For Alaska students the FAFSA is your application for the Alaska Performance Scholarship (APS) and the Alaska Education Grant (AEG) as well as other scholarships and grants. High school students can earn the APS by meeting the curriculum requirements on this checklist as well as by test score. To apply for the APS with the FAFSA you must list at least one Alaska school as a place you are interested in attending. The APS can be used at colleges, universities, and some career and technical schools in Alaska. The APS cannot be used outside of Alaska.
The amount of APS that you can earn is based on your GPA and test scores. It is a good idea to sign up for multiple tests as the APS will consider your highest score. Try taking the SAT and ACT, multiple times each, if possible. You can also take Workeys to qualify if you are only interested in the career/technical award. There are free resources online to help you train to get better scores. Exam Focus: examfocus.com; Khan Academy: khanacademy.org; Free Rice: freerice.com; and the State of Alaska Library: lam.alaska.gov/sled
The AEG is available to adult students as well as recent high school grads. The average age for a person receiving an AEG is 27 and 73% of the recipients are independent students (according to this report). In order to be awarded an AEG you must have a zero expected family contribution (EFC) on your FAFSA and you must file the FAFSA early – like now – because there are limited funds and more Alaskans qualify than there is money to grant out.
To check on your status of qualifying for the APS or AEG visit the Alaska Student Aid Portal (ASAP).
If you have already filed your FAFSA – good for you! Whoohooo!
If you have not filed your FAFSA, don’t wait! Go now and fill it out fafsa.gov. If you have questions or would like to sit down with an expert contact the ACPE Success Center, ACPESuccessCenter@alaska.gov, 800-441-2962 option #4
A handy dandy Alaska FAFSA guide can be downloaded here.
Or pick up a FAFSA Folder with the same information at the Success Center in the Dimond and University malls.