Eligibility

Who can get an Alaska Performance Scholarship?

An Alaska resident who graduates from an Alaska high school in or after 2011, and who meets the following requirements:

• completes a rigorous high school curriculum, as defined by regulations
• achieves a high school GPA of at least 2.5, or equivalent
• earns a minimum score on college or career readiness test
• enrolls at least half time, and remains in good standing, in a certificate or higher program at a qualifying Alaska institution
• has qualifying unmet costs of attendance after considering all other non-loan aid
• has not yet received the maximum Alaska scholarship program aid (eight semesters)

This includes graduates from public schools and private schools, and home school students who have taken the required courses. Students who hold GEDs are not eligible.

Are high school seniors graduating in December eligible for the APS?

High school seniors graduating a semester early (in December) can receive the Alaska Performance Scholarship if they meet all eligibility requirements. However, it is important to note that they are still considered part of their graduating class. A student graduating in December 2011 is required to meet the curriculum requirements for the class of 2012. APS awards for December graduates will not be available until after the completion of the 2011/2012 school year. Therefore, they may not receive any award for postsecondary study before the start of the next academic year, even if they graduate in December and begin a postsecondary program of study prior to the end of the 2011/2012 school year.

Is a student who does not receive a high school diploma (instead receives a General Educational Development certificate or Certificate of Achievement) eligible for the Alaska Performance Scholarship?

No. Students must graduate from an Alaskan high school with a high school diploma, and meet all other eligibility requirements, to be eligible for the scholarship.

Are homeschooled students eligible for the APS?

Homeschooled students can qualify for the APS. 

Homeschooled students who participate in a school district program will have their eligibility information (GPA, entrance exam scores, curriculum) reported by the district office to the Department of Education and Early Development. Students seeking a determination need only submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to apply.

Privately homeschooled students must submit the APS Private School Eligibility Determination Request Form to the Department of Education and Early Development.  The form requests information about the student’s identification and education, as well as copies of transcripts and entrance exam score reports. This eligibility determination request form and required supporting documents must be received by July 15 for students to be considered for the APS.  Students seeking a determination must also complete the FAFSA no later than June 30 of the year in which they plan to use the award.

There are several private high school completion programs in Alaska that offer either a GED program, a high school diploma program, or both. Students who receive a GED are not eligible for the scholarship; however, those who receive an Alaska high school diploma through such programs may be eligible as long as they meet all other requirements. Such students must submit the APS Private School Eligibility Determination Request Form to the Department of Education and Early Development to determine if their high school credential is equivalent to a qualifying Alaska diploma, for purposes of determining scholarship eligibility.

Is the child of an Alaska resident, who graduates from a high school outside of Alaska, for example due to military assignment, eligible for the APS?

The statute governing the APS states that students must graduate from an Alaska high school. Therefore, students in the situation described are not eligible for the APS.

back to top 

Curriculum

What does a “rigorous high school curriculum” mean?

There are two curriculum options students may choose from to be eligible for the scholarship. The two options are:

• Math and Science: Four years of math, four years of English, four years of science, and four years of social studies. However, one of the four years of social studies can be substituted with one year of foreign language, Alaska Native language, American Sign Language, fine arts, or cultural heritage.
• Social Studies and Language: Three years of math, four years of English, three years of science, four years of social studies, and two years of the same foreign language, Alaska Native language, or American Sign Language.

Please note: Beginning with the high school graduating class of 2015, a menu of specific course titles that can be used will be associated with each subject area. Curriculum requirements were phased in for the classes of 2011 and 2012. Refer to the APS requirements for your class year for details.

Students who are independently home schooled or who attend private schools must provide information about their courses and grades to the Department of Education & Early Development through the APS Eligibility Determination Request Form to be considered for eligibility.

Is there anything I can do if my school doesn't offer enough courses to meet the curriculum requirements?

There is no exemption from the curriculum requirements for each respective high school graduating class. Students are encouraged to discuss options available to them with their guidance counselor, such as distance education.

However, otherwise eligible students of the classes of 2011 and 2012, who have met the applicable GPA and test score requirements, may apply, within 30 days of high school graduation, for a grace period that may allow them to complete the curriculum requirements after high school graduation.

Such grace periods will be considered only when circumstances beyond the student’s control made it impossible to complete the curriculum. These circumstances include the required curriculum not being reasonably available to the student because the student attended a small and remote high school in the state; but do not include the student’s attendance at a high school outside of the state.

