Are you planning to attend college in Alaska? There are only two grant and scholarship programs in the state, but here’s what you need to know about financial aid and state grants in Alaska.
Alaska College Grants
Alaska Education Grant
The Alaska Education Grant (AEG) is need-based and awards between $500 and $4,000 per academic year.
To be eligible, students must:
- Complete their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
- Be attending college at least half-time
- Not already have a bachelor’s degree
- Have been Alaska resident for at least a year
- Meet certain academic standards set by the college
How much a student is awarded depends on a few different factors:
- · Full time enrollment vs half time
- In order to be awarded $4,000, 15 credit hours or more is needed
- Data of FAFSA filing
- Financial need and Estimated Family Contribution (EFC)
The Alaska Education Grant is capped at $16,000. In order to apply, students should complete their FAFSA.
Alaska Performance Scholarship (APS)
The APS awards students up to $19,020 for their education and the amount the student receives depends on their academic achievements. In order to be eligible, students must:
- Have graduated from an Alaska high school
- Have a minimum 2.5 GPA
- Receive qualifying scores on college or career entrance exams
- Have taken a rigorous curriculum
- Be attending a participating college
The higher your GPA and entrance exams, the more money you could receive. Each award has different benchmarks and required courses, too. For example, to win the most money from the APS ($4,755 per year), you need to have a 3.5 GPA in high school, at least a 25 on the ACT, a 1210 on the SAT, or a 13 on WorkKeys, and have taken specific classes.
Where Can You Find More Information About College Grants in Alaska?
To learn more about grants, scholarships, and other programs in Alaska, visit the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education’s website (ACPE). There students can find information on qualifying criteria, applications, and more.
In addition, the website has details on the various loan programs, including the Alaska Supplemental Education Loan (ASEL), and the state’s recent partnership with CampusDoor.
Not all colleges participate in state grant and scholarship grant programs. If you want to know more about your admission chances to the schools that do participate, start with our College Match tool.
