University of Alaska Southeast Scholarships (2026–2027)
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Last Updated on July 28, 2026- Tuition, housing, and average family net price
- Automatic merit ranges and qualifier benchmarks
- Flagship and hidden-gem awards
- Honors and stacking strategy
📊 Admissions Snapshot
- Acceptance Rate: ~63%
- Middle 50% ACT: N/A
- Middle 50% SAT: N/A
- Average GPA: N/A
The University of Alaska Southeast is a small public university spread across Juneau, Sitka, and Ketchikan, with the residential campus sitting on Auke Bay in Juneau. About 1,800 students total, which means your student is a name, not a number. Admissions are rolling, there is no Common App, and here is the part that surprises most families: UAS does not look at ACT or SAT scores at all. Not for admission, not for scholarships. If your student has a solid transcript, the door is open. The affordability story here is also unlike almost any other public university in the country, and we will get into that below.
Comparing multiple schools? Try the Scholarship Tool to search by GPA, test scores, and state →
📌 University of Alaska Southeast at a Glance
- Everyone pays in-state tuition. Really. Starting Fall 2026, the Alaska Unlocked initiative gives every undergraduate the resident tuition rate automatically, no matter what state you live in. No form, no application, and the rate is guaranteed as long as your student stays continuously enrolled.
- Do not build your budget around merit money. UAS keeps sticker price low instead of handing out big scholarships. The only automatic award for incoming freshmen is the Chancellor’s Award, which covers part of first-year on-campus housing for students with a 3.5+ GPA.
- The big awards you hear about are Alaska-only. The $15,000 UA Scholars Award and the Alaska Performance Scholarship both go to Alaska high school graduates. Lower 48 families should not count on them.
- February 15 is the real money deadline. One general application on the UA scholarship portal covers every donor-funded Foundation scholarship, and it closes for priority consideration on February 15. Miss it and most of the extra money is gone for the year.
FAQ
Is this college test-optional? Yes, for admission. University of Alaska Southeast is test-optional for admission.
What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: N/A; SAT: N/A.
Average net price? About $8,488/year after aid.
Does this school use waivers/reciprocity? Yes. Institutional waivers are available.
UAS Financial Aid: Scholarships: https://uas.alaska.edu/financial_aid/scholarships.html
Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education: Alaska Performance Scholarship: https://acpe.alaska.gov/Funding-Solutions/Alaska-Performance-Scholarship
University of Alaska: UA Scholars Program: https://www.alaska.edu/scholars/index.php
UAS Academic Catalog 2026-2027: Types of Available Aid: https://catalog.uas.alaska.edu/financial-aid/types-available-aid/
Teach Alaska: UA Teacher Internship Scholarship: https://www.alaska.edu/teach/teacher-internship-scholarship/
UAS School of Education: Scholarships and Grants: https://uas.alaska.edu/education/scholarships-and-grants
CollegeScorecard / Admissions: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/
That is not a typo. Through the Alaska Unlocked initiative, every undergraduate pays the in-state tuition rate starting Fall 2026, regardless of residency. It happens automatically at admission, and UAS guarantees the resident rate for as long as your student stays continuously enrolled. Older websites still show a non-resident sticker price around $24,000. For undergraduates, that number is effectively gone.
💰 Cost of Attendance at University of Alaska Southeast: 2026–2027 Rates
Figures verified against official sources in October 2026.
📅 Planning for 2027–2028? These are the 2026–2027 rates, the newest University of Alaska Southeast has published. Colleges usually release next year's costs in the spring, and we update this page when they do.
Budgeting tip: costs typically rise 2% to 5% a year. For 2027–2028, plan on roughly $400 to $1,100 more than the total below.
✔ Same price for every student, no matter which state you live in.
| Tuition & mandatory fees | $9,348 |
| Housing & meals (typical) | $12,820 |
| Total billed cost | $22,168 |
Average federal net price: $8,488 per year. This is what first-time, full-time students who received grant aid paid after grants and scholarships, for in-state students only, based on the most recent federal data. It counts books and living costs, so it can run higher than the billed total above. Families who got no grants are not in this average, so many middle-income families pay more. New to Net Price & SAI? Read our guide.
