About scholarships for Alaska students

The state of Alaska, though large in size, has a population of just 732,673 people. Of this population, 23,353 people are enrolled in Alaska colleges. Although enrollment has declined by 32.9% since 2010, it has increased by 267.4% since 1970.

A large majority of Alaskan students stay in-state for their postsecondary education. 92.5% of students enrolled in Alaska colleges are state residents. This is a large percentage of the Alaskan population and is an in-state rate higher than every other state besides Texas.

In terms of graduation rates, Alaska colleges have a high percentage of high school graduates. 93.1% of Idaho residents have a high school degree by the age of 25, compared to 90% nationally. While high school degrees are attained by a large majority of the population, significantly fewer Alaskans pursue a college degree. 30% of Alaskans have a Bachelor's degree or higher by the age of 25, compared to 42% nationally.

With college costs rising and students still seeking out post-secondary education opportunities, college scholarships 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.

Colleges in Alaska

Although Alaska has only 10 colleges and universities, there are still plenty of great options for students looking to get a college education.

84.1% of Alaska's students attend public institutions. The University of Alaska system is a great option for many Alaskans. The University of Alaska–Anchorage is the largest college in Alaska, with a population of 11,398 students. 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 has 233 students and is Alaska's only tribal college. There is also Alaska Bible College which is a private Christian university with 43 students. Alaska Pacific University is another great private college with 387 students.

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, 42.1% leave the state to attend school.

Alaska college demographics

Alaska's colleges have a majority female population. In Alaska, just 37.65% of the population is male while 62.35% is female.

In terms of racial and ethnic diversity, there are 11,425 white students, 2,070 Native American students, 546Black/African American students, 1,135 Asian students, and 1,748 Hispanic students in Alaska colleges. According to these estimates, Alaska colleges are 48.92%

white, but this is significantly less than the state estimate of 60.2% white.

Alaska students and student debt

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 best scholarships 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 Students- North to the Future Scholarship

This scholarship seeks to support students from Alaska facing obstacles on their paths to higher education, and to take a little bite out of the bottom line. Any undergraduate student from Alaska who is pursuing a degree may apply for this scholarship. 

Additional scholarships that students in Alaska should consider 

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.

The following scholarships are great options to consider when starting your scholarship search.

1. Lo Easton's “Wrong Answers Only” Scholarship
2. "A Bold Life" No-Essay Scholarship
3. Tyde Memorial Scholarship
4. Jameela Jamil x I Weigh Scholarship

Scholarships for high school students in Alaska

It is important to start applying for college scholarships early. By applying for scholarships in high school, students can make sure that they receive the financial aid they need. 

1. Scorenavigator Financial Literacy Scholarship
2. "A Daring Path" No-Essay Scholarship
3. "A Courageous Spirit" No-Essay Scholarship

Scholarships for current college students in Alaska

While many students begin applying for scholarships as high school seniors or even high school underclassmen, there are also plenty of scholarships for incoming freshmen and other college students in Alaska. Undergraduate and graduate students can still benefit from Alaska scholarships. Recent graduates who have student loans can even apply for some scholarships! 

1. Alaska Students- North to the Future Scholarship
2. “Equal Opportunity” Scholarship
3. Bold Hope for the Future Scholarship
4. #FinancialFreedom No-Essay Scholarship

Frequently asked questions about scholarships in Alaska

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 fully fill out your profile 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.

When can I start applying?

You can start to apply for scholarships as soon are you're in high school and at least fourteen years old. Though some high school scholarships are only available to graduating high school seniors who are preparing to transition to college, there are also plenty of scholarships that high school students of all grade levels can apply for.

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.