About Us

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Background  
The Office of Navajo Nation Scholarship & Financial Assistance (ONNSFA) provides enrolled members of the Navajo Nation with an opportunity to achieve their educational goals. Formerly known as the Navajo Higher Education Office, the ONNSFA was established in 1972 when the Navajo Nation entered into a P.L. 93-638 contract with the Bureau of Indian Affairs to administer the Higher Education Grant. The ONNSFA is housed within the Department of Diné Education. 

Funding Sources: 

The ONNSFA awards financial aid and scholarships from several sources, including federal funds from the Higher Education Grant, Navajo Nation Funds, Trust Funds, and Corporate Funds. In 2025, the ONNSFA awarded more than $25.6 million in financial aid and scholarships to 6,358 students seeking a college degree or certificate.

Agency Offices
Five agency offices serve students. Offices are located in Tuba City, Ariz.; Chinle, Ariz.; Shiprock, NM; Crownpoint, NM; and Window Rock, Ariz. Toll-free telephone numbers and the ONNSFA Student Portal at  www.onnsfa.org  help students navigate the ONNSFA application process.

Each office is staffed with a Senior Financial Aid Counselor, a Financial Aid Counselor, and Office Specialists. Agency staff provide presentations at high schools, chapters, and other career fairs across the Navajo Nation on ONNSFA policies and procedures and other funding sources