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Indigenous Education

Indigenous Education

Applications

For new students who have not received NYSIA in the past: you will be required to provide documentation of your graduation from high school or GED (copy of diploma), your or your parents tribal membership (a copy of your tribal enrollment letter OR copies of both sides of your tribal nation-issued ID card OR a copy of your parent’s tribal enrollment letter and your birth certificate showing your enrolled parent’s name).

For returning students who have received NYSIA in the past, there is no documentation required, just a completed application each semester. Your continued academic eligibility will be determined by your institution of higher education and communicated directly to the Office of Indigenous Education (OIE).

In order to complete your application, you will need to provide the name of your institution of higher education. To assist with this requirement, a list of approved institutions is provided below and also as an addendum to the pdf version of the application.

List of NYS Post-Secondary Institutions Approved for NYS Indian Aid

There are two options for applying for NYSIA:

  1. The NEW on-line NYSIA application portal *much preferred method*

    Here is the link to the portal:

    New York State Indian Aid (NYSIA) Application Portal

    The portal will be used for your application and all document uploads required for new students. In the upper left corner of the portal there is a list of options. The first is the application and next three are document upload portals for each new student required documentation. It is imperative that the application be completed prior to the due date (for fall: July 15, for Spring: December 31, for Summer: May 20). For the application, you’ll see an asterisk next to each required question and if those are not completed you will not be able to submit the application.

  2. An application downloaded, printed, completed by hand, and mailed (along with all necessary documentation for new students) to:

New York State Education Department
Office of Indigenous Education
89 Washington Avenue
EB 2W Mezzanine
Albany, NY 12234

Here is the link to the downloadable version of the application:

2025-2026 Student Application for New York State Indian Aid (NYSIA)

 

If you have any questions about the application process, please contact the OIE at indigenouseducation@nysed.gov or (518) 474 – 0537.