American Indian students who meet the following two conditions are eligible to pay resident tuition at colleges and universities in Washington State:
- For a period of one year immediately prior to enrollment at a state institution of higher education, students must have been domiciled in one or a combination of the following states: Idaho, Montana, Oregon, or Washington. The domicile must have been for purposes other than college. If a student takes any courses at another Idaho, Montana, Oregon, or Washington college during the one-year period immediately prior to their first term at a state institution of higher education, they cannot have taken more than six credits in any given term. If a student exceeds that limit they must prove that they have a domicile in one of these states for non-college reasons.
- Students must be a member of one of the federally recognized Indian tribes, as determined under Title 25 of the Code of Federal Regulations (25CFR), whose traditional and customary tribal boundaries included portions of the state of Washington, or whose tribe was granted reserved lands within the state of Washington.
Federally Recognized Tribes
The following are qualifying tribes whose members are eligible to receive resident tuition in Washington State per RCW 28B.15.0131.
- Coeur d’Alene Tribe
- Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation
- Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation
- Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde
- Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes
- Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians
- Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla
- Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs
- Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation
- Cowlitz Indian Tribe
- Hoh Indian Tribe
- Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe
- Kalispel Tribe of Indians
- Klamath Tribes
- Kootenai Tribe
- Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe
- Lummi Nation
- Makah Tribe
- Muckleshoot Indian Tribe
- Nez Perce Tribe
- Nisqually Indian Tribe
- Nooksack Indian Tribe
- Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe
- Puyallup Tribe Quileute Tribe
- Quinault Indian Nation
- Samish Indian Nation
- Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe
- Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe
- Shoshone-Bannock Tribes
- Skokomish Indian Tribe
- Snoqualmie Indian Tribe
- Spokane Tribe of Indians
- Squaxin Island Tribe
- Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians
- Suquamish Tribe
- Swinomish Indian Tribal Community
- Tulalip Tribes
- Upper Skagit Indian Tribe
Current as of April 19, 2018, per the Washington State Achievement Council list of recognized tribes [PDF].
Application Process
Students that believe they meet the requirements of this form must complete the request for Resident Tuition for American Indian Students. Students applying under this form must provide the required documentation to support the resident tuition form.
Application Periods and Deadlines
Residency applications requesting for the change in tuition status must be submitted by the 30th day of the quarter for which this request is made. Applications sent after this deadline will be rejected. There is no retroactive backdating for in-state tuition. Review Application and Paperwork Submissions for details.