Chief Manuelito Scholarship: Requirements and Opportunities

The Chief Manuelito Scholarship, established by the Navajo Nation in 1980, recognizes high-achieving Navajo students and encourages them to pursue higher education while preserving their cultural heritage. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the Chief Manuelito Scholarship program, including eligibility requirements, application procedures, and other financial aid opportunities available to Navajo students.

Honoring Chief Manuelito

The scholarship is named in honor of Chief Manuelito, Hastiin Ch’ilhaajiin (1818-1893). He was a prominent Navajo leader who strongly advocated for education as a means of empowering the Navajo people and safeguarding their traditions. The Chief Manuelito Scholarship program embodies his vision.

Eligibility Criteria

The Chief Manuelito Scholarship program has specific eligibility requirements that applicants must meet to be considered for the award. These requirements ensure that the scholarship supports deserving students who demonstrate academic excellence and a commitment to their Navajo heritage.

Academic Achievement

High school graduates must have been admitted to a post-secondary institution with a minimum ACT (SAT scores will be converted) composite score in combination with a minimum cumulative GPA. Undergraduate students may also qualify if they are full-time students and have completed 24 semester college-level credit hours (or equivalent trimester or quarter credit hours) with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. Each subsequent year’s eligibility depends on maintaining a 3.0 GPA each semester as a full-time student (12+ credit hrs/undergrad or 9+ credit hrs/graduate) in the current year.

Coursework Requirements

Applicants must have completed required courses including Navajo Language and Navajo Government prior to high school graduation date. Students, who do not have access to either Navajo Language or Navajo government classes, have online options to fulfill the requirement. Fees apply to both and are the sole responsibility of the applicant.

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Rosetta Stone Navajo Language Exam: Score 85 percent or better on the Navajo Language Renaissance (NLR) exam to fulfill the Navajo language requirement.
American Academy: Complete coursework from American Academy to fulfill the Navajo government and/or language requirement.

Institution Accreditation

Applicants must be admitted to a postsecondary institution accredited by one of six regional accrediting associations as recognized by the Navajo Nation. Students seeking an Associate of Applied Science, Bachelors of Applied Science or Certificate are not eligible as the scholarship is limited to college-level courses.

Scholarship Award Details

Students meeting the criteria for the Chief Manuelito Scholarship are awarded $7,000 per academic year to cover direct educational expenses associated with attending a post-secondary institution.

Application Process

The Office of Navajo Nation Scholarship & Financial Assistance (ONNSFA) manages the Chief Manuelito Scholarship program. The online application is available twice a year with specific opening and closing dates.

Application Deadlines

The online application for the 2025-2026 Academic Year opens on March 15, 2025, and closes on June 25, 2025, at 5 pm MDT. The 2026 Winter/Spring term application opens on September 25, 2025, and closes on Nov. 25, 2025, at 5 pm MST. (Usual deadlines are June 25 and Nov. 25 unless those dates fall on a weekend or holiday.)

How to Apply

Click on “Apply Online.”
Choose Full-Time or Part-Time Application.

NOTE: Ensure entries are accurate and submit the application ONCE to avoid filing multiple applications. Submitting inaccurate information or multiple online applications will delay processing time.

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Required Documents

Applicants must submit the following documents as part of their application:

Application: Applicants must submit a completed application for the upcoming term.
Official Certificate of Indian Blood (CIB): Continuing applicants are not required to submit another official CIB if there is already one on file unless there is a legal name change.
Official Transcripts: The ONNSFA accepts official electronic transcripts (e-transcripts) that are digitally certified and delivered by a school's authorized delivery agent, such as Parchment or the National Student Clearinghouse. Students must turn in transcripts after every term and re-apply to ONNSFA every academic year.
Financial Need Analysis (FNA): Students planning to enroll full-time should submit a signed Financial Need Analysis form to their school's financial aid office.

