AlaskAdvantage Education Grant

AlaskAdvantage Education Grant Program

The Alaska legislature created the AlaskAdvantage Education Grant Program (AEG) to provide need-based financial assistance to eligible Alaska students attending qualifying postsecondary educational institutions in Alaska. 

Beginning with the 2013-2014 school year, the grant is funded through the Alaska Higher Education Investment Fund, a new source of long-term funding for AEG and Alaska Performance Scholarship (APS) awards established in 2012 by the Alaska legislature.

How much is the award?

Grant awards typically range from $500 to $2,000 per academic year for students who have qualifying unmet financial need.

The Commission annually sets aside a portion of the available grant money as priority awards. Eligible applicants demonstrating exceptional academic preparation for higher education (by top quartile SAT or ACT scores), and those enrolled in workforce shortage programs can become eligible for a priority award of up to a maximum of $3,000. Current qualifying workforce shortage programs are:

  • allied health science
  • community and social service
  • teaching and paraprofessional education
  • process industry/natural resources extraction industry

Qualifying applicants will be prioritized based on financial need. Students with the highest financial need will be awarded in order of need until funds are exhausted. 

 How to Apply

Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) no later than June 30 each year, selecting at least one qualifying Alaska institution of higher education to receive your data.

When will I know if I got the grant?

One factor for eligibility is qualifying enrollment at an Alaska postsecondary institution, which institutions certify when the academic  year begins. At that time, initial awards are made for eligible applicants in order of the highest financial need, until funds are exhausted.

Not all eligible students will receive a grant, and receiving a grant in one year does not guarantee you will receive it in future years.

You can monitor your AEG application and eligibility status, and see if you are still being considered for an award, through your Alaska Student Aid Portal account. For more information, contact your financial aid office.

  

 Eligibility

To qualify for an AlaskAdvantage Education Grant a student must:

  • be an Alaska resident and U.S. citizen or permanent resident
  • have a high school diploma or GED
  • be admitted into an undergraduate degree or vocational certificate program at a qualifying Alaska institution
  • be enrolled at minimum half-time
  • have unmet financial need of $500 or more
  • not have earned a baccalaureate degree
  • meet satisfactory academic progress requirements
  • be eligible for federal Title IV aid