Apply for Financial Aid, Scholarships, and Student Employment
Follow These Steps
Whether you are a new student or a continuing student, you will need to apply for financial aid before we can determine your eligibility. In order to maximize your chances of receiving financial aid, you must apply as early and make sure to submit additional requests for documentation as quickly as possible.
Step1: FILE/RENEW the FAFSA (SCHOOL CODE: 011462)
Completing and submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) is free and quick, and it gives students access to the largest source of financial aid to pay for your classes at UAA. In addition, the State of Alaska and UAA both use FAFSA data to determine eligibility for state and institutional financial aid programs. Some private financial aid providers may use your FAFSA information to determine whether a student qualifies for aid. Don't forget... this application must be filed EVERY year! UAA's Priority FAFSA Deadline is July 15th, however we recommend filing as soon as the new application opens on October 1st each year.
If you don't have questions or think you need help, go ahead and APPLY NOW ...
-
Which FAFSA should I file?
Important Note: There are two (2) academic year FAFSA applications available at any given time and it is important to fill out the correct one for the semester you hope to receive financial aid. An academic year begins with the Fall semester in August, Spring semester in January, and ends with the Summer semester in May.
Which FAFSA should I file?
Academic Year Attending during one of these semesters Submit this FAFSA FAFSA will use this Tax Year information 2022-2023 Fall 2022, Spring 2023, Summer 2023 2022-2023 FAFSA 2020 2023-2024 Fall 2023, Spring 2024, Summer 2024 2023-2024 FAFSA 2021 -
Who Should Apply?
U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens should complete the form each year. UAA uses FAFSA data to help select recipients for various UAA grants and scholarships, so it's important to complete the form even if you do not think you'll qualify for need-based federal aid programs. University of Alaska scholarships open to international students do not have a financial need component, therefore you do not need to complete this U.S. federal form.
- What if I Need Help to File?
-
I can file on my own...
- From a computer or tablet - Visit the FAFSA.gov and choose the "2022-2023 FAFSA" if you're beginning in August 2022 or January 2023.
- Choose 2023-2024 if you're beginning or returning in August 2023.
- Remember, the FAFSA must be completed every year.
-
Applications can be started on one device and completed on another by creating a "save key" after first logging in with your FSA ID and password.
-
I have questions before I file...
-
UAA YouTube Videos can help...
-
Watch a quick "File the FAFSA FAST" video tutorial
-
Create Your Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID to sign the FAFSA
-
Use the IRS Data-Retrieval Tool to import taxes into FAFSA
-
-
-
I want to make an appointment or participate virtually...
-
Virtual FAFSA Wednesdays offered by our partners at the AK Commission on Postsecondary Education (ACPE)
-
Join ACPE for fully virtual, weekly assistance provided by ACPE's FAFSA experts. These events are FREE to attend and no registration is required. Individuals can join the Zoom session any time between 3 pm and 6 pm on Wednesdays to receive help with creating the FSA ID and filling out the FAFSA.
-
- ACPE Success Center appointments - If you need assistance completing your FAFSA for the first time, we do recommend an hour long appointment. Visit the link provided to choose an appointment type.
-
-
Step 2: COMPLETE THESE STEPS AFTER FILING THE FAFSA
Completing a FAFSA every year as early as it opens (Oct. 1st) is critical. UAA takes it from there! Students new to the University of Alaska are provided with an award offer as early as December, and continuing students who are enrolled in classes will receive their award offer in May, once the spring semester ends. Make sure to visit each action below to verify that there is nothing preventing you from being eligible for aid.
- How Do I Find Out if I'm Eligible for Aid?
After submitting the FAFSA you may also be asked to verify additional information or turn in missing documentation. The Office of Financial Aid will contact you with the necessary information you may need to provide. If your FAFSA file contains incomplete or inaccurate information or you make changes to your application, you may experience processing delays.
- Check to See if You've Been Awarded
You are responsible for monitoring your Financial Aid status, therefore it is important that you do the following things:
- Check your UAOnline "Financial Aid" tab frequently.
- If you are required to submit additional documentation to our office, we encourage you do so as soon as possible, to prevent delay in awarding. Some forms will be submitted from within the UAOnline portal, whereas others identify how to deliver it on the form itself.
- UAOnline will allow you to view overall status, holds, academic progress, cost of attendance, financial aid offers, and messages.
-
Check for notifications on your UAA student email account. The Office of Financial Aid communicates with students primarily through either UAA student email accounts and/or *UAOnline-preferred email accounts.
* If the student designates a preferred email address on the "Personal Information" tab of UAOnline, all further financial aid messages will be sent to this account.
- Go to UAOnline
- Click on the Financial Aid tab
- Select UAA
- Select Award
- Select Award by Aid Year
- Select the appropriate Academic Year
- Select Award Overview
- View Your Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Status
- Go to UAOnline
- Click on the Financial Aid tab
- Select UAA
- Select Financial Aid Status
- Select the appropriate Academic Year
- Review your overall financial aid status. Your Academic Progress (SAP) status will be listed
Students who wish to file a SAP Appeal, should refer to "Student Responsibilities - Satisfactory Academic Progress"
- Eligible SAP Statuses: "Eligible", "Warning", "125 Warning", and "Probation"
- Ineligible SAP Status: "Ineligible", "Exceeds Timeframe -IN150", and "Did Not Fulfill Academic Plan - DNFAP"
- Review Holds and Missing Documents
- Go to UAOnline
- Click on the Financial Aid tab
- Select UAA
- Select ‘Financial Aid Status’
- Select the appropriate Academic Year. Spring 2022 is part of “2021-2022”
- Select ‘Student Requirements’
- Complete any requested forms. Most have a link to an online form, such as the ‘Verification Form’
- You may be asked to attach a copy of a federal IRS Tax Return Transcript for you, and your parents if you are a dependent student. Make sure to request the tax year listed on your UAOnline. If you answer the IRS’s security questions correctly, you will be able to download a copy of the transcripts, which can be attached to the Verification form you complete within UAOnline. If you're unable to download a copy, you may need to request it by mail.
What does "Verification" mean and how can I complete it quickly?
Verification is the process used to confirm the accuracy of the information reported on the Free Application for Federal Student aid (FAFSA).
If a student is selected for verification, he/she must submit certain information. This may include:
- Household size
- Number of household members in college
- Taxable and non-taxable income
- Asset information
- Other data elements reported on the FAFSA
Students whose FAFSA is selected for verification are required to submit a Verification Worksheet and federal tax transcripts — if they did not use the IRS data retrieval tool when completing their FAFSA. Depending on the verification group they are assigned and other information reported on their FAFSA, we may require students to submit additional documentation. Students selected for verification will be notified through email and UAOnline as to what documentation is required. Financial Aid awards cannot be generated or disbursed until verification is complete. Students that are not initially selected for verification may be selected after they make changes to their FAFSA. If this happens, any financial aid previously awarded will be canceled until the verification process is complete. There is no guarantee that the equivalent types and amount of financial aid will be available when you are repackaged.
Is there a deadline to turn in required documents?
UAA's PRIORITY DEADLINE is July 15th.You may still turn in documents after July 15th, but we cannot guarantee they will be processed before the payment deadline*
For priority processing and to ensure awards will be packaged before the payment deadline, students must submit all pertinent verification documents prior to July 1 of the academic year in which they are applying. The deadline to submit completed verification documents is 30 days from the last date of enrollment, or the last business day in August — whichever comes first. The deadline for all Financial Aid eligibility for a specific academic year is also the last day of August.
Failure to submit all required documents will cause processing delays. Not only will it delay all disbursements of federal aid but it will also prevent disbursement of several types of state and institutional aid. Lastly, Students are required to put their UAA ID number on each page of all documents submitted to the Office of Financial Aid.
Notification:
Once students submit all the required documentation, they can track the status of their verification through UAOnline. If a verification resulted in making changes to a student's FAFSA, the student will receive an email from the Central Processing Unit at the Department of Education with a new Student Aid Report and his/her verified EFC. Once their verification has been processed, students will receive an email within 7 business days notifying them to check UAOnline to view and accept their award offer.
- Accept or Decline Offered Loan/Grant Awards
- Go to UAOnline
- Click on the Financial Aid tab
- Select UAA
- Select Award
- Select Award by Aid Year
- Select the appropriate Academic Year
- Select Accept Award Offer
- Accepting Federal Direct Student Loans requires an additional step (listed below)
Note: Pell Grant and other scholarships or grants, are automatically accepted on behalf of the student. This money is free to eligible students who enroll in and continue to actively participate in required courses. Ceasing attendance before the class ends could result in a student having to return money.
- Complete Steps to Receive Federal Student and/or Parent Loan Applications
First-time undergraduate and graduate borrowers of federal student loans must complete the following tasks at: StudentAid.gov. Select either the"Undergraduate Students", "Graduate/Professional Students", or "Parent Borrowers" tab and follow the list of steps to apply:
- Entrance Loan Counseling: Students who have not previously received a subsidized/unsubsidized loan or PLUS loan for graduate/professional students under the Direct Loan Program are required to complete the online tutorial to ensure that they understand the responsibilities and obligations assumed when borrowing a loan. The entire counseling process must be completed in a single session. Most people complete counseling in 20-30 minutes.
- Master Promissory Note (MPN): The MPN is an official, legal document in which the borrower agrees to terms, conditions, and repayment requirements for a federal student loan(s) also known as a "Loan Agreement". Once the MPN is completed, this agreement will also be applied to subsequent Federal Student Loans borrowed in the next 10 years. The MPN is only required to be completed once unless a student borrows again 10 years later. Most people complete it in 20-30 minutes. Contact information for two references is required.
- Federal PARENT PLUS Loan Borrowers: Parents of dependent students who elect to take out a federal loan on behalf of a UAA student have several steps to complete in the process.
Visit Studentaid.gov and select the "Parent Borrowers" tab:
- Complete Loan Agreement for a PLUS Loan (MPN)
- Complete a Parent PLUS Loan Request Form*, available on the UAA Financial Aid Forms page
*If the parent-applicant's credit score is approved by the federal processor, the funds will be applied to the student's UAA account and will be used to pay any outstanding tuition, housing or other qualified charges. This form also allows the parent to inform UAA how to disburse any remaining loan credit balance, resulting from the PLUS loan deposit.*If the parent-applicant's credit score is not approved, the dependent student may speak to a UAA Financial Aid Advisor about gaining additional loan eligibility in the current academic year.
- Check to See if You've Been Awarded
- READ ABOUT Scholarships Available for Use at UAA
- APPLY for a Student Employment Job at one of our UAA Campuses
The University of Alaska Anchorage offers students a wide range of employment opportunities to earn money, in locations convenient to class. On-campus jobs allow students to serve UAA and our community campuses while also developing relevant skills and building their resume. Whether you are looking for pre-professional work or simply funds to help pay for tuition, UAA is a dynamic place to work with job opportunities to match any interest.
Creative Advantages of Having an On-Campus Job
UAA offers many student employment opportunities to its students. Some students even find a way to earn relevant career experience by matching their degree program with on-campus student jobs.- Are you interested in marketing and sales? Perhaps a job in the UAA Bookstore is for you?
- Thinking about becoming an IT manager? Working in an IT Customer Support position in the UAA Information Technology Services would be a great way to gain experience.
- Interested in living in dorms? Consider applying for a Residence Life position. This dynamic group has multiple positions and offers fun and engaging training, as well as in-depth diversity and inclusion exercises. Some positions even offer a cost discount on room and meal plan charges.
To be eligible for student employment at UAA, students must be:
- Registered in six or more UA credits
- Be scheduled to work no more than 20 hours a week during the semester as a UAA student employee
- International students should check with the International Student Advisor to confirm visa eligibility.
- Step 1: Apply for a JobGo to the University of Alaska Human Resources "Careers at UA" website and select "Explore Jobs at UA" from the top menu.
Use the filtering technology in the site to refine your search for Student Employee positions and by campus or location. At any time you can create an account login, which will allow you to upload a completed UA employment application and resume, along with optional items like cover letter or letters of recommendation, etc
Select those positions you would like to apply for and connection your uploaded materials.
For help with setting up an account, writing a resume, or developing interview and professional clothing recommendations, contact the UAA Career Exploration & Services Office. - Step 2: Be Hired in a Position
- To be hired for most positions you will have to complete an interview.
- The contact information you provide in your online application will be used by departments to arrange an interview. Make sure to tell them during your interview if you filed a FAFSA because you may qualify for Federal Work Study (FWS) which will help the department pay your wages. This will increase your chances of being hired.
- You will be able to check the status of submitted applications and easily apply for new posted positions without too much extra work.
- If you are hired in a position, earnings from student employment will never disburse to your student account to cover tuition/fee charges.
- Payment occurs via an external Human Resources process as you work and earn wages.
*Notice for Departments: Once you've decided on a candidate, you may send an email to the UAA Financial Aid Office to ask if the individual qualifies for FWS. If the candidate quallifies, you will receive a fund/org/acct number to add on the Job Form or EPAF and it will be sent to our office for approval. If the student does not qualify for FWS, you will be submitting your Job Form to HR instead.
- Federal Work-study Program - How Is It Different?
By completing the FAFSA, some students may be eligible for the Federal Work Study (FWS) Program. FWS is a part-time employment program designed to help undergraduate and graduate students gain priority attention among other student applicants because the federal government pays a portion of your wages, so your hire would be less expensive for the department. Your eligibility for the program is determined as part of your application for financial aid. FWS is not required to be a student-employee at the University of Alaska Anchorage.
Fast Facts
- Federal Work Study is a program that allows college students to work at their university in exchange for Federal Work Study Funds.
- Half of the money a student worker is paid comes from the program, and the other half
comes from the university.
Federal Work Study is available to students who show financial need and indicate interest in programs other than grants when filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). - Federal Work Study funding is a limited pot of money provided to UAA. Students should submit their FAFSA and apply for student employment early to increase their chance of receiving funding.
- Federal Work Study student employees are only permitted to up to 20 hours a week when school is in session, so that university employment does not interfere with academic studies. You must always check with your supervisor before working extra hours.
- Please be aware - earnings from student employment funded by Federal Work Study will never disburse to your student account to cover tuition/fee charges. Payment occurs via an external Human Resources process as you work and earn wages.
- CONTACT US if you have "Special Financial Circumstances" or cannot provide parental
information on the FAFSA
The federal government allows UAA Financial Aid to consider situations that may effect your ability to either file the FAFSA or to report financial information. Three types of "special circumstances" are allowed to be considered under the FAFSA guidance Learn More About APPEALS & EXCEPTIONS...
- Income overrides - If you or your family have experienced unforeseen financial changes due to job loss, income reduction, asset value reduction, illness, etc... or you are facing increased educational expenses that affect your ability to fund your degree,
- Requests for Dependency Override - A student who is unable to maintain contact with the parent who would normally be required to fill out the FAFSA with the dependent student.
- Cost of Attendance/Budget Adjustment - Certain costs not included in the standard "cost of attendance" estimate, such as childcare, course-related equipment, additional credit load, or a one-time computer purchase are permitted to be considered.
- REQUEST Summer Financial Aid
If you are attending classes during the summer semester, financial aid may be available to help you cover your costs. Often students will exhaust their full amount of federal or state financial aid during the Fall and Spring semesters, so it's important to plan ahead if you are considering taking summer classes.
LEARN HOW TO REQUEST YOUR REMAINING AID FOR USE IN SUMMER
- SEARCH for Private Scholarships
Some students need additional help to cover the cost of their college expenses and search for private scholarships online. Before you begin this process, please review the helpful information we've provided below.
TIPS TO AVOID SCHOLARSHIP SCAMS:
You may be solicited by mail, email, or phone by malicious entities claiming to be scholarship service companies. These entities are often attempting to gain access to personal information such as social security numbers or bank numbers. It has become increasingly more difficult to separate the legitimate offers from those that are seeking to mine valuable data from students. Below are some links to websites that can help you differentiate authentic scholarship service companies and phishing scams.
The most important things to remember are that:
- You should never give out your personal information without verifying the security of the data.
- You should never pay an entity offering any financial aid (including scholarships) even if funding is "promised." All applications from reputable entities will be free.
Visit Federal Student Aid's comprehensive resource on how to avoid STUDENT AID SCAMS and how to report when you suspect your information has been compromised.
- "FREE" AND "FEE" SCHOLARSHIP SEARCH SERVICES
Both "free" and "fee" search services available
*Note: Some search engines sell email addresses for commercial purposes. To avoid an influx of spam email, consider setting up a dedicated email address when searching for private scholarships.
Alaska Career Information System aims to teach students the steps in the financial aid process and creates a personalized list of scholarships, grants, and loans for each student.
Cappex is a free online college and scholarship resource for high school and college students. They maintain an extensive scholarship database to help students cover the costs of their tuition.
College Board locates scholarships, loans, internships, and other financial aid programs from non-college sources that match your education level, talents, and background.
Education Corner provides information on scholarships, grants and fellowships including current articles
FASTWEB provides access to over 1.5 million scholarships. This free service allows you to scholarship match by targeted goals, like: strengths, skills, interests, religion, gender, etc. You can also search by "Scholarship Deadline" which