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Nevada program waives college costs for Native American students. It’s facing a murky future.
The program now serves nearly 700 students and has pushed costs to $3.9 million, prompting calls for dedicated state funding.
- Nevada's Native American tuition waiver program has grown to $3.9 million in costs during the 2024-25 school year, forcing the Nevada System of Higher Education campuses to absorb more than $4.7 million in unfunded expenses.
- Created in 2021 by Assemblywoman Natha Anderson , the waiver program has grown from about 170 recipients in its first year to nearly 700 during the 2024-25 school year.
- Under AB150, a 2023 bill, the waiver became a first-dollar program covering tuition before other aid. Spute, 57, a Moapa Band of Paiutes member, graduated from UNLV in two years using the waiver.
- During a February legislative meeting, NSHE Chancellor Matt McNair said the program "is putting a strain on the system." The Board of Regents plans to request $13.4 million in the upcoming budget.
- A recent Kenny Guinn Center for Policy Priorities report recommends securing dedicated state funding for sustainability. However, it remains too early to measure the program's impact on graduation rates, which are assessed over a six-year period.
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14 Articles
14 Articles
Nevada program waives college costs for Native American students. It’s facing a murky future
By Rocío Hernández/the Nevada Independent Ronica Spute always wanted to go back to college to get her bachelor’s degree, but life kept getting in the way. Two years ago, her path was finally cleared thanks to a Nevada program that allows certain Native American students to attend college virtually for free. As a member of the Moapa Band of Paiutes, the waiver along with a scholarship from her tribe allowed Spute, 57, to pursue a criminal justice…
Ronica Spute always wanted to go back to college to get her degree, but life stood in the way. Her path finally cleared two years ago thanks to a Nevada program that allows certain Native American students to attend college virtually and for free.
Coverage Details
Total News Sources14
Leaning Left5Leaning Right1Center7Last UpdatedBias Distribution54% Center
Bias Distribution
- 54% of the sources are Center
54% Center
L 38%
C 54%
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