Image
Members
Cowlitz Tuition Assistance Award Program
Image
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.
Image
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.
This is a 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 below.
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.
IRS Instructions—Tuition and Other Educational Benefits Provided by Tribes, Form 1098-T
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
2025–26 Academic Year (May 1, 2025 through April 30, 2026)
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.
Looking for Scholarships?
For additional details follow the links to the websites
American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association
American Indian Science and Engineering Society
Bosterbio Scholarships for Young Scientists Of Excellence
First Nations’ Native Agriculture & Food Systems Scholarship
Indian Health Service (IHS) Scholarship Program
National Academy of American Scholarships (NAAS)
The National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition
Udall Undergraduate Scholarship
Washington Indian Gaming (WIGA) Scholarship
Washington State University Memorandum of Understanding Member Scholarships
Washington State University Scholarships
Washington State Opportunity Scholarship
Additional Education
Internship Opportunities
For additional details follow the links to the websites
American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) Internships
Indian Energy Undergrad Internship
NASA One Stop Shopping Initiative (OSSI)
WSU: Native American Health Sciences Program
WSU: Native STEAM Summer Research Institute
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))
Our Locations
Image
