Native American Fee Waiver
The Nevada Board of Regents provides a waiver of certain fees related to registration to a Native American student who is a member of a federally recognized Indian tribe or nation, all or part of which is located within the boundaries of Nevada, or who is certified by the enrollment department of such tribe or nation or by the Bureau of Indian Affairs as being a descendant of an enrolled member of such tribe or nation, all or part of which is located within the boundaries of Nevada, regardless of member status.
Following the passage of AB150, eligibility requirements are as follows, effective July 1, 2023:
- The requirement is now that an eligible student must be a member or descendant of any federally recognized tribe or nation.
- The requirement is now that an otherwise eligible student must meet one of two criteria:
- Bona fide residence in Nevada according to Title 4, Chapter 15, which includes members of tribes or nations wholly or partially located within the state of Nevada; or
- Current residence on qualified tribal land (as defined in AB 150) for not less than one year.
- The amendment includes the addition of eligible academic periods for which a student may use the waiver, to include summer and winter terms.
- The amendment includes the addition of eligible courses and programs for which a student may use the waiver, to include all courses and programs, including credit-bearing, non-credit-bearing, state-supported, self-supported and dual enrollment. Due to the expansion which includes all courses, subtends are no longer required to be degree-seeking to use the waiver.
- The waiver shall be equal to the full amount of registration fees, laboratory fees and other mandatory fees assessed against an eligible student for the term, regardless of any financial aid received.
To submit your application for the Native American Fee Waiver:
- Email your application, proof of membership or descendancy and proof of residency to nafw@unr.edu.
- Please allow 2 weeks for your application to be processed.
- For assistance, please contact Daphne Emm Hooper.
Download the NSHE Native American Fee Waiver
Download the Fee Waiver Residency Affidavit
Frequently Asked Questions
Download the NSHE Native American Fee Waiver FAQs
The fee waiver is applicable to all state-supported and self-supported courses offered by any NSHE institution including, but not limited to:
- Academic credit-bearing courses that lead to a certificate, associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or professional degree;
- Non-credit courses;
- Dual and concurrent enrollment courses;
- Distance education courses; and
- Continuing and community education courses.
The fee waiver is equal to the full amount of registration fees, laboratory fees, and other mandatory fees. However, the following fees are not eligible for the waiver:
- Application Fees
- Electronic Course Materials – You can opt out of this fee in Canvas and acquire the materials elsewhere.
- Graduate Student Health Insurance – This fee can be waived should the student have their own insurance. Check out The Graduate School webpage for options.
Yes, this waiver is applicable during all academic semesters and terms.
No. The amount of the waiver must be equal to the balance of registration fees, laboratory fees, and other mandatory fees charged, regardless of other financial aid received.
Yes. A student may use the fee waiver at more than one institution at the same time. A separate fee waiver form must be submitted at each institution. Eligibility for the fee waiver will be independently confirmed at each institution.
The fee waiver cannot be granted for the following semester in this circumstance because the student’s eligibility cannot be determined until the letter grades are granted. If, once the grades are recorded, the student is eligible, the waiver may be applied retroactively.
Continuously enrolled students do not need to resubmit the fee waiver form each semester. However, if the student has a break in enrollment, a new fee waiver form must be submitted for the semester or term the student returns.
To remain eligible, the student must maintain a minimum 2.0 semester grade point average during the immediately prior fall/spring semester or summer term at the institution for which the waiver is being requested. In addition, the student must complete the FAFSA for each year the fee waiver is desired, except for students taking only high school dual enrollment courses.
To remain eligible for the fee waiver, students taking courses that are offered for a letter grade must maintain a minimum 2.0 semester grade point average (GPA) during the prior fall/spring semester or summer term of attendance at the institution for which the waiver is being requested. A student with less than the required 2.0 GPA may reinstate eligibility by subsequently enrolling at the same institution without the fee waiver and meeting the GPA requirement. The fee waiver will then be reinstated for the immediately subsequent term or semester.
If a student has previously enrolled in one or more courses offered for a letter grade, they must have earned a minimum 2.0 semester grade point average (GPA) at the institution for which the waiver is being requested. However, lack of a GPA does not prevent the student from being eligible.
Continuing students who have already classified as a resident for tuition purposes do not need to submit residency documentation at the time they submit the fee waiver form. The institution will review the student record for evidence of meeting residency requirements. If this cannot be documented, the institution will follow up with the student to request documentation.
Only a student who meets all the following conditions must submit the affidavit as part of the fee waiver application process:
- Is a member or descendant of an enrolled member of a tribe or nation that is not locatedwholly or partially within the state of Nevada;
- Cannot meet documentation requirements to be classified as a resident for tuition purposes; and
- Is currently residing on tribal lands located wholly or partially within the state of Nevada,whether the student’s actual residence was located within or outside of the boundaries ofNevada, and has been a resident for not less than one year.