Financial Aid - Scholarship Program

Fremont County & Wind River Reservation

Photo Credit: Nicholas Valentine

A group of students celebrates on the top of Indian Pass in the Wind River Range.

Join us for the Adventure of a Lifetime

Each year, NOLS offers generous tuition assistance. Scholarships are available to applicants who show great potential to excel as NOLS students and who would be unable to attend without financial aid.

Because Lander is home to our world headquarters and NOLS Rocky Mountain, the school’s oldest and largest campus, we reserve more than $25,000 in financial aid for residents of Fremont County and Wind River Reservation. This support is made possible by the generosity of NOLS alumni and friends.

Frequently Asked Questions

Residents of Fremont County and Wind River Reservation ages 14 and older. There is no upper age limit for financial assistance. We strongly encourage middle school, high school, and college-age students to apply.

You can apply for any NOLS course at any location. At NOLS Rocky Mountain, we offer courses in backpacking, rock climbing, horse packing, mountaineering, and whitewater kayaking. You may also apply for any course offered by NOLS Wilderness Medicine.

Aid is awarded according to both need and merit. Depending upon course type and cost, the typical award ranges from $500 to $3,000. Full tuition scholarships are rare. Please do not apply for more assistance than you need. Priority will be given to first-time NOLS students; however, alumni are still eligible for aid.

  • Your completed Fremont County and Wind River Reservation Scholarship Application
  • Your most recent tax return (Form 1040), with all IRS-required schedules and forms. Applicants who are dependents must also submit their parents’ or guardians’ most recent Form 1040.
  • First, submit your completed Fremont County and Wind River Reservation Scholarship Application and supporting tax documents to our office. Please mail them to:

NOLS Rocky Mountain
Attn: Scholarship Program
502 Lincoln Street
Lander, WY 82520

  • Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and you will be notified of any award within two weeks. At that time, you will be invited to submit a standard course application. This can be done either on paper or online; further instructions will be provided. As part of your course application, you will be required to complete a health history and physical exam.

There is no set deadline. Awards are made on a rolling basis, and we will accept applications until all funds have been disbursed. However, many summer courses fill up by early March. Thus, we encourage you to apply as early as possible!

You can call or email Clair Smith, Special Projects Coordinator at NOLS Rocky Mountain:
(307) 332-1438
[email protected]