📌 Regional Tuition & Waiver Options
UAS charges by the credit, not a flat semester rate. The tuition figure above assumes a full 15-credit load each semester. A student taking 12 credits pays less; a student adding a heavy lab schedule may pay slightly more. The Net Price Calculator is the best way to get a number for your family.
FAQ — Cost of Attendance at University of Alaska Southeast
Do out-of-state students really pay the same tuition as Alaskans?
Yes. Alaska Unlocked applies the in-state rate to every undergraduate automatically beginning Fall 2026. There is no separate application, no GPA requirement, and no residency paperwork. Online and in-person students both qualify, and the rate is locked in as long as your student stays continuously enrolled.
What about the WUE program? Is it still worth marking on the application?
UAS participates in the Western Undergraduate Exchange, which normally caps tuition at 1.5 times the resident rate for students from western states. Alaska Unlocked is a better deal, since full in-state beats 1.5 times in-state, and it applies to every state, not just WUE members. For undergraduates, Alaska Unlocked simply supersedes it.
Why is housing the biggest line on the bill?
With tuition around $9,000, on-campus housing and meals in Juneau actually cost more than tuition itself. This flips the usual math: at UAS, the smartest cost conversations are about housing choices, not tuition discounts. The Chancellor’s Award, which offsets part of first-year housing for 3.5+ GPA students, exists precisely because of this.
Is the average net price figure reliable?
Treat it as a rough guide. It comes from federal IPEDS data, which lags a year or two, and it predates Alaska Unlocked. Some sources that track only federal aid recipients show averages closer to $7,000. Run the school’s Net Price Calculator for a number that reflects your actual income and the new tuition structure.
What forms does UAS require for financial aid?
Just the FAFSA. There is no CSS Profile. File by February 15 to be considered for all University of Alaska scholarships, and Alaska residents should make sure it is in by June 30 for state aid programs.
Will costs rise while my student is enrolled?
Tuition rates are set by the University of Alaska Board of Regents and can adjust year to year, though recent changes have been modest. The in-state rate guarantee under Alaska Unlocked means your student will never be bumped to a non-resident rate, but the underlying resident rate itself can still change.
https://uas.alaska.edu/financial_aid/ak-unlocked.html
https://uas.alaska.edu/financial_aid/costs/index.html
https://uas.alaska.edu/student-accounts/tuition-fees.html
📅 UAS Money Timeline (Simple Version)
- Fall of senior year: Apply to UAS (rolling admissions, so earlier is better) and file the FAFSA.
- February 15: The big one. FAFSA priority date and the deadline for the single UA Foundation scholarship general application on the Awarded portal.
- June 30: Alaska residents must have the FAFSA filed to stay eligible for state programs like the Alaska Performance Scholarship.
Parent rule of thumb: at UAS, the FAFSA and the February 15 general application do the heavy lifting. There are no test-score scholarship tiers to chase.
Automatic Merit Scholarships — University of Alaska Southeast
Note: The UA Scholars Award is designated by Alaska high schools for their top 10 percent of juniors. Students from outside Alaska cannot apply for it. For most Lower 48 families, the Chancellor’s Award (partial first-year housing for 3.5+ GPA students who file the FAFSA) is the only automatic award in play as a freshman.
Automatic Merit — FAQs (University of Alaska Southeast)
Does UAS award scholarships based on ACT or SAT scores?
No. UAS does not consider test scores for admission or for money. There are no score cutoffs anywhere in the process, which is a relief for strong students who are not strong testers.
What is the Chancellor’s Award and how does my student get it?
It is applied automatically to new on-campus residents with a 3.5+ high school GPA who have filed the FAFSA. It covers part of first-year on-campus housing. No application, no essay. It is a first-year award only and does not renew.
What is the UA Scholars Award?
A $15,000 award ($1,875 per semester for eight semesters) for students in the top 10 percent of their Alaska high school class at the end of junior year. The high school designates recipients automatically, and the student activates it by enrolling at any University of Alaska campus, including UAS.
