In a significant boost for Montana’s tribal colleges, federal funding is set to increase substantially for the 2025 fiscal year, following initial confusion and uncertainty. This development promises to double the financial support for these institutions compared to the previous year.
“We were freaking out,” expressed Stone Child College President Cory Sangrey-Billy, reflecting the initial uncertainty surrounding the funding.
Funding Surge for Montana’s Tribal Colleges
Montana hosts seven of the 35 tribal colleges in the United States, the highest number in any state. Collectively, these institutions are expected to receive a total of $108 million. “It’s quite a significant jump,” noted Sangrey-Billy.
With this increase, budget planning is actively underway at Stone Child College in Box Elder and other tribal colleges across Montana. Tribal education leaders are also highlighting the positive impact of federal investments, as demonstrated by a recent economic impact study.
Economic Impact and Federal Support
The study, conducted by the American Indian Higher Education Consortium, revealed that tribal colleges in Montana contributed $332.2 million to the economy during the 2022-2023 fiscal year. “There is a value to what we bring to the table,” Sangrey-Billy emphasized. “And that’s where we’ve been very successful.”
Based in Alexandria, Virginia, the consortium aims to amplify the voices of tribal-led colleges and universities. It applauded the federal government’s increased investment, stating, “This one-time allocation by the federal government for Fiscal Year 2025 is progress towards fulfilling federal trust and treaty obligations to Tribal Nations as intended and a welcome new precedent in increased investment into TCUs.”
Moreover, some of the additional funding has been reallocated from other federal programs supporting Native American and Alaska Native students at non-tribal colleges. The consortium encouraged a federal commitment to support all Native students “wherever they pursue post-secondary learning.”
Planning for the Future
Stone Child College is yet to receive the funds and is awaiting details on spending limitations. Potential uses include infrastructure improvements, like a new roof, and student support services, such as tutors and mentors, to aid retention.
The economic impact report titled “Building Local Economies of Scale” highlights the returns on investment from tribal colleges in Montana. For instance, these colleges have generated a payroll of $47.1 million, which largely circulates within the state through household expenses.
Sangrey-Billy pointed out the limited shopping options near the college on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation, emphasizing the economic significance of these institutions. “We can only get a few groceries out there so we have to go to Havre (or Great Falls). The economic impact that we have there is big,” she said.
The report also states that tribal colleges produce more in national tax revenue than they receive. It predicts that for every $1 of public funding invested in Montana’s tribal colleges, national taxpayers gain $1.40, and state taxpayers receive $12.40 over a student’s lifetime.
Challenges and Advocacy
Brad Hall, president of Blackfeet Community College, described tribal colleges as “a good investment,” while noting the challenges posed by changes in federal administration. He stressed the need for continued advocacy to educate new administrations about the value of these institutions.
Hall recently engaged with federal education leaders in Washington, D.C., and found them receptive to the needs of tribal colleges. “Now that we’re getting to the table and talking more, there’s a willingness to hear what we absolutely need,” Hall said. “A lot of the people we’re working with have never really worked with tribal colleges or were aware of that.”
He clarified that tribal colleges are not diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. Instead, they are tribally chartered campuses that the federal government is obliged to support. “The advocacy just takes time, but I can tell you with certainty we do have our baseline funding, and it’s just that this year was harder to budget for because we didn’t have the certainty that we normally have in budget cycles,” Hall explained.
Highlighting the study’s findings, conducted in partnership with Lightcast, Hall noted that Montana’s tribal college alumni added $258.6 million in income to the state economy, equivalent to 4,017 jobs. “We’re not institutions that just take,” Hall stated. “We’re institutions that are absolutely vital and contributing to the communities that we serve.”
