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]