Is there anything automatic for continuing students?
Yes. The Stay on Track grant gives sophomores, juniors, and seniors $750 per year for carrying a full 15-credit load with a FAFSA on file. It is UAS quietly paying students to stay on pace for four-year graduation.
Why does UAS give out so little automatic merit compared to other schools?
Because it discounts the sticker price for everyone instead. Most universities charge out-of-state students a high rate and then hand back merit scholarships. UAS just charges everyone the in-state rate up front. The net cost often lands in the same place or better, with no GPA renewal strings attached.
Do these awards stack with other aid?
Generally yes. The Chancellor’s Award, Stay on Track, Foundation scholarships, and state or external awards address different pieces of the bill, and receiving in-state tuition through Alaska Unlocked does not reduce scholarship eligibility. Always confirm the final mix on the award letter.
https://catalog.uas.alaska.edu/financial-aid/types-available-aid/
https://uas.alaska.edu/financial_aid/ak-unlocked.html
🏆 Flagship Scholarships (Competitive Scholarships)
✅ How Aid Fits Together at UAS
| Aid Type | Stacks? | UAS Parent Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska Unlocked (in-state rate for all) | Yes, with everything | Not technically a scholarship, but it does the work of one. It lowers the base bill before any aid is applied and does not reduce eligibility for anything else. |
| Automatic awards (Chancellor’s, Stay on Track) | Yes | Small, targeted, and they layer on top of the low tuition rate rather than replacing anything. |
| UA Foundation Scholarships (general application) | Usually yes | This is where the “competitive” money actually lives at UAS. Donor funds vary in size and criteria, and one February 15 application covers all of them. |
| State programs (APS, UA Scholars) | Yes | Alaska residents can layer these on top of everything above. This is how in-state students get close to a free ride. |
| Need-based grants | Yes | FAFSA-driven and meant to fill whatever gap remains. File by February 15 for the best shot. |
If your student thrives in scholarship competitions and wants a school that rewards that, look at big flagships with named full-ride programs. If your family just wants a predictable, low bill without playing the merit game, UAS’s model is refreshingly simple: low price for everyone, one scholarship application, done.
This institution does not offer designated Competitive scholarships at this time.
❓ Flagship / Competitive Scholarship FAQs
Does UAS have a full-tuition or full-ride scholarship competition?
No. There is no institutional full-ride contest. The closest path to a near-free UAS education is an Alaska resident stacking the UA Scholars Award, the Alaska Performance Scholarship, and Foundation awards on top of the low resident tuition.
Where should a high-achieving student focus instead?
The UA Foundation general application, due February 15 through the Awarded portal. Strong grades, leadership, and a good personal statement are exactly what donor committees reward, and one application puts your student in the running for every matching fund.
Is UAS a National Merit, QuestBridge, or Stamps partner?
No to all three. UAS does not sponsor National Merit packages and is not a QuestBridge or Stamps partner school.
Does applying early improve scholarship chances?
Admissions are rolling, so applying early does not unlock hidden merit tiers, but it does clear the way to complete the February 15 Foundation application on time. Admitted-and-done by winter break is the comfortable pace.
What should students prepare for the Foundation application?
A short personal statement and a clean activities list cover most funds. Families can use our Essay Toolkit and Brag Sheet Builder to get those pieces ready before the portal opens each fall.
https://uas.alaska.edu/financial_aid/scholarships.html
https://catalog.uas.alaska.edu/financial-aid/types-available-aid/
Does UAS Have an Honors College?
No, and it is worth understanding why that is not the drawback it sounds like. At big universities, an Honors College exists to carve out a small-school experience inside a huge one: smaller classes, direct access to professors, research opportunities as an undergraduate. UAS is already that small school. With around 1,800 students across its campuses, the things honors programs ration out to a select few are simply the default experience here.
- Small classes by default: Discussion-sized courses taught by faculty, not teaching assistants, without needing an honors admission letter.
- Undergraduate research in a serious setting: Marine biology and environmental science students work in the field, on the water, and alongside faculty on real projects. Juneau’s location on Auke Bay makes the coastline the lab.
