内华达州自2021年启动的土著美国学生学费豁免计划规模不断扩大，但其可持续性正面临严峻挑战1。该计划受益人数从首年的约170人增长到2024-25学年的近700人1，相应的成本也急剧上升——从最初不足50万美元增至390万美元，四年间增长了七倍1。
尽管计划扩展迅速，资金支持却严重不足1。州和联邦资金仅覆盖计划成本的约35%，导致内华达州高等教育系统需承担超过470万美元的费用负担1。为应对这一困境，州高等教育系统计划在下一预算中申请1340万美元以确保该计划的长期可行性1。
政策制定者对计划的未来持不同态度1。2025年立法会议中曾提出三项法案试图调整该计划范围，包括AB532、SB308和AB397，但这些法案均未成功推进1。其中AB397法案遭到州长乔·隆巴多的否决1。
从成效来看，该计划已显示出积极成果1。首次全日制学位攻读的土著学生从第一学期到下一学期的继续率从2021-22学年的74%提高到2023-24学年的81%1。不过，土著美国学生的高中毕业率仍低于全州平均水平，2025年达到75%，比全州平均水平低10个百分点1。
Nevada's initiative to waive college costs for Native American students has experienced dramatic growth since its inception in 2021, but the program now confronts a precarious financial situation that threatens its sustainability.1 The number of beneficiaries has surged from approximately 170 students in the program's first year to nearly 700 during the 2024-25 academic year, while costs have escalated sevenfold from under $500,000 to $3.9 million in just four years.1 State and federal funding covers only about 35 percent of expenses, leaving the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) to absorb more than $4.7 million of the burden.1
The program's financial pressures have triggered legislative scrutiny. Three separate bills considered during the 2025 legislative session—AB532, SB308, and AB397—proposed scaling back the initiative, though all three failed to advance.1 Governor Joe Lombardo vetoed AB397 specifically.1 To stabilize the program going forward, NSHE has requested $13.4 million in the next state budget.1
Despite funding challenges, the program has demonstrated meaningful educational outcomes for its participants. The continuation rate for Native American students pursuing their first full-time degree improved from 74 percent in the 2021-22 academic year to 81 percent by the 2023-24 academic year.1 However, the high school graduation rate for Native American students in Nevada reached 75 percent in 2025, remaining 10 percentage points below the statewide average.1
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