Welcome to the Educational Opportunity Center! EOC is a U.S. Department of Education program hosted by the University of Alaska Anchorage, yet we provide assistance with applying to any continuing education program, college, and/or university within the United States.

    Our Mission: to help adults, ages 19 and older, to enroll in postsecondary education by providing admissions assistance and information on financial aid options. Our team works with a variety of public and private organizations to identify and serve eligible persons who are interested in pursuing education or training beyond high school.

    Our services are FREE to eligible adult residents of the Municipality of Anchorage and the Mat-Su Borough. Priority is given to low-income individuals whose parent(s) or legal guardian(s) have not received a four-year degree.

    Dr. Kim Patterson, Director

    The Educational Opportunity Center, University of Alaska Anchorage, is one of over 139 EOCs located throughout the United States and Puerto Rico.

    Operating in the Anchorage community for 25 years, EOC has served over 49,500 individuals in their educational and career planning endeavors.

    Originally established by federal regulation in 1976, Educational Opportunity Centers were founded through the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare. Since the reorganization several years ago, the U.S. Department of Education is the funding source not only for EOCs, but also for a larger group of similar programs developed after the passage of the Higher Education Act in 1965 and targeted toward a disadvantaged population. Upward Bound, Student Support Services and Talent Search are similar programs; EOCs were added later.

EOC is a fully funded program of the U.S. Department of Education in the amount of $594,935.00 annually. Sec. 402F HIGHER EDUCATION ACT OF 1965SEC. 402F. 20 U.S.C. 1070a–16.