A UA Scholars Award is an $11,000 scholarship awarded to Alaska high school students who are in the top 10% of their class as determined by their school. The Award may be used at any campus of the University of Alaska and is distributed in the amount of $1,375 per semester for eight semesters (over five years) provided the Scholar remains eligible.

You must apply for admission to the UA campus of your choice by May 1, 2014. Missing this deadline will cause your Award to expire.

No, to qualify for the Award, you must be designated by your high school.

High schools set their own academic criteria to determine the top 10 percent of their students in the junior class. Typically, cumulative GPA is the primary consideration. Schools may consider additional academic factors: however, the criteria cannot be based on a student's financial need, intention to enroll or not to enroll at the University of Alaska, continued enrollment at the high school, or results from the High School Graduation Qualifying Exam.

If you think you should be a recipient of the UA Scholars Award but have not received an award letter, you should contact an administrator at your school.

Yes! You should read it from cover to cover to make the most of your Award.

The Award goes a long way toward the cost of an education at the University of Alaska; however, it is not a full-ride scholarship. While eligible, you will receive $1,375 per semester to help cover your educational expenses.

You can use the Award to pay for undergraduate tuition, fees, room, board, books, transportation and other expenses associated with attending the University of Alaska.

Your Award may be used in conjunction with other funding sources. If you have a credit balance on your account due to funding from the UA College Savings Plan account, additional scholarship(s) or financial aid, your campus may issue you a refund.

Yes. However, in some cases the amount of the APS award may be reduced. The APS 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. The sum of all other aid for which a student is eligible (including your UA Scholars Award) will be deducted from the cost of attendance before the APS is applied. Click here to get more information on the APS. 

There are many additional opportunities for other scholarships, work-study programs, grants and loans. Contact a financial aid office at the University of Alaska to find out what is available. In addition to campus specific opportunities, the UA Foundation also offers a variety of scholarships, grants and awards available to UA students.

No, you must have a high school diploma before you can start using your Award. If you receive a certificate of achievement or GED instead of a diploma you will not be eligible to redeem your Award.

Yes, you may begin using your Award as soon as you graduate and meet all of the other eligibility requirements.

Unless you are using a leave of absence, you must begin using your Award the fall semester immediately following high school graduation.

Yes, you may take a leave of absence of up to two semesters at any time during the five year period following your high school graduation. During the leave of absence you will not receive your Award. If you do not receive a distribution of your Award for more than two semesters, your Award will expire unless, in certain narrow circumstances, you apply for and the Program Administrator determines you are eligible for an extention to your leave of absence.

Your Award and your leave of absence are secured once you've met the May 1, 2014 deadline to apply for admission. If you plan to use your leave of absence for the first fall semester after graduation, please indicate the semester in which you plan to enroll on your application for admission.

You don't need to inform the Scholars Program office but you should contact your campus admissions office to postpone your enrollment.

Yes. Your campus will provide you with more information regarding its orientation requirements.

Yes, but not during your first year of attendance. For more information on exchange programs contact your campus admissions office.

You may use your Award for a summer term only if you are enrolled full time and also received a distribution of your Award for the previous spring semester.

The Award expires under any of the following conditions:

• You fail to meet the May 1, 2013 application for admission deadline;
• You fail to take a distribution for more than two semesters after your high school graduation;
• You have been paid the entire amount of the Award; or
• You fail to uphold the 'Obligations of the Scholar' as stated in the Program Information Booklet

You must uphold the University's Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy toward completion of your degree or certificate program, complete a minimum of 12 credits each regular semester and maintain a 2.5 minimum GPA.

Academic progress will be reviewed at the end of each semester to ensure eligibility. A Scholar in good standing who falls below the minimum percentage of cumulative credits or the required 2.5 GPA will be placed on academic probation if, in their most recent semester, the Scholar completed at least 75% of the credits attempted. Grades of AU, DF, F, I,W,NB,NC,and NP indicate unsatisfactory completion of courses for financial aid purposes.

You must be either a US citizen or alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence. Please contact our office if you do not meet this criterion.

Your Award is posted to your student account at the university once you've been accepted into a degree or certificate program and are enrolled as a full time student. Distribution of Awards occurs during the normal fee payment period each semester you're eligible.

As long as you maintain eligibility, you may continue using your award after you graduate. However, your Award can only be applied to an undergraduate program. You may not receive more than $1,375 from your Award in one semester.

Yes, you may attend any campus of the University of Alaska and may transfer (if academically eligible) to any other campus within the University system. This includes the main or branch campuses of University of Alaska.

You may complete your application for admission online at http://uaonline.alaska.edu.