The Only College Planning Platform Designed for Native American Students
Welcome to the official page about CollegeBound Journey, the first and only digital platform dedicated to Native American college planning. We provide culturally responsive college and scholarship tools specifically designed for educators, school counselors, and Indian Education programs.
About CollegeBound Journey
CollegeBound Journey is the first and only digital platform dedicated to Native American college planning. This subscription-based service provides culturally responsive college search and scholarship tools designed for those who guide Native high school students, especially educators, school counselors, and Indian Education program staff.
Everything on the platform is built to honor Native students’ identity, culture, and community, offering a professional solution to help close the opportunity gap in higher education.
Our Mission and Values
Mission – Empower Native Youth: CollegeBound Journey exists to equip educators with the resources to guide Native American students toward higher education in ways that reflect their cultural identity, sense of belonging, and self-determination. We believe every Native student deserves college planning support that respects who they are, where they come from, where they’re going, and how they want to get there.
Core Values: In pursuing this mission, we adhere to key values that shape our platform and content:
1. Cultural Integrity
We center Indigenous values, traditions, and perspectives in every resource. Our content honors tribal diversity and ensures Native students see themselves reflected in their college planning journey.
2. Access with Purpose
We remove barriers by curating tools that help students explore opportunities that align with their identity, goals, and community needs—turning access into intentional, culturally guided pathways.
3. Educator Partnership
We design with educators in mind. Our resources are built to be easy to implement, align with professional standards, and enhance the work of school counselors, Indian Education staff, and college access teams.
4. Representation Matters
We believe Native students thrive when they feel a sense of belonging. Our platform prioritizes colleges, scholarships, and programs that support Native identity, language, and community connections.
5. Sovereignty Through Education
We see education as a pathway to tribal self-determination and sovereignty. Our work supports Native students in becoming future leaders who will serve and strengthen their Nations.
What We Offer Educators
CollegeBound Journey is your trusted partner in Native American college planning. Our subscription-based platform equips educators with the tools they need to support Native high school students with culturally relevant, college and career planning resources.
Native-Friendly College Search Tool
Help students find colleges where they truly belong.
Filter by Native support programs, cultural clubs, American Indian Studies majors, Native American language programs, Native Living and Learning Communities, and more.
Designed to surface institutions that offer genuine support for Native students—academic and cultural.
Curated Native-Specific Scholarship Database
Save time and connect students with meaningful funding.
Access over 750+ scholarships, tuition waivers, and tribal aid opportunities.
Search by tribal affiliation, region, academic interest, or school type.
Pre-College & Enrichment Program Directory
Connect students with programs that prepare them for success.
Discover Native-focused summer programs, bridge programs, academic camps, and cultural leadership initiatives.
Each listing includes eligibility, application timelines, and cultural relevance.
Culturally Responsive Curriculum, Resources, and Implementation Guides
We support educators.
Lesson plans, small group curriculum, planning guides, posters, games and more to begin implementation with students and families.
Resources align with MTSS, GEAR UP, JOM, and Title VI programming goals.
Meet the Creator of the Platform
Kerrie Troseth, M.S., is the creator of CollegeBound Journey® and founder of Four Directions Educational Consulting Services. With over 25 years of experience as a school counselor and educator, she has dedicated her career to supporting Native American students in their academic, cultural, and college planning journeys.
Kerrie has worked directly with Native youth and families across Minnesota, designing school-based interventions, leading Indian Education initiatives, and helping students navigate postsecondary options that honor their identities. Married into an Ojibwe family (White Earth Nation), she brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her work—ensuring the platform reflects cultural understanding as well as practical school-based solutions.
CollegeBound Journey® was born from Kerrie’s desire to give educators access to the kinds of tools she wished she had in her own counseling practice: easy-to-use, culturally grounded, and aligned with the real needs of Native students. Today, she continues to collaborate with educators, tribes, and college access programs to ensure Native students have the opportunities—and support—to thrive.
“As a school counselor, I saw the challenges my Native students faced in navigating college options. I created CollegeBound Journey to fill that gap and give them a resource that truly speaks to their identities.”
Ready to Join the Journey?
Are you ready to support your Native students’ college dreams in a more impactful way?
