arizona, California, Idaho, Oregon, Utah
- Federal aid and national scholarships (open to students in any state)
- The FAFSA in plain English (2027-28)
- Should I file the FAFSA if I don't think I'll qualify?
- FAFSA deadlines by state (2027-28)
- The FAFSA for parents: what you need to do
- How to save on textbooks: free, rented and cheaper options
We list programs; we don't decide who gets them. Always check the official page before you apply. Spot something wrong? Tell us.