Updated October 2026 by Carson Flowers, from Alaska's official program pages.
The short answer: The Alaska Performance Scholarship pays up to $7,000 a year at Level 1, which takes a 3.5 GPA or a 1210 SAT or a 25 ACT. The entry level, Level 3, pays up to $3,500 a year and takes a 2.5 GPA or a 1060 SAT or a 21 ACT. Your teen needs the GPA or the score at each level, plus the required high school curriculum.
The score and GPA for each tier
| Tier | SAT | ACT | GPA | What it pays |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | 1210 | 25 | 3.5 | Up to $7,000 a year |
| Level 2 | 1130 | 23 | 3.0 | Up to $5,250 a year |
| Level 3 | 1060 | 21 | 2.5 | Up to $3,500 a year |
Beyond the score:
- Level 1: Complete one of the approved APS curriculum options. A WorkKeys score of 18 also counts.
- Level 2: Same curriculum requirement. A WorkKeys score of 15 also counts.
- Level 3: Same curriculum requirement. A WorkKeys score of 12 also counts.
How the test score counts
Your teen needs to hit only one measure at a given level: the GPA, the ACT, the SAT or the WorkKeys score. The award level is set by whichever of GPA or test score puts your teen higher. The curriculum requirement applies no matter which measure is used.
How the GPA is calculated
The GPA is your teen's high school GPA. A 2.5 GPA or a qualifying test score is the floor for any APS award, on top of the required curriculum.
Which class year these rules cover
ACPE publishes one table of award levels rather than separate tables by graduating class. Schools share preliminary eligibility in the middle of junior year, which is a good time to check where your teen stands.
Deadlines
| What | When |
|---|---|
| Schools share preliminary APS eligibility | Middle of junior year |
| Private school and homeschool eligibility request | July 15 |
| FAFSA, or the Alternative APS Application for non-Title IV schools | June 30 priority deadline, each year the award is used |
| Final eligibility reported to ACPE and shown in the Alaska Student Aid Portal | Mid-August after high school graduation |
Testing has its own clock: see every 2026-27 date in Alaska SAT test dates.
Keeping it in college
In the first year of college your teen needs 24 semester credits (12 if half-time) and a 2.5 cumulative GPA. After that it is 30 credits a year (15 if half-time) and a 2.5 GPA. The award can be used for up to the equivalent of 8 full-time semesters within 8 years of graduation. A Level 2 or Level 3 student can step up a level after two full-time semesters in a row of 15 or more credits by reaching a 3.0 or 3.5 GPA.
Where it pays
Participating Alaska colleges and approved career and technical programs in the state. It is paid to the school in two disbursements a year once your teen is admitted and enrolled.
The misconception: APS needs both a GPA and a test score
Many families assume Alaska stacks a GPA requirement on top of a score requirement. It does not. At each level your teen needs the GPA or the score, and the one piece that is always required is the approved curriculum.
Free tool
Which of these numbers is your teen's target? Pick the Alaska colleges on their list and get a target score and the gap from today's score in under a minute.
Find my teen's target scoreQuick answers
Does my teen need both a good GPA and a good SAT for the Alaska Performance Scholarship?
No, one or the other is enough. A 3.5 GPA reaches Level 1 even with a lower test score, and so does a 1210 SAT or 25 ACT with a lower GPA. The required curriculum still has to be completed.
What is the lowest score that earns any APS money?
A 1060 SAT or a 21 ACT reaches Level 3, which pays up to $3,500 a year. A 2.5 GPA or a WorkKeys score of 12 also reaches Level 3, with the required curriculum.
How much is the Alaska Performance Scholarship worth in total?
Up to $28,000. That is spread across up to 8 full-time semesters, used within 8 years of high school graduation.
Can my teen move up a level once in college?
Yes, through the Step-Up provision. A Level 2 or Level 3 student who completes two full-time semesters in a row of 15 or more credits can move up by reaching a 3.0 or 3.5 GPA.
Is the FAFSA required for APS?
Yes. File the FAFSA listing an eligible Alaska school by the June 30 priority deadline, or the Alternative APS Application for schools outside the federal aid program.
Can homeschool students get APS?
Yes. Private school and homeschool students must send a separate eligibility request to the Department of Education and Early Development by July 15.
Sources
- Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education: Alaska Performance Scholarship
- ACPE: APS Checklist 2024 (PDF)
- ACPE: APS FAQs (PDF)
- Alaska Statutes AS 14.43.810 to 14.43.849
Rules change by class year. Confirm with the program's own pages before you plan around any summary, ours included.
Turn the cutoff into a plan
Knowing the number is the easy part. In a free Strategy Session we put your teen's current score next to the APS line and the ranges at their Alaska colleges, then build the six to twelve week plan to close the gap. More for Alaska families: Alaska SAT prep and SAT Scores for Alaska Colleges.