Alaska Performance Scholarship (APS)
Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education (ACPE)
Merit scholarship for Alaska high school graduates: up to $7,000, $5,250 or $3,500 a year (by level) at participating Alaska colleges and training programs, up to $28,000 total.
- How much
- Up to $7,000 per year (Level 1), $5,250 per year (Level 2) or $3,500 per year (Level 3); up to $28,000 total
- Who qualifies
- Alaska resident who graduates from an Alaska high school (public, private or home school) and completes the APS rigorous curriculum; GPA 2.5+ OR a qualifying ACT/SAT/WorkKeys score; at least half-time enrollment at a participating Alaska institution; $500+ unmet cost of attendance; use within 8 years of high school graduation.
- For high school seniors, students starting college, undergrads, grad students, trade school students
- When to apply
- Open now · due June 30, 2027 Annual; FAFSA (or APS Alternative Application) priority deadline June 30 for the academic year you plan to attend; private/homeschool eligibility requests due July 15.
- How to apply
- 1) Take the APS curriculum in high school and meet the GPA or test-score minimum
- Your school reports eligibility to the state (private/homeschool students send the DEED eligibility determination form by July 15)
- 2) File the FAFSA by June 30 for the year you'll attend, listing an eligible Alaska school (or submit the APS Alternative Application in the Alaska Student Aid Portal for a non-Title IV school)
- 3) Get admitted to a participating Alaska program and tell your school before its enrollment certification deadline that you'll use APS
- Track status in the Alaska Student Aid Portal (ASAP)
- What you'll need
- FAFSA + transcript + test scores
- Last checked
- October 5, 2026, against the official page (acpe.alaska.gov) and page 2
The details
Three award levels for students who complete the APS rigorous high school curriculum (one of three curriculum options on the APS Checklist): Level 1 up to $7,000/yr (HS GPA 3.5, or ACT 25 / SAT 1210 / WorkKeys 18); Level 2 up to $5,250/yr (GPA 3.0, or ACT 23 / SAT 1130 / WorkKeys 15); Level 3 up to $3,500/yr (GPA 2.5, or ACT 21 / SAT 1060 / WorkKeys 12). Usable at participating Alaska colleges, universities and approved career and technical programs. Up to the equivalent of 8 full-time disbursements, used within 8 years of high school graduation. Half-time students (6+ credits per term) get a prorated award. The award can't exceed remaining cost of attendance after all other non-loan aid, and you need at least $500 of unmet cost. Continuing eligibility: satisfactory academic progress, 2.5 cumulative GPA, and 24 credits in the first year as a recipient / 30 credits in later years (12/15 for half-time); separate rules for graduate, credit-based and clock-hour certificate programs. Step-Up: non-Level-1 recipients who take two consecutive full-time semesters of 15+ credits (or equivalent) and earn a 3.0 or 3.5 GPA can move up to Level 2 or Level 1. Paid directly to the school in two payments a year.
More money from Alaska
- Alaska Education Grant (AEG)$500 to $4,000 per academic year
Keep looking
- Answer a few questions to see every program you qualify for
- Federal aid and national scholarships (open to students in any state)
- The FAFSA in plain English (2027-28)
- Should I file the FAFSA if I don't think I'll qualify?
- FAFSA deadlines by state (2027-28)
- The FAFSA for parents: what you need to do
- How to save on textbooks: free, rented and cheaper options
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