The Alaska Performance Scholarship (APS) can support Alaska high-school graduates at participating colleges, universities and career programs, but preparation starts well before FAFSA: students must complete one of the rigorous APS course pathways in high school. ACPE lists annual caps of $7,000, $5,250 and $3,500 for Levels 1, 2 and 3, respectively, with up to eight full-time disbursements or $28,000 total. The award must be used within eight years of graduation and remains subject to unmet costs and academic progress.
Initial eligibility requires Alaska residency, graduation from an Alaska public, private or home school, an approved APS curriculum, and the level’s GPA minimum or a qualifying ACT, SAT or WorkKeys score. ACPE’s checklist explains course pathways and how grades or tests combine. Ask a counselor to review your transcript before finalizing classes; reaching the GPA alone is not enough if coursework is missing. Private-school and home-school students must request a determination from the Department of Education and Early Development by July 15 for review before the next award year.
For fall 2027, file FAFSA by June 30, 2027, for each year you plan to use APS. Students attending a provider that does not participate in Title IV use the APS alternative application through the Alaska Student Aid Portal (ASAP). You must be admitted to an eligible program and notify the college before its certification deadline that you intend to use APS. Full awards require at least 12 credits per term, or six for a reduced half-time amount, except qualifying career programs measured in clock hours. The award is available only if at least $500 in cost of attendance remains after other non-loan aid.
Renewal is more than finishing the year. ACPE requires the campus’s satisfactory-progress standard and minimum credits: 24 in the first year of full-time use and 30 in later years; half-time recipients complete a prorated share. The published general college renewal GPA floor is 2.5, with special rules for certificate programs. ASAP tracks award level, usage and continuing eligibility; Step-Up may raise a level after particular credit loads and GPA. Before summer enrollment or reducing your load, ask whether credits count and whether an ineligible term uses one of the eight payments.
Open responses in ACPE’s 2025 outcomes report include students who said APS influenced them to stay in Alaska or avoid borrowing, and others who did not know about the program or chose college elsewhere. These are survey voices, not a promise that the scholarship covers every bill. Build a budget for tuition, fees, required books, housing, meals and transportation; subtract gift aid and confirm the remaining eligible cost with financial aid. For portal or scholarship questions, ACPE is at acpe@alaska.gov or 800-441-2962; ask your school district about reported coursework.
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Alaska Performance Scholarship — Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education
P.O. Box 110505, Juneau, AK 99811-0505
The Alaska Performance Scholarship (APS) is a state merit award for residents who graduate from an Alaska high school. It is not an open scholarship application filled out at the end of senior year: eligibility depends on completing one of the approved rigorous high-school curricula and reaching a m
Up to $7,000 per year depending on academic level; up to eight full-time disbursements or $28,000 total within eight years of graduation. Requires Alaska residency and high-school graduation, a rigorous curriculum and a qualifying GPA or test score
Sources & references
Sources for the information and reporting discussed in this guide.
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Official website of Alaska Performance Scholarship — Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education ↗
Primary source
Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education (ACPE) · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Alaska Performance Scholarship — Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education ↗
Primary source
Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education (ACPE) · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Alaska Performance Scholarship — Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education ↗
Primary source
ACPE, Alaska Department of Education and Early Development, Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development y University of Alaska · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
ACPE et al. · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.