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Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): All students must complete the FAFSA. Information on the FAFSA is shared with the colleges and/or career schools a student lists on the application.
NOTE: Some schools require students to sign additional documentation before processing an FNA. Check with your school to ensure that your FNA is processed without delay.
Letter of Admission: A Letter of Admission or Re-Admission from the institution the applicant will attend is required. Graduate applicants must submit an admission letter from the graduate admission office indicating acceptance into the graduate degree program, listing degree and major. A document verifying a student's enrollment is required from students who have already submitted a Letter of Admission but have not been funded for at least one term.
Graduation Degree Checklist: All college juniors, seniors, and graduate applicants must submit a list of all courses required to complete the degree being pursued.
Class Schedule: Part-Time Applicants must submit a current class schedule. Submission of a current Class Schedule/Registration is recommended for Full-Time Applicants.

Applicants may upload the following documents in .pdf format to their student account in the Student Portal: Letter of Admission, Graduation Degree Checklist, and Class Schedule.

Creating an Account and Checking Application Status

Click on "Create an Account"
Set up an account with a desired user name and password. First-time applicants: Wait four to five business days after submitting your application to create a student account to allow time for processing.
To Check Your Application Status:
Click on "Check My Document Status."
Access your student account for a list of received/outstanding documents and retrieve award or denial notices when ONNSFA counselors render a decision on your application.

NOTE: All policies concerning deadlines and document submission are strictly adhered to.

Additional Scholarship Opportunities for Navajo Students

Besides the Chief Manuelito Scholarship, numerous other scholarships and financial aid programs are available to Navajo students. These opportunities can provide additional support for tuition, fees, and living expenses, making higher education more accessible.

Navajo Nation Investment Committee Finance and Accounting Scholarship Program

The Navajo Nation Investment Committee (through the Office of the Controller) will administer this scholarship separately from other Navajo Nation government scholarship programs. The goal of the Navajo Nation Investment Committee Finance and Accounting Scholarship Program to encourage the study of Finance, Economics, Accounting, and Public Administration among Navajo students, with the aim of addressing the need for qualified Navajo individuals in these disciplines within the Navajo Nation government. Scholarship recipients will receive up to $7,000 per academic year as determined by the Investment Committee based upon the availability of funds. Scholarship awards will be based on academic achievement and not on financial need. Degree priority: Finance and Economic majors will be given preference. First priority is for undergraduate (senior/junior/sophomore); the second priority is for graduate study. Internship employment is anticipated to be part of this scholarship program. All documents required in the application process must be submitted by July 28, 2023, at 5:00 pm for both Fall and Spring terms to: Navajo Nation Office of the Controller-Investments Section; P.O. Box 3150; Window Rock, AZ 86515. Initial Eligibility: Enrolled members of the Navajo Nation, full-time enrollment at an accredited two-year junior or four-year undergraduate college or a senior in high school with a letter of acceptance from the college or university to be attended; declaration of or intend to declare a major in civil, chemical, or environmental engineering, or one of the environmental sciences (e.g., geology, hydrogeology, biology, ecology, industrial hygiene toxicology), a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent on a 5.0 scale).

American Indian Graduate Center (AIGC)

The American Indian Graduate Center provides financial support for American Indians and Alaska Natives seeking higher education and support them in attaining undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees. AIGC partners with Tribes, the federal government, foundations, corporations, and individuals to ensure the growth and sustainability of scholarships. Each opportunity has specific affiliation requirements, review the specific criteria for the opportunity that you are applying for to ensure eligibility. While Federal Pell Grant eligibility is not a requirement, students must prove financial need through submission of a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the AIGC Financial Needs Form (FNF). Eligibility: Undergraduate Students must be of American Indian, Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian descent (student or one parent must be enrolled and have documentation) and be enrolled full-time in an accredited 2- or 4-year college/university or technical/vocational school. Graduate students must be of American Indian, Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian descent and attending an accredited graduate school. Applicants must be a state-recognized American Indian tribe or Alaska Native group through submission of the AIGC Tribal Eligibility Certificate (TEC).

American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES)

The American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) helps students move forward in their educational journeys by providing a wide range of programs and scholarship opportunities. To apply, you must be an AISES member. AISES student members have access to other scholarships for American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, and Indigenous peoples of Canada through the Online Application System (OASIS).

