Time is running out for a significant number of Warm Springs college students who may be on the verge of losing critical financial aid. According to the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs (CTWS) Higher Education office, approximately 70 tribal college students are at risk of losing their Oregon Tribal Student Grant (OTSG) funding due to incomplete applications — and the deadline is September 30.

CTWS Higher Education Coordinator Gerald Smith issued an urgent call to action this week, urging all affected students to log in to OregonStudentAid.gov and complete their OTSG applications as soon as possible. The grant provides direct financial support to Native American students attending Oregon colleges and universities, and losing it mid-year could force some students to drop classes or leave school entirely.

Who Is Affected

Not all Warm Springs students are at risk. According to Smith, students who applied directly through the local CTWS Tribal Scholarship program are fully compliant and will not see their aid interrupted. The 70 students at risk are those who pursued the OTSG independently through the state's financial aid portal but left portions of the application incomplete.

The Oregon Tribal Student Grant is administered by the Oregon Student Aid Commission and is available to enrolled members of Oregon's nine federally recognized tribes. It is separate from — and can be layered with — other tribal scholarship funding, making it an especially valuable resource for students managing the full cost of higher education.

What Students Need to Do

  • Log in to OregonStudentAid.gov to check application status
  • Complete any missing sections of the OTSG application before September 30, 2026
  • Contact the CTWS Higher Education office directly if you need assistance
  • Reach out to your college or university financial aid office for guidance on how the grant applies to your enrollment

"We want every student who is eligible for this grant to receive it," Smith said. "There's still time, but students need to act now. Don't wait until the 30th."

A Broader Challenge

The situation highlights a persistent challenge for Indigenous students navigating the overlap between tribal, state, and federal financial aid systems — each with its own deadlines, portals, and requirements. Advocates say the complexity of the process can lead to gaps even for motivated students who believe they've already taken care of their funding.

The CTWS Higher Education office offers one-on-one support for tribal members pursuing post-secondary education, including help with grant and scholarship applications. Students and families are encouraged to reach out directly rather than trying to navigate the system alone.

With fall term now underway at colleges across Oregon, the next two weeks are critical. Students who lose OTSG funding may face mid-semester financial shortfalls with little time to find alternatives.

For help, contact the CTWS Higher Education Department or visit OregonStudentAid.gov to review your application status today.