Financial Aid FAQ

By Jessica Armstrong

College isn’t cheap, but there are different options for financial aid. UAF eCampus has you covered with this FAQ about scholarships, grants and loans.

1. How do I get started?
   • We recommend all students complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year at studentaid.gov. UAF’s school code is 001063 to ensure your Student Aid Report is sent to us. This is how we know what aid you are eligible for and may be used to determine additional scholarship eligibility. Aid years run from the fall semester through the summer semester. Here’s a tutorial to help you with filling out the FAFSA and other financial aid questions.
   • Once you’ve applied for admission and have been admitted to UAF, you can apply for scholarships and other financial aid.
2. Can online students get scholarships too?
   • As an online student, you’ll have access to the same scholarships you would be eligible for if you attended classes on campus. Scholarships may be awarded by the University of Alaska Foundation, some UAF departments, as well as the federal government, state agencies and private organizations or donors. The application process may be different depending on who is offering the scholarship.
   • Tuition for eCampus classes is always charged at the Alaska resident rate, so the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) scholarship isn’t applicable for eCampus classes because the eCampus rate is lower than the WUE rate. If you are in Alaska and are taking a mix of in person and online classes and your state of residency is a WUE state, please talk to the Admissions Office about whether the WUE rate should apply for your in-person courses and how to apply for it. The Alaska resident rate will be automatically charged for your eCampus courses.
3. Where do I apply for University of Alaska Foundation scholarships?
   • The UA Foundation awards hundreds of scholarships every year to students and there is a single application so it is really easy to apply! Once you sign in and submit your General Application, you’ll be automatically matched with all the scholarship opportunities that you qualify for. There is a strict deadline of February 15th every year for the next academic year’s scholarships. For example, the application for all UA Foundation scholarships for Fall 2024, Spring 2025, and Summer 2025 will open on October 15, 2023 and close on February 15, 2024.
4. What’s the difference between a scholarship, a grant and a loan?
   • Scholarships are financial awards that can be used to pay for tuition, housing, books and other costs related to college and don’t need to be repaid. Merit-based scholarships are awarded based on academic performance, community involvement and other achievements. Need-based scholarships are awarded based on financial need and require completion of the FAFSA.
   • Grants do not need to be repaid after graduation and can be used for any educational expense. The Pell Grant is the most common grant, the amount a student is eligible for is determined by the Federal Government based on FAFSA.
   • Loans are money you have to pay back once you leave school. Loans from the Federal Government can be subsidized or unsubsidized. With subsidized loans, the government pays the interest while you are in school. With unsubsidized, the interest accrues and is added onto your loan balance. Most students end up with a mix of both loan types and the amount you qualify to borrow will be determined by your FAFSA student aid report. Educational loans generally have long-term repayment schedules, offer low interest rates and may offer additional benefits related to financial need.
5. I’m affiliated with the military (e.g. spouse, dependent, service member, veteran), where can I find scholarships besides what UAF offers?
   • The Army Emergency Relief has a list of scholarships called Other Scholarships and Education Resources that they update every year. The opportunities are listed by an individual’s status (e.g. veteran, spouse etc). Students would apply for these opportunities individually and they are not affiliated with UAF in any way.
   • MYCAA is for the spouses of service members on active duty in pay grades E-1 to E-5, W-1 to W-2 and O-1 to O-2. Spouses married to members of the National Guard and reserves in these same pay grades are eligible. MYCAA can be used towards certificates and associates in workforce development fields (e.g. Medical Reimbursement Certificate, Paralegal Studies Associate of Applied Science, etc)
   • If you have questions about using Veteran Education Benefits (GI Bill) or Military Tuition Assistance, our Department of Military and Veterans Services staff are here to help you get started!
6. What types of aid can graduate students apply for?
   • Graduate students may be eligible to take out unsubsidized loans or PLUS loans which can be applied for through the FAFSA application at studentaid.gov. 
   • Graduate students are eligible for many of the UA Foundation scholarships as well. Submit your general application by February 15th each year.
   • Some students may be eligible to receive graduate tuition assistance (TA) or research assistance (RA). For more information check with your department.
7. What are the Nanook Pledge or Nanook Commitment Scholarships and who is eligible?
   • First-year, transfer and readmitted bachelors-seeking students are reviewed for these scholarships by our Admissions office at the time of admission. There is no additional application.
   • Nanook Pledge is a four-year merit scholarship available to incoming first-year, transfer and readmitted UAF students. 
   • Nanook Commitment is a renewable scholarship available to incoming first-year, transfer and readmitted UAF students based on your application for admission, FAFSA and eligibility for other scholarships. 

If you have questions not answered here, please reach out to our Financial Aid Office uaf-financialaid@alaska.edu, 907-474-7256 or schedule a one-on-one virtual appointment.