Government College Grants for Alaskans
Alaska residents can apply for college grants and scholarships offered by the State of Alaska as well as by the federal government. State-funded programs offer help to resident Alaskans attending colleges and universities within the state, and federal programs can also offer assistance for students attending schools throughout the United States. Certain programs are earmarked for Native Alaskans and may require candidates to submit proof of Indian blood or proof of tribal membership.
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Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education
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Students can receive state funding for college through programs offered by the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education. The AlaskAdvantage Education Grant program helps students in financial need with grants of up to $3,000 per school year, as of March 2011. Candidates must be Alaska residents attending a college or university within the state. This program also offers funding for students enrolled in high-need fields, such as allied health, teaching and social service. The commission's Gear Up Alaska program offers up to $7,000 per school year for financially needy students who participated in the program in middle school. The Alaska Performance Scholarship offers funding for up to four years to students attending colleges, universities or technical schools in the state.
Udall Foundation
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Established in 1992, the federally sponsored Udall Foundation offers scholarships for Alaska Native and Native American students. As of March 2011, this program pays a maximum of $5,000 to students enrolled in environmental, health care or tribal policy programs. Eligible fields of study can include urban planning, tribal law, nursing, engineering, social work or natural resource management. The foundation's Native American Congressional Internship program extends eligibility to Alaska Native students interested in careers in tribal policy. The program offers students the opportunity to spend 10 weeks in Washington, D.C. to learn about governmental issues relating to Native Americans. Awardees receive a stipend, housing and airfare for travel to and from their homes to Washington.
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Bureau of Indian Education
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The Bureau of Indian Education, a division of the U.S. Department of the Interior, offers supplmental funding to students through the Higher Education Grant Program. The program assists Alaska Native and American Indian students pursuing undergraduate degrees. Candidates must hold membership in an American Indian tribe or have a minimum of one-quarter Indian blood. Applicants must have a financial need for assistance and can use funds to help pay for bachelor's or associate of arts degree programs.
Indian Health Service
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The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through its Indian Health Service division, offers college grants for Alaska Native and American Indian students planning careers in health care. The Preparatory Scholarship helps students pay for prerequisite coursework required in their health-care programs, such as mathematics and English. The Pre-Graduate Scholarship pays for tuition and school fees for undergraduate students enrolled in pre-podiatry, pre-dentistry or pre-medicine degree programs.
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References
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