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Members
Cowlitz Tuition Assistance Award Program
The Cowlitz Tribe views vocational certificates and college or university degrees as an investment in both the Tribal member and the future of our Tribal community. To encourage Cowlitz students in their pursuit of a vocational certificate or college or university degree the Cowlitz Tribe offers a Tuition Assistance Award Benefit and an Educational Costs GWE Benefit.
General Welfare Exclusion Act Benefit
On August 3, 2019, the Cowlitz Tribal Council approved the inclusion of the Cowlitz Tuition Assistance Award Program as a tribal benefit under the General Welfare Exclusion Act of 2014 (Act). This approval acknowledges the tuition and tuition related fees provided by the Cowlitz Tuition Assistance Award Program meet the requirements of the Act, are not taxable, and are not subject to IRS information reporting requirements. Select the link below for Tribal General Welfare Exclusion Act of 2014 IRS instructions.
The Education Committee and hundreds of Cowlitz students who have received this award, thank the Cowlitz Tribal Council and General Council for their support.
Gregg Ford, Chair
Ellen Harju, Vice-Chair
Katie Kenyon-Appelt, Secretary
Education Committee Members: David Iyall, Tricia Bliss, Mikayla Lawrence, and Carol Robertson
Manager: Carol Burnison
- Education Committee Mission Statement and By-Laws - April 10, 2021
- Cowlitz Tuition Assistance Award Program | Policies and Procedures - October 7th, 2023
Tuition Assistance Award Benefit
Tuition and tuition related fees are awarded to enrolled Cowlitz tribal members attending an accredited vocational school, college, or university. Cowlitz Tribal funding will support one of each of the following certificates or degrees:
- Vocational Certificate
- Associate Degree
- Bachelor Degree
- Master Degree
- Doctorate Degree
Funding for the program is approved by the Tribal Council each academic year and is dependent on availability of Tribal funds.
Educational Costs GWE Benefits
- GWE Benefit – $2,500 per our academic year for those who have graduated high school or received their GED and are currently enrolled in a Vocational Certificate and College/University Degree Student
- GWE Benefit - $400 per our academic year for those obtaining a GED
- GWE Benefit $500 per our academic year for those currently dually enrolled in High School and College
- GWE Benefit – Up to $3000 per our academic year for those enrolled in continuing education pursing professional certifications, licenses and or an endorsement. (Pilot program. All GWE Applications are provided by tuition assistance staff and are not posted on this website. Criteria must be met to obtain these GWE Educational Costs Benefits as well as supporting documentation.)
Our academic years run from May to April.
Educational GWE’s cannot be combined in the same academic year, except for 1. Earning your GED and then enrolling in college, and 2. Graduating High school while in a dual enrollment program and continuing with college.
For more information, contact the Tuition Assistance Office by email at tuitionassistance@cowlitz.org or Call Melanie Mariano – 360-353-9497, Amanda Fitzpatrick – 360-575-6224 or Carol Burnison – 360-353-9588.
Additional information can be found in our Policies and Procedures above.
2025–26 Academic Year (May 1, 2025 through April 30, 2026) — Funding is Limited
2025-26 Cowlitz Tuition Assistance Award Application 2025-26 Request for Payment Form FAFSA Info (12.09.25) Additional College Prep Resources (12.08.25)
For Student Housing Assistance – Call 360-864-8720 or email at housing@cowlitz.org
Students applying for a Cowlitz Tuition Assistance Award are urged to seek other outside sources of funding for their educational costs. Links to scholarship programs and other educational opportunities are provided below.
Scholarships & Educational Opportunities
Some opportunities may also appear in the Internship resources below.
