Everything You Need to Know!
The Alaska Performance Scholarship (APS) is Alaska's merit-based scholarship program, awarding eligible students up to $28,000 total towards their postsecondary education. To qualify for APS, Alaska high school students must complete a specific rigorous high school curriculum and meet either a minimum GPA or minimum standardized test score.
There are 3 APS award levels offering specific award amounts for each level.
Up to $7,000 Per Yr
Up to $5,250 Per Yr
Up to $3,500 Per Yr
High School GPA 3.5
High School GPA 3.0
High School GPA 2.5
or
or ACT 25, SAT 1210 WorkKeys 18*
or ACT 23, SAT 1130 WorkKeys 15*
or ACT 21, SAT 1060 WorkKeys 12*
APS eligible students can receive the equivalent of 8 full-time disbursements within 8 years of high school graduation.
To become APS eligible, you must complete specific rigorous courses during high school. In 7th and 8th grade, start planning early to meet APS curriculum requirements in high school. If you're already in high school, be sure to work closely with your counselor to ensure you're selecting APS-eligible coursework. ACPE offers course planning tools through Kids2Careers and the APS Course Planner in AKCIS to help stay on track towards earning APS! Be sure to review the APS Checklist to understand APS course requirements and complete 1 of 3 APS curriculum options. In addition to coursework, you must earn either a minimum qualifying GPA or test score to become APS eligible. Preliminary APS eligibility is communicated by schools/districts during the middle of Junior year and final eligibility is communicated after graduation. The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is also required in order to receive the APS. On the FAFSA, an eligible Alaska institution or training provider must be listed as a receiving school. Alternately, if the institution or training provider does not receive the FAFSA, an Alternative APS Application, found in the Alaska Student Aid Portal, must be submitted. Review the APS Checklist or Receiving APS section of this page to learn more.
Initial Eligibility requirements for APS include:
APS Eligibility information for high school graduates is reported to ACPE by the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development in mid August. Create an account on the Alaska Student Aid Portal (ASAP) to monitor your eligibility information.
All APS recipients must:
Complete 24 semester credits or equivalent for full-time students (12 for half-time students receiving a prorated award)
Achieve a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale
Complete 30 semester credits or equivalent for full-time students (15 for half-time students receiving a prorated award)
Achieve and maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale
Complete 18 semester credits or equivalent for full time students (10 for half time students receiving a prorated award)
Complete at least 30 clock hours per week for not less than 12 weeks for a full-time award
Complete at least 15 clock hours per week for not less than 6 weeks for a half-time award
To determine if the institution or training provider is eligible to participate in the Alaska Performance Scholarship program, please review our up-to-date APS Eligible Institutions & Training Providers List.
To receive the first APS award, students must:
After meeting APS eligibility requirements, a student has 8 years to utilize the APS award after high school graduation, unless a student qualifies for an extension. APS is paid directly to schools in two payments each year, once a student is admitted and enrolled in a program. Students can monitor their status in their Alaska Student Aid Portal (ASAP) account.
An APS award may not exceed qualifying costs of attendance (which typically include tuition; fees; required books, supplies, and equipment; room and board; and transportation) remaining after considering all other non-loan aid the student is eligible for. Students may remain eligible for up to the equivalent of 8 full-time semesters, but must fully use the APS within eight years of high school graduation. (see APS FAQs for full details) The APS can be used at any participating college or university in Alaska, or for approved career and technical education programs in the state.
Did you know? If you are not an APS Level 1 recipient, you may qualify for a new option to Step-Up your APS level! For the terms you receive an APS disbursement, to qualify for Step-Up you must take:
If you take the required credits and achieve a 3.0 or 3.5 GPA, you can Step-Up to a Level 2 or 1 APS award level.
It is important to know receiving an APS disbursement in any term and not taking the required credits will reset the terms that count towards Step-Up. If you are uncertain about receiving a disbursement this summer, please contact ACPE or your school’s Financial Aid Office to discuss Step-Up.
Students who are privately home-schooled or attend private schools must submit a request to the Department of Education and Early Development to determine their APS eligibility. The completed request form and all supporting documents must be submitted by July 15 for a determination prior to the upcoming APS award year.
Download the APS Private School/Homeschool Eligibility Determination Application Form
Or submit the APS Alternative Application for Non-Title IV Schools by June 30th if you’re planning to attend a non-Title IV school
The Alaska Student Aid Portal (ASAP) provides a variety of APS information including: APS eligibility status information, award level eligibility as reported by school districts, continuing eligibility, and award usage. APS eligibility information is available by mid-August following high school graduation.
Access Here
NOTE: The student is the only person who may register for access to an ASAP account. Logging on to ASAP requires that a user affirm that the individual logging on is the student in question, so it is not possible for a parent to access ASAP on behalf of a child, even if your student is under 18.
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Alaska High School APS Contacts
If you have questions about your high school transcript or the APS level reported by your school district, please contact the school district directly.
Click on Alaska Public Schools Database for school district contact information.
Department of Education & Early Development (DEED) Contact Information
For APS questions related to initial eligibility corrections and Private/Homeschool student eligibility, contact:
ACPE Contact Information For questions about APS and ASAP, email us at acpe@alaska.gov
Review APS course requirements for grades 9-12
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Identify minimum GPA or test score eligibility requirements
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Discover where you can use the APS in Alaska
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Track and monitor APS eligibility & usage
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