- Direct faculty relationships: The recommendation letters, research invitations, and mentoring that honors students compete for elsewhere come naturally when professors know every student by name.
- Room to lead early: Student government, clubs, and campus jobs have short lines. Motivated freshmen step into roles that would take years to reach at a flagship.
The honest trade-off: there is no honors designation on the transcript and no honors-specific scholarship pool. A student who wants the prestige signal of an Honors College, or who is building a resume for highly competitive graduate programs that recognize that credential, should weigh that. A student who wants the substance of the honors experience, meaning small classes, research, and mentorship, gets it at UAS without applying for it.
Honors Alternatives — FAQs (University of Alaska Southeast)
Can high-achieving students still stand out at UAS?
Yes, arguably more easily than at a large school. Top students here become the ones running research projects, presenting at conferences, and collecting strong faculty recommendations, because there is little competition for those slots.
Is there extra scholarship money for top students?
Not through an honors track. The Chancellor’s Award recognizes a 3.5+ GPA automatically, and the Foundation general application is where academic achievement translates into donor-funded money. Alaska residents in the top 10 percent of their class also carry the UA Scholars Award.
What about students aiming for graduate school?
Close faculty mentorship and hands-on research are exactly what graduate admissions committees want to see, and UAS students can accumulate both starting freshman year. The lack of an honors label matters far less than the substance of the record.
Are there enriched academic experiences on campus?
Field-intensive coursework is the signature UAS enrichment: research vessels, glacier fieldwork, fisheries labs, and community-based projects across Southeast Alaska. It is a different flavor of rigor than a seminar-style honors college, and for the right student it is a better one.
https://uas.alaska.edu/apply/index.html
https://catalog.uas.alaska.edu/financial-aid/types-available-aid/
⭐ College Specialty
UAS is not trying to be everything to everyone, and that is its strength. Its standout programs are the ones you genuinely cannot replicate in the Lower 48, because the classroom is Southeast Alaska itself: the ocean, the rainforest, the glaciers, and the Native cultures of the region.
Marine Biology — This is the program that puts UAS on the map nationally. Students study whales, salmon, and coastal ecosystems in the waters right off campus, with fieldwork starting early rather than being saved for graduate school. For a student who wants to be on a boat instead of in a lecture hall, few programs anywhere offer this much hands-on access at an undergraduate price.
- Environmental Science: Glacier, watershed, and coastal research in one of the most closely watched climate regions on the planet, often in partnership with agencies working right in Juneau.
- Northwest Coast Art: A rare formal program in the art traditions of the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian peoples, taught in the heart of the culture that created them. Nothing comparable exists at most American universities.
- Outdoor Studies: Trains students for careers in guiding, recreation, and outdoor leadership using Southeast Alaska as the training ground, from sea kayaking to backcountry travel.
- Elementary Education: A practical, well-supported pathway into teaching, backed by unusually generous aid: the PITAAS program for Alaska Native students and a Teacher Internship Scholarship that funds the full-year classroom internship.
🔗 Official University of Alaska Southeast Links
Use the official UAS pages below to verify admissions details, the Alaska Unlocked tuition policy, scholarship deadlines, costs, and institutional data. Always rely on these pages for final deadlines, award terms, and official information.
-
Undergraduate Admissions:
https://uas.alaska.edu/apply/index.html -
How to Apply (by Student Type):
https://uas.alaska.edu/apply/steps/index.html -
Alaska Unlocked (In-State Tuition for All):
https://uas.alaska.edu/financial_aid/ak-unlocked.html -
Scholarships (Foundation General Application):
https://uas.alaska.edu/financial_aid/scholarships.html -
Cost of Attendance:
https://uas.alaska.edu/financial_aid/costs/index.html -
Tuition & Fees (Per-Credit Rates):
https://uas.alaska.edu/student-accounts/tuition-fees.html -
Net Price Calculator:
https://uas.alaska.edu/financial_aid/costs/npcalc.html -
Common Data Set & Institutional Data:
https://uas.alaska.edu/ie/external%20reporting.html