All Scholarships (A–Z)
- About Scholarships – Grays Harbor Community Foundation
- ACS Catalyst Scholarship - American Chemical Society
- AICPA Foundation Scholarship for Future CPAs
- AISES Scholarships
- Akiptan – Okhichanye Scholarship
- AAUW – American Dissertation Fellowship
- American Indigenous Tourism Association – Tourism & Hospitality Scholarship
- American Indian Services – Scholarships
- American Indian Endowed Scholarship (WSAC)
- American Indian College Fund – Scholarships
- Association on American Indian Affairs – Scholarship Program
- Boarding School Healing Coalition Scholarships & Fellowships
- Bosterbio Scholarships for Young Scientists of Excellence
- Brockmeyer Foundation
- College Board – Scholarship Search
- Adventures in Education (AIE)
- CareerOneStop – Find Scholarships
- CDM Smith Scholarships
- Chatham University – Scholarship Information
- Chegg Scholarships
- Cobell Scholarship
- Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation
- Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Scholarships Portal
- Dell Scholars Program
- University of Denver – AHSS Graduate Scholarships & Funding
- Edward Gibson Foundation Scholarship Program
- Evergreen State College – Scholarships
- Fastweb Scholarship Search
- FinAid Scholarships
- First Nations’ Native Agriculture & Food Systems Scholarship
- FindHelp.org
- General Scholarships - GHC Foundation
- Hispanic Scholarship Fund
- Indian Health Service (IHS) Scholarship Program
- International Scholarships
- Intertribal Timber Council – Scholarships
- Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship
- Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health – Scholarships and Alumni
- Lead with Languages Scholarship
- MomsRising Fellowship Program
- National Academy of American Scholars
- Native Forward Scholars Fund
- Partnership with Native Americans – American Indian Education Fund (AIEF) Scholarship
- Northwest Archivists Scholarship
- NFFG – Scholarship & Fellowship Directory
- NSA – Students
- PCDS Scholarships
- PDK International Scholarships
- Peterson’s Scholarship Search
- PhRMA Foundation Fellowships and Grants
- Pride Foundation Scholarships
- Scholarship America – Scholarship Directory
- Scholarship America – National STEM Excellence Scholarship Program
- Scholarship America – Western Digital STEM Scholarship
- Scholarship America – Women at Microsoft Scholarship Program
- Scholarships.com
- Seattle University – Scholarships
- Stamps Scholars Program
- theWashBoard.org
- Tides Foundation
- Udall Undergraduate Scholarship
- Unigo Scholarships
- University of Washington – Scholarships
- Washington State University Alumni Association – Scholarships
- WSU Future Coug – Scholarships
- WSU Plateau Native American Scholarship
- Washington Indian Gaming Association (WIGA) Scholarship
- Wells Fargo – Student Programs
- Whitworth University – Scholarships
- WUE – Western Undergraduate Exchange
Internship Opportunities
Explore hands-on learning opportunities, career training, and internship programs that support educational and professional development.
Internships & Programs (A–Z)
- AISES Internships (American Indian Science & Engineering Society)
- BIA Pathways Internships for Students (Indian Affairs)
- How to Apply for Pathways Internships (Indian Affairs)
- CDM Smith — Students & Scholarships
- Microsoft Discovery Program
- Explore Microsoft Program
- Native Forward Internship Assistance Program (2025–2026)
- Nike — Student & Intern Opportunities (Career Areas)
- NASA OSTEM Internships (Explore Opportunities)
- Indian Energy Internship Program (U.S. Dept. of Energy)
Have questions about the Cowlitz Tuition Assistance Award Program?
Must be an enrolled member of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe who has graduated High School or obtained a GED. Applicant must be pursuing Post-Secondary Education in an Accredited and or Licensed degree or certificate program that results in a degree or certificate. The Tuition Assistance award pays tuition and mandatory fees only. Applicants must submit a complete Tuition Assistance Application packet and be approved by the Education Committee. Cowlitz funding will support Associates, Bachelors, Masters, Doctorate and Certificates. Funding is based on the certificate or degree program you are enrolled in. Lifetime limits apply to all awards. The Cowlitz Tuition Assistance Award Program does not have the spending authority to pay on past educational debt.
- Applications are available on-line. Complete application packets are to be emailed to: tuitionassistance@cowlitz.org.
- An application packet must contain the following: Application, Educational Goals sheet, Copy of Cowlitz Tribal id, Most recent transcripts and a current FAFSA Submission Summary Report (SAI).
- Each academic year, a GWE Educational Benefit of $2,500 is available. Education staff will send you the application after your first term tuition payment is submitted by you.
“General Welfare Exclusion Act Benefit -On August 3, 2019, the Cowlitz Tribal Council approved the inclusion of the Cowlitz Tuition Assistance Award Program as a tribal benefit under the General Welfare Exclusion Act of 2014 (Act). This approval acknowledges the tuition and tuition related fees provided by the Cowlitz Tuition Assistance Award Program meet the requirements of the Act, are not taxable, and are not subject to IRS information reporting requirements. Select the link below for Tribal General Welfare Exclusion Act of 2014 IRS instructions. (Tuition and Other Educational Benefits Provided by Tribes, Form 1098-T | Internal Revenue Service (irs.gov))
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