Deeping Our Understanding of the Financial Education of Native Youth: An In-Depth Look at Native Students in Montana, New Mexico and South Dakota

William Anderson, Miriam Jorgensen, Noorie Brantmeier and Lewis Mandell.

October 2008

Personal financial skills are critical life skills regardless of an individual's race or ethnicity-but particularly for Native students. They need financial skills to help their communities survive and thrive. Without sound financial skills, Native people cannot address the devastating poverty that has characterized many of their communities since the reservation era or build on the new-found wealth that has come to some through economic success. And, given the youthfulness of the Native population overall, the student generation will be called upon more quickly than elsewhere to take a leadership role-a role for which they need to be financially equipped.

Using the Jump$tart survey instrument, this study provides an in-depth look at the personal financial knowledge of Native youth in three states with high Native populations-Montana,New Mexico, and South Dakota. Notably, it examines the largest sample of Native high school students ever surveyed regarding financial literacy skills.

Please download the entire report, the one-page overview and other related documents below. 

"Deepening Our Understanding of the Financial Education of Native Youth," William Anderson, Miriam Jorgensen, Noorie Brantmeier, and Lewis Mandell. October 2008.
Full Report
Report at a Glance
Report Summary PowerPoint Presentation

Related Research
"The Financial Literacy of Native American Youth," Miriam Jorgensen and Lewis Mandell. April 2007.

"Closing the Financial Literacy Gap Among Native American Youth," Lewis Mandell. November 2005.