Catching the Dream (CTD)

Eligibility: Enrolled members of a federally recognized, state recognized or terminated tribe and ¼ or more degree American Indian. All awards are based on merit, academic achievement and ambition. Students must attend an accredited college or university on a full-time basis, seeking a BA or higher. Additional requirements are listed on the CTD application. Deadline(s): Fall Semester April 30; Spring Semester Sept.

Cobell Scholarship

The competitive Cobell Scholarship is annual, non-renewable, and available to any post-secondary (after high school) student who is; an enrolled member of a US Federally-Recognized Tribe, enrolled in full-time study and is degree-seeking. Applicants must plan to attend or be attending any nationally, regionally and industry accredited non-profit, public and private, institution.

Indian Health Service (IHS) Scholarship Program

The Indian Health Service Scholarship Program offers three scholarships - Preparatory, Pre-Graduate and Health Professions - to qualified American Indian and Alaska Native candidates. Scholarships include financial aid covering tuition, required fees, educational and living expenses for all scholarship recipients. The Indian Health Service Extern Program offers IHS scholarship recipients, as well as other health professions students, the opportunity to gain valuable clinical experience in an Indian health facility. This experience allows students to develop their clinical skills under expert supervision while contributing to an interdisciplinary team of health professionals. The Indian Health Service has established residency and rotation agreements with a number of health professions schools throughout the United States. These agreements provide excellent clinical and cultural experiences within Indian communities and can lay the foundation for a career in Indian health.

Other Scholarship Programs

AISES scholarships are intended to supplement the unmet financial need of qualified American Indian/Alaskan Native Students students pursuing degrees in science, engineering, medicine, natural resources, and math.
APS - Four Corners Power Plant: Funding is for the entire year, not by semester.
Higher Education Grants Program
Navajo Area, IHS (Arizona, New Mexico and Utah): Full-time as well as part-time scholarships are available.
Souder, Miller & Associates: Offers a $1,500 scholarship opportunity to Native American students pursuing a four-year degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics. The scholarship may be used for tuition, fees, books or on-campus housing/meals. college or university or a college STEM student already enrolled at an accredited college or university.
Utah Navajo Trust Fund (UNTF): Assists eligible Utah Navajo students with post -secondary financial assistance/scholarships. UNTF has two types of College Scholarship/Financial Assistance: one is the UNTF Endowment Fund and the other is the regular UNTF higher education program. Eligibility: Meet the Residency definition of a Utah Navajo and enrollment with the Navajo Nation as a tribal member. Students can attend a university of their choice but their parents have to be a full time resident living in San Juan County, Utah. Older students with a family, must have lived in San Juan County, Utah for the past five years or have left San Juan County not more than one year ago. Students can attend any university, college, or technical/trade school of their choosing, including on-line courses. Most of the Utah Navajo students attend universities in the states of Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, and Ft Lewis College in Durango, Colorado, mostly because Utah Navajo students are eligible for in-state tuition because the Navajo Nation is in these states. UNTF can also fund high school students under the concurrent enrollment program, where they can continue to attend high school and some college classes at the same time.

Chapter-Specific Scholarships

The Navajo Nation chapters of Ramah, Alamo, and To’hajiiilee receive annual scholarship funding. All other Navajo Nation chapters are frequently appropriated funds for scholarships for members of their community.

Resources and Support

Navajo students seeking financial assistance for college can access various resources and support services to guide them through the application process and explore available opportunities.

San Juan College Financial Aid Office

The San Juan College Financial Aid Office offers workshops for those planning to attend college. Participants will review financial aid procedures and complete a Financial Aid application during the workshop. Those attending are asked to bring their federal tax information, which is important to complete the application fully.

Navajo Nation Agencies

Various Navajo Nation agencies provide workforce development and higher education services to enrolled members. These agencies can offer guidance on scholarship applications, career planning, and educational opportunities.

Provides Youth and Adult Workforce Development to enrolled members of the Navajo in Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.
UNTF Higher Education Office: 151 East 500 North; Blanding, Utah 84511.

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