Updated: Wednesday, August 5th, 2009

In the current economy paying for education may be a challenge, but the diversity of financial assistance options is evidenced by a scholarship opportunity for minority students desiring to launch a business career.

The National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development (NCAIED) has said it will award five scholarships to Native American undergraduate or graduate students pursuing a business degree, according to NativeTimes.com.

The deadline for applications is August 7, and the awards will be presented at the 34th Annual Indian Progress in Business event held in Tulsa, Oklahoma, from September 16 to 18.

Since 1969, NCAIED has helped Native Americans across the U.S. establish self-sufficiency through business ownership.

Job market experts say their research shows salaries of those with college degrees consistently surpass the earnings of those without higher education. The U.S. Census Bureau suggests the average earnings for men with high school education were $42,466 in 2007, while those with bachelors degrees earned $88,843.

Those who will not be able to meet the NCAIED deadline are encouraged to explore other scholarship opportunities, many of which are awarded on an annual or semi-annual basis, that can go a long way towards helping finance business education.

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