Seventy college students from the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs (CTWS) are at risk of losing state financial aid unless they complete outstanding application steps before the end of the month, tribal higher education officials are warning.

The Oregon Tribal Student Grant (OTSG) provides financial assistance to enrolled tribal members attending college in Oregon. But according to CTWS Higher Education Coordinator Gerald Smith, a significant number of Warm Springs students who applied through channels other than the local tribal scholarship program have not fully completed their OTSG applications — leaving their funding in jeopardy ahead of the September 30 deadline.

Who Is At Risk

Students who applied directly for the CTWS Tribal Scholarship are considered fully compliant. The concern centers on students who applied separately for the Oregon Tribal Student Grant without going through the local tribal program.

Smith is urging those students to take action immediately. Incomplete OTSG applications require students to log in and address outstanding items at OregonStudentAid.gov or contact the tribal higher education office directly for guidance.

What the Grant Covers

The Oregon Tribal Student Grant is designed to reduce financial barriers for Oregon tribal members pursuing higher education. For Warm Springs students attending institutions like COCC's Madras campus, Oregon State University, or other in-state colleges, the grant can represent thousands of dollars per year in aid that supplements tribal scholarships and federal financial assistance.

"We want every student to have every dollar they're entitled to," Smith said at Tuesday's Native Aspirations Community Prevention Meeting, where the funding alert was shared publicly. "Don't let a paperwork gap cost you your education funding."

How to Check Your Status

Students who are unsure whether their application is complete should:

  • Log in to OregonStudentAid.gov and check for any outstanding action items
  • Contact the CTWS Higher Education office directly at the Warm Springs tribal administrative offices
  • Act before September 30 — extensions are not guaranteed

The September 30 deadline applies to the 2026–27 academic year grant cycle. Students who miss the deadline may not be able to recover those funds for the current school year.

Warm Springs tribal officials are encouraging community members to spread the word to any college-age relatives or friends who may be affected.