Advocating for Native‐Centric Financial Aid: Lessons From the Native Student Aid Portal

ABSTRACT Native‐centric financial aid is an essential tool promoting college access and success for Native American students and a component of Native nation building. Yet, a small but growing body of literature indicates existing financial aid opportunities do not fully meet the lived realities of Native students. This article offers insights from the Native Student Aid Portal about the characteristics of Native‐centric financial aid at the institutional, postsecondary system, and state levels. We close by highlighting key lessons learned that inform student service professionals’ efforts to advance Native student services, with an emphasis on how improving financial aid information emerged as an essential strategy.