Alaska offers two main state programs: the Alaska Performance Scholarship (APS), a merit award worth up to $7,000 a year for students who complete a rigorous high school curriculum and meet GPA and test-score tiers, and the Alaska Education Grant (AEG), a need-based grant of $500 to $4,000 a year. Both are for Alaska residents attending qualifying in-state programs, and you apply by filing the FAFSA. The Performance Scholarship also requires graduating from an Alaska high school.
If your student attends college in Alaska, these programs can meaningfully cut the cost. Here is how they work for 2026-27.
What state financial aid does Alaska offer?
Alaska's two main programs are the merit-based Alaska Performance Scholarship and the need-based Alaska Education Grant, both administered by the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education (ACPE). The Performance Scholarship rewards academic preparation, while the Education Grant helps students with financial need.
These work alongside federal aid like the Pell Grant. For how the federal pieces fit together, see our complete 2026-27 financial aid guide.
What is the Alaska Performance Scholarship?
The Alaska Performance Scholarship (APS) is a merit award for students who graduate from an Alaska high school, complete a rigorous curriculum, and meet GPA and test-score requirements. It pays on a tiered scale: up to $7,000 a year for a 3.5 GPA, up to $5,250 for a 3.0 GPA, and up to $3,500 for a 2.5 GPA, for up to eight semesters at a qualifying Alaska college or career program.
Because the award grows with your GPA, strong grades and the required courses pay off directly. You must use it at an eligible Alaska institution.
What is the Alaska Education Grant?
The Alaska Education Grant (AEG) is a need-based grant of $500 to $4,000 a year for Alaska residents with financial need. To qualify, you generally must be an Alaska resident for at least 365 days before filing the FAFSA, be admitted to an undergraduate degree or vocational program at a qualifying Alaska school, and maintain satisfactory academic progress.
Because it is need-based, you must file the FAFSA each year to be considered. For how grants fit a full plan, see our guide to paying for college.
How do you apply for Alaska state aid?
You apply by filing the FAFSA, which is used for both the Performance Scholarship and the Education Grant. For the Performance Scholarship, you also need to have completed the required high school curriculum and test scores. File early, since the Education Grant has limited funds.
Your step-by-step path:
- File the FAFSA each year for both programs.
- For the Performance Scholarship, complete the rigorous curriculum and meet the GPA and test-score tier.
- Confirm your Alaska residency and rules at the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education.
- Track your college's own aid deadlines.
Your next step
Alaska's Performance Scholarship rewards strong students with up to $7,000 a year, and the Education Grant adds need-based help, so filing the FAFSA and meeting the academic tiers are the keys. File the FAFSA early, complete the required courses, and confirm your eligibility with ACPE. Read our complete 2026-27 financial aid guide for the federal side, then create your free CollegeLens plan to see your real cost at each Alaska school.
You're doing the hard, smart work of claiming every program your state offers. That is how Alaska families make college more affordable.
-- Sravani at CollegeLens