News

Beginning in Fall 2025, St. Olaf College will offer a new financial aid commitment to support and uplift current and prospective students who are Indigenous.

The St. Olaf Indigenous Student Affordability Commitment is a financial aid package that will be available to students from Minnesota who are enrolled members or citizens of a federally recognized American Indian Nation or Canadian First Nation, or are of one-fourth or more American Indian ancestry.

“We have long been deeply committed to ensuring that St. Olaf is accessible to families from all socioeconomic backgrounds,” says Associate Vice President and Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid Chris George ’94. “The new Indigenous Student Affordability Commitment builds on this work and is an important step toward turning our land acknowledgment statement into meaningful action.”

For eligible Indigenous students from Minnesota with family incomes under $150,000, the college commits to covering a minimum of full tuition with grants and scholarships; for students with family incomes between $150,000 and $250,000, the college will cover 90 percent of tuition with grants and scholarships. 

“The new Indigenous Student Affordability Commitment is an important step toward turning our land acknowledgment statement into meaningful action.”

— Associate Vice President and Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid Chris George ’94

“At St. Olaf, our commitment to heal the legacy of injustice Indigenous Americans have experienced and work toward honest storytelling is ongoing as we strive to live out our land acknowledgement,” says President Susan Rundell Singer. “To further this work, the Indigenous Student Affordability Commitment increases access to higher education and sustains our community by continuing to meet the demonstrated financial need of every Ole.”

With the adoption of this financial commitment, St. Olaf joins colleges and universities in Minnesota and nationally in its efforts to uplift Indigenous and Native American peoples.