Exclusive Scholarships in Alaska in 2024

About Scholarships for Alaska Students

With college costs rising and college students still seeking out post-secondary education opportunities, college scholarships in Alaska are critical when it comes to paying for college. Alaska residents can take advantage of federal aid, scholarships offered by their accredited college or vocational school, or even scholarship programs like Bold.org.

Undergraduate and graduate students are encouraged to apply for Alaska scholarships to minimize their student loan debt.

Colleges in Alaska

Although Alaska has only ten colleges and universities, there are still plenty of great options for students looking to get a college education.

The University of Alaska system is a great option for many Alaskans. The University of Alaska–Anchorage is the largest college in Alaska. Other great universities in the system include the University of Alaska–Fairbanks and the University of Alaska–Southeast.

Outside of the system, there is also Ilisagvik College, which is Alaska's only tribal college. There is also Alaska Bible College, which is a private Christian university. Alaska Pacific University is another great private college.

If you don't want to go to school in Alaska, there are plenty of other options as well. Among all Alaska residents enrolled in college, many leave the state to attend school.

Scholarship and Funding Opportunities for Alaska Students

State-based scholarships are excellent scholarships to consider due to the lower number of eligible applicants and the resulting lower competition. Below, we've collected exclusive scholarships for students who are from Alaska or attending college in Alaska.

Alaska also has an additional program called the Alaska Supplemental Education Loan, which offers great rates if you're an Alaska resident. The Alaska Performance Scholarship and Alaska Education Grant are other merit-based scholarships for Alaska residents. The Alaska Community Foundation also awards scholarships for students in Alaska as well as the Alaska Space Grant Program.

While local scholarships in Alaska are wonderful opportunities for Alaska residents to consider, there are plenty of more general, non-state-based scholarships that are worth considering. Some scholarships are open to all students, while others may have different eligibility requirements, such as education level, gender, race, field of study, or grade point average.

Be sure to fill out the FAFSA to evaluate your student aid report to gain an understanding of the federal aid you may be eligible for.

Check out scholarships for college students right here at Bold.org!

How to Apply for Scholarships in Alaska

Applying for Alaska scholarships on Bold.org is rewarding and simple! Bold.org's mission is to make higher education and scholarships as accessible as possible for all students, regardless of financial status. The site was designed to be easy to use, and applying is completely free.

You can start applying by creating your Bold.org profile! You can get started by clicking on any of the scholarships above. Creating your profile will give you access to hundreds of exclusive scholarship opportunities. Make sure to fill out your profile fully so it's detailed and unique. The more detail you add, the more you'll stand out to donors and the better your scholarship matches will be.

Using Bold.org, you can apply for as many scholarship opportunities as you'd like! There's no limit to how many applications you can submit through the site or how many awards you can win. Some awards are smaller, but these amounts can add up to fund your pursuit of higher education. Additionally, new scholarship options are posted every day, so check back often for new opportunities! You can even filter by "Newest" to find the most recently created scholarship awards.

As a busy student, you likely have limited time to devote to scholarship applications. If you're short on time, you can bookmark scholarships that match your profile to go back to later, or you can apply for no-essay scholarships that take just seconds to apply for.

After browsing the available scholarships and picking some good matches, you can start applying right away. Each scholarship will list application instructions in its description to let applicants know how to apply. 

The application process typically includes writing a short essay in response to a question or prompt. However, other scholarships may ask applicants to submit videos, art they've created, or a portfolio of creative or professional work in order to apply. Even if you don't excel academically, there are other types of scholarships available, such as creative-based scholarships. Finding the best-fitting scholarships will allow you to highlight your unique talents. 

As college costs continue to become more overwhelming, applying for as many Alaska scholarships as you can is an essential way to improve your chances of winning so you can reduce your dependence on student loans.

Apply for merit-based scholarships today to reduce your college costs!

Can Non-Residents Apply for Scholarships in Alaska?

Some scholarships may be open to non-residents, while others may have residency requirements. Note that some high school scholarships are only available to graduating high school seniors who are preparing to transition to college. However, there are also plenty of scholarships for all high school students and current college students.

The earlier you begin applying for scholarships, the more time you'll give yourself to earn financial aid for higher education. If you demonstrate financial need, make sure to start applying for support services as early as possible so you can avoid taking on debt. 

How Do I Know If I'm Eligible for a Scholarship?

Every scholarship available on Bold.org has a distinct list of eligibility requirements. These requirements vary and can include factors such as minimum GPA, field of study, education level, or being from a specific racial or gender demographic. For some scholarships, you may also have to demonstrate financial need or be a first-generation student to apply.

Eligibility requirements are always listed in the scholarship description, making it simple to confirm if you qualify. Since scholarships can be a time commitment, you always want to make sure that you're eligible before spending any time on your application. 

Many scholarship awards are only open to certain groups of students, such as scholarships for certain degree types, races, backgrounds, or fields of study. Additionally, there are plenty of broad scholarships that are open to all students. While it's typically easy to make sure you qualify for these scholarships, they often receive more applications as a result, making it more difficult to win. 

No matter your background, skills, interests, or characteristics, there's a scholarship out there for you! 

Are Scholarships Counted as Income?

If you win a scholarship from Bold.org, your award money will be sent by check to your college or university's financial aid office. All US colleges and universities are eligible institutions, whether you're pursuing a bachelor's degree, a master's degree, or another type of education. 

If you win a scholarship before graduating high school, Bold.org will keep the scholarship money for you until you enroll in a college, university, or technical school. Since scholarship money is applied directly to the educational costs of the winner, including tuition and books, it is not considered taxable income unless the amount received is higher than your total educational costs. 

If you're pursuing postsecondary education in Alaska, create a free Bold.org profile to begin applying for scholarships today!