Education at a tribal college for non-Native students is "an awfully good deal for states," says Dr. Joseph F. McDonald (Salish/Kootenai), president of Salish Kootenai College on the Flathead reservation in Montana. It may come as a surprise to most Americans, but tribal colleges have been quietly providing higher education to a substantial number of non-Native, so called "non-beneficiary," students for many years, despite the fact that they receive no state or federal funding for these students. Funding for these students is derived primarily from tuition, which is usually significantly less than comparable state institutions. However, tuition often just barely covers the costs of educating the non-beneficiary students, placing a tremendous burden on the already cash-strapped colleges. For an unknown number of these students, it's a case of simply not being native enough. While they may be of American Indian ancestry, they are neither part of federally recognized tribes nor meet tribal blood standards, making them ineligible for state or federal aid earmarked for American Indians. For states whose tribal colleges educate non-Native students, it's essentially a win-win situation. The states receive income and perhaps property taxes from the students without having to appropriate tax dollars to fund their education. Tribal colleges are a convenient and affordable option for many non-Native students, but the benefits don't necessarily go both ways.