Alaska College Scholarships

The Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education is the state agency responsible for the overall statewide planning and coordination of higher education in Alaska, the administration of various student aid programs, and the performance of designated regulatory functions.

For more information about the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education please visit http://alaskaadvantage.state.ak.us.

State Agency Scholarships

The Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education administers a number of scholarship programs to Alaska students. The state university system encompasses main campuses and satellite campuses throughout Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau. The following scholarships are offered:

• The Edward and Anna Range Schmidt Charitable Trust
• GEAR UP
• Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarships
• The University of Alaska Scholars Program
• Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education's (WICHE) exchange program

The Edward and Anna Range Schmidt Charitable Trust

The Edward and Anna Range Schmidt Charitable Trust is a special award administered through the University of Alaska at Anchorage. The grant is designed to offer monetary assistance to financially and socially disadvantaged students studying environmental sciences. Native Alaskans have preference. Students must apply directly to the Trust. To find more information, please go to the UAA website http://edit.uaa.alaska.edu/financialaid/

GEAR UP - Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs

GEAR UP Alaska is a not for profit scholarship program designed to get kids kick-started for college as early as middle school. Students participating in the program are provided with an augmented course of study that assures they meet particular academic criteria. Scholarships are awarded to those undergraduate students who have graduated from a GEAR UP program, met all the criteria and are enrolling in a college program. Scholarships may be as much as $7500 per academic year. Students enrolled part-time may receive partial scholarships.

To find more information, please go to the U.S Department of Education.

Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship

The federally funded Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarships are awarded to Alaska's graduating seniors who have shown excellence in academic work and in such personal areas as leadership and volunteerism. Byrd Honors Scholars must already be accepted into an undergraduate college or university program anywhere in the United States. Eligible candidates will have earned top ACT/SAT scores, maintain superior GPAs and graduate at the top of their class. Each recipient gets a $1500 scholarship, renewable for another 3 years. Students enrolling in a U.S. military academy are not eligible.

To find more information, please go to the U.S Department of Education.

The University of Alaska Scholars Program

The University of Alask Scholars program is one of the most attractive monetary programs. Designed to attract and reward the state's most outstanding and talented students, the scholars program has been proven effective at retaining many university graduates living, working and studying within their home state. This is the main goal of the program; keep talent at home and make Alaska stronger and more vital in the long run. Each year the Alaska Scholars Program awards nearly 1000 scholarships a year up to a whopping $11,000 per academic year. UA campuses are located throughout Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau.

For more information, please visit http://www.alaska.edu/scholars/overview.xml

Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education's (WICHE) exchange progra

Alaska is a participating member in the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education's (WICHE) exchange program. The organization is a consortium of 15 western states all committed to providing a collective higher education to regional residents. Undergraduates and graduates may attend partner colleges and universities for a fraction of the cost of traditional out of state tuition. Alaska offers four different WICHE Exchange programs:

• Western Undergraduate Exchange
• Western Regional Graduate Program
• Professional Student Exchange - designed to offer expanded facilities for technical and vocational students
• WWAMI Medical Program -designed to provide medical students access to all the best programs, labs and facilities within the region's colleges and university systems

For more information, please visit http://www.wiche.edu/

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Public and Private Companies

Colleges and Universities

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