A grace period cannot be used to qualify for a higher award level. 

Students who are approved for a grace period to meet the curriculum requirement during that period, may elect to satisfy the unmet requirement by enrolling in a high school course or take an equivalent course at a postsecondary institution.

A student who chooses to enroll in a degree program at a participating postsecondary institution during the grace period may be eligible to receive an Alaska Performance Scholarship award during that year, as long as the student meets all other enrollment requirements. Students who use an APS award during their grace period will need to meet all continuing academic eligibility requirements, in addition to completing the curricular requirements, to continue to be eligible for the award. No more than a total 4 years (8 semesters) of APS aid will be awarded.

Download the 2011 APS Grace Period Application Form. 

back to top

Testing and GPA

What are the specific examination and grade-point average requirements?

A combination of an examination result and GPA determine the level of scholarship eligible students can receive:  

• For up to $4,755 a year - a GPA of 3.5 and a score of 25 on the ACT or 1680 on the SAT*
• For up to $3,566 a year - a GPA of 3.0 and a score of 23 on the ACT or 1560 on the SAT*
• For up to $2,378 a year - a GPA of 2.5 and a score of 21 on the ACT or 1450 on the SAT*

Be sure to list your high school as a recipient of your SAT and ACT test scores.

*Students entering a career and technical education certificate program can substitute WorkKeys scores of 5 in applied mathematics, reading for information, and locating information.

What if a student has a grade-point average qualifying for a first-level award but an examination score that qualifies for a lower award level?

A student will be eligible for the award level for which he or she satisfies all eligibility requirements. In the situation described in the question, the student would qualify for the lower award level.

What can I do to prepare for the SAT and/or ACT?

Talk to your high school counselor or a teacher about academic or test preparation resources available through your school.  Make full use of online resources. Taking an online practice test gives you a good idea of what to expect on the exam and what areas to focus on when preparing for the test. You can find more information at http://sat.collegeboard.com/practice and http://actstudent.org/testprep/index.html. You can also find test preparation resources through the Alaska State Library Testing and Education Reference Center. From the link, scroll and click on "Testing and Education Reference Center" to access this resource. 

How can I make sure my high school gets my SAT and ACT scores?

Your SAT and ACT scores must be received by your high school before high school graduation to be used in determining your APS eligibility. You should request that your scores be sent to the school when you register for the test.

ACT: If you register online, you must list the correct high school when prompted to do so and be sure to check the "YES" box authorizing ACT to release your scores to that high school. If you register by mail, you authorize reporting by listing the correct high school code on the registration folder. Your scores will be sent three to eight weeks after the test.

SAT: Whether you register online or by paper, be sure to include your high school code. Your official score report will be provided to you and your high school, if you included the code, about five weeks after the test.

If you already took the test and did not have the scores sent to your school, you can request additional score reports from SAT and ACT. There may be a fee for additional reports. 

If I take the SAT, ACT and/or WorkKeys in the summer after I graduate high school, can I use those scores?

All APS eligibility requirements, including the test score, must be met by the time of high school graduation.  The scores must be sent directly to the high school from the testing institution and received before high school graduation. Note that according to SAT and ACT published information, it may take 6-8 weeks for score reports to be sent. 

I took the SAT, ACT, and/or WorkKeys multiple times. How will my scores be reported for scholarship purposes? 

Your scholarship eligibility status is based on the information your school district provides to the Department of Education and Early Development (EED). EED is relying on the districts to determine your scholarship eligibility level and they may do so based on their standard policy or practice.  Use of composite SAT or ACT scores is not prohibited.

Similarly, for WorkKeys, the school district  may determine students’ scholarship eligibility by combining scores of 5 or higher in each of the three tests (Locating Information, Reading, Mathematics), even if the tests were taken on different dates, as long as all of the relevant tests were taken at your school.  


Can I take the WorkKeys exam at my local Job Center for purposes of qualifying for the APS?

The high school must record and add students' WorkKeys exam scores to their permanent student records at the school. If students miss the test day at their high school, they need to reschedule the test with the school.

Note also that qualifying for the APS solely based on WorkKeys scores (as opposed to an SAT or ACT score) will allow a student to use the award for pursuit of a career and technical education certificate program only.

back to top

Using the Award

Where can the scholarship be used?

The APS can be used at participating postsecondary institutions in Alaska. The scholarship will be sent directly to the postsecondary institution for disbursement.

The APS can generally be used for certificate and degree programs offered by participating regionally accredited colleges and universities, with rare exceptions. At participating career and technical institutions, the APS can be used for certificate and/or degree programs approved for the APS by the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

Note that students qualifying for the APS with WorkKeys scores can use the award for a career and technical education certificate program at either type of institution, but not for a degree program. 

What costs can be covered by the scholarship?

Award recipients may use the funds for unpaid costs of attendance certified by the postsecondary institution. These costs may include tuition, fees, books, required tools and supplies, room and board and transportation, in accordance with the standard budgets published by the institution. However, recipients must apply for other non-loan aid, such as state or federal grants or other scholarships. The sum of all other non-loan aid for which a student is eligible (including the UA Scholars award, if a student is designated by a qualified Alaska high school) will be deducted from the cost of attendance. Scholarship recipients will not receive an Alaska Performance Scholarship amount that is more than the remaining cost. The expected family contribution (EFC) identified on completion of the FAFSA is considered self-help and does not impact the Alaska Performance Scholarship amount a student may receive.

A prorated Alaska Performance Scholarship award may be available for eligible students studying at least half-time.

How are unmet costs of attendance calculated?

Costs of attendance are certified by the postsecondary institution. The cost of attendance may include tuition, fees, books, required tools and supplies, room and board and transportation. Cost of attendance is published in standard budgets for each institution.

All other non-loan aid (scholarships, grants, etc.) for which a student is eligible is deducted from the cost of attendance to calculate unmet cost of attendance. Scholarship recipients will not receive an Alaska Performance Scholarship amount that is more than the remaining unmet cost. Work-study aid, loan aid, and the federal expected family contribution (EFC), do not reduce a student’s maximum APS amount.

Example A:

In this example, the total non-loan aid the student receives does not impact the maximum eligibility for the APS. The maximum APS amount is also impacted by the award level – in this example, the student qualified for a level 1 award based on the GPA and test score combination achieved.

In this example, the remaining costs of attendance are greater than the APS award amount, so the student is eligible for the full award of $4,755.

Example B:

In this example, the total non-loan aid the student receives does impact the maximum eligibility for the APS. The maximum APS amount is also impacted by the award level – in this example, the student qualified for a level 1 award (up to $4,755) based on the GPA and test score combination achieved; however the maximum eligibility amount has been reduced to no more than the remaining unmet costs.

Here, the remaining costs of attendance are less than the APS award amount, so the maximum amount the student may receive has been reduced accordingly. 

Although full-time enrollment will impact the amount a student can receive, students enrolled at least half time or for at least six semester credits can receive scholarships. Half-time graduate students enrolled in at least five semester credits and half-time vocational students enrolled in programs meeting at least 30 hours per week for at least six weeks may also qualify for a scholarship award. The scholarship award amount will be proportionally reduced. Note that a half-time term counts equally as a full-time term towards the maximum 8 terms (4 years) of APS awards a student can receive.

Only if the study outside Alaska is part of a formal exchange program with an Alaska institution. As long as the otherwise qualified student remains enrolled in a degree program through an approved Alaska institution, and the Alaska institution is the recipient of the scholarship funds during the student’s participation in an exchange program, the award can be used towards costs of attendance for the exchange program.
 

Students cannot use the award to attend postsecondary training or college outside of Alaska. However, students who are eligible for the award, but choose to study outside of Alaska, can return to Alaska and be certified to use their award at a later time. It is important to remember the award may only be used within six years of high school graduation, and the students must qualify as Alaska residents.

The APS provides for up to 6 years in which to use the maximum of 8 semesters of aid. If you take time off before college, remember that you must complete the FAFSA as soon as possible after January 1 but no later than June 30 in the year you plan to attend. If you take a year off while already in college, be sure to review the requirements for continuing eligibility. For example, as a first-year APS recipient, you are required to complete 24 credits and achieve a 2.0 GPA for the academic year. If you then take a year off and return the year after, you are considered a second-year recipient and must complete 30 credits and achieve a 2.5 GPA for continued eligibility.

In some cases, a student may qualify for two different levels of award based on different combinations of their GPA and test scores. For example, an eligible student might have a GPA of 3.5, an ACT score of 21, and WorkKeys scores of 5. In this case, a student is eligible for a level 1 award for pursuit of a career and technical education certificate program, but for a level 3 award for pursuit of a collegiate program such as an associate’s or a bachelor’s degree.

A student with two eligibility levels may elect to pursue either or both program types.  However, they cannot be used simultaneously; and the total APS aid received may not exceed a total of eight semesters. For example, a student could pursue a one-year certificate using two semesters of level 1 aid, and then enter a bachelor’s degree to use up to six additional semesters of level 3 aid.

A student in this situation could also use up to the four total years of APS level 1 aid to receive multiple CTE certificates in sequence.  Note - no more than one year of an award will be made for pursuit of the same career and technical certificate program, regardless of program length.

In either scenario, the student must still meet all continuing eligibility requirements to be eligible for an APS award for any subsequent certificate or term of study, including minimum GPA and credit accumulation requirements.

Can the APS be used during the summer?

Typically the award is disbursed in two halves – one for the fall and one for the spring term. If a student has not yet used the full annual award in preceding terms, a student may be able to receive an award for a summer term. Contact the financial aid office at the postsecondary institution you attend to learn more.

Once students receive the scholarship, what do they need to do to continue to qualify?

To continue to receive the scholarship, students need to:

• file a new FAFSA or approved alternate application by the deadline each year;
• continue to be enrolled in a qualifying program of study; and 
• meet the annual satisfactory academic progress requirements, including number of credits earned and GPA applicable to your postsecondary grade level

At a minimum, satisfactory academic progress requirements include:

• During your 1st year as an APS recipient:
  • 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 2.0 on a 4.0 scale
• During your subsequent years as an APS recipient:
  • 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
• As a graduate student:
  • achieve and maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale  

 You must also meet all requirements for satisfactory academic progress set by your institution, including requirements that may be higher.

back to top

Applying

How does a student apply for a scholarship?

Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible after January 1 but no later than June 30 for each year you plan to use the APS award. You can access the FAFSA through the Alaska Student Aid Portal (ASAP) . There is an alternate application available in ASAP for students attending schools that are not FAFSA-eligible.

Note that students graduating from private schools or who are privately homeschooled must submit the APS Private School Eligibility Determination Request Form to EED, in addition to applying via the FAFSA or alternate application.

How does the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) calculated from the FAFSA information impact my eligibility for the APS?

The EFC has no impact on the APS amount you can qualify for. While the APS amount you can receive may be reduced if you are eligible to receive non-loan aid (such as other grants and scholarships) that reduce your cost of attendance, the EFC is considered self-help aid and is therefore not included in any calculation of APS eligibility or award amount. 
 

Which institutions receive FAFSA data and require completion of the FAFSA to apply for the APS?

If my selected school does not receive FAFSA data, how do I apply for an APS?

 back to top 

Getting Ready

What can families do now?

Encourage and support your student to take challenging courses and do well in school. Remember, an Alaska Performance Scholarship is based on rigorous course selection, overall grade-point average in high school and an examination score. Achieving a higher grade-point average and exam score will result in a student eligible for a higher level of scholarship -- The difference could be several thousand dollars over a student’s postsecondary years.

If your student is in middle school, take time to talk about career aspirations and goals for education beyond high school, and help your student select 9^th grade classes wisely. Students who want to earn an Alaska Performance Scholarship need to be prepared to take a challenging curriculum for all four years of high school.

When your student is selecting high school courses for the upcoming year, consult with your student’s school counselors on academic courses that will best prepare and align your student for an Alaska Performance Scholarship award. Have your student create a portfolio on the Alaska Career Information System (AKCIS), either through their school's AKCIS account or individually through the Alaska statewide Zip Code login. In addition to many other great tools and program, when students click on "My Course Plan" in their student portfolio, they can create a course plan using pre-filled suggested course schedules to meet Alaska Performance Scholarship requirements. Students can create their student portfolio and begin to plan their courses as early as middle school, and can transfer a portfolio to their high school's AKCIS site at any time.

In addition, plan to apply for other aid. Remember that award recipients must apply for and use any other non-loan aid they receive, such as state or federal grants or other scholarships before they may apply an Alaska Performance Scholarship toward their remaining costs of attendance.
 

How can I learn more about the Alaska Performance Scholarship?

Updated information will be posted at APS.alaska.gov as it becomes available. You may also get information from your high school counselor, from the financial aid office at your Alaska postsecondary institution or by visiting ACPE’s Success Center in Anchorage located at the Dimond Mall.

Alaska School Contact Lookup Tool

As a parent, how can I access my student’s APS eligibility information?

You can discuss the eligibility requirements with your student and meet with your student’s high school counselor or school district office to verify the curriculum, GPA, and test scores that are part of your students permanent record. These are used in the calculation of the eligibility status and award level. You can compare this information to the requirements for qualifying and determining award level.

Students may also choose to register for an optional Alaska Student Aid Portal (ASAP) account, in which they can review the eligibility status and award level reported by their school district in late July following high school graduation, and track scholarship usage. The student is the only person who may register for and access their 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.

APS and the UA Scholars Award

What is the difference between the UA Scholars program and the Alaska Performance Scholarship?

The UA Scholars Award is a program of the University of Alaska that awards an $11,000 scholarship to the top 10 percent of graduates from each qualified Alaska high school. The award may be used for attendance at any UA campus statewide. Students are designated by their high school based on their standing at the end of their junior year. The program does not require a specific GPA, test score, or curriculum. UA Scholars receive $1,375 per semester for up to eight semesters. The award amount is fixed and is not dependent on other financial aid received. Once enrolled, UA Scholars must maintain full-time enrollment status and a 2.5 cumulative GPA to remain eligible for the award. For more information on the UA Scholars program go to www.alaska.edu/scholars/

The Alaska Performance Scholarship is a program of the State of Alaska. It can be awarded to any Alaska high school graduate meeting eligibility requirements, including GPA, test scores, and curriculum. The award can be used for postsecondary training at a college or approved career and technical program in Alaska. A student’s eligibility amount varies based on GPA and test scores. In addition, the amount a student can receive is limited by costs of attendance, as certified by the postsecondary institution the student attends, and other financial aid. A prorated Alaska Performance Scholarship award may be available for eligible students studying at least half-time.

All recipients must meet annual satisfactory academic progress.

Can students who are UA Scholars also receive an Alaska Performance Scholarship?

Yes. However, in some cases the amount of the Alaska Performance Scholarship award may be reduced. The Alaska Performance Scholarship amount may not exceed an award recipient's unmet costs of attendance after all other non-loan aid a recipient is eligible for has been applied.

Can a weighted GPA be used when determining scholarship eligibility?
As defined by statute grade-point average (GPA) means the average of all grades on a four-point scale, or five-point scale for advanced placement classes, obtained by the student in high school.

When is the report/list of eligible scholarship students due from school districts to the state?
Districts are required to submit scholarship eligibility information within the Summer OASIS collection, due to the state by July 15^th. New fields will be added to the collection for reporting this information.

May a school district determine students’ scholarship eligibility based upon composite/combined SAT or ACT scores?
Yes, subject to the standard policy or practice of a school district, the composite/combined scores may be used for determining the APS eligibility level.  Under AS 14.03.113, if a student is eligible, the district shall state in the student’s permanent record the highest level of funding for which the student is eligible.  Specific scores are not included in the eligibility data the district must submit to EED.

For further information on SAT and ACT composite scores, you may visit:  

1. How ACT figures the multiple-choice test scores and the Composite score
2. Understanding your SAT scores  

Will middle school courses be counted for scholarship eligibility determination?
No.  Program statutes regarding student eligibility specify in AS 14.43.820. Alaska merit scholarship program; eligibility
 (a) has completed a core academic curriculum in high school…

Students must complete four years of math while in high school to qualify for the Math and Science Option of APS and three years of Math for the Social Studies and Language option.  These must be credits reflected on the student’s high school transcript and included in their grade point average.

May credit-bearing courses taken in a foreign exchange program be used to meet the eligibility requirements of the Alaska Performance Scholarship if the courses are taken pass/fail and do not affect the students’ GPA?

School districts shall determine the eligibility of such courses on a case-by-case basis. Districts should require evidence that the foreign exchange courses and the students’ work reflect sufficient rigor to allow the courses to be used to meet the APS eligibility requirements. Districts must maintain the students’ foreign exchange records and make them available to the Department of Education & Early Development upon request. Districts should advise students who are considering a foreign exchange about these requirements.

Questions about specific situations should be addressed to the Department of Education & Early Development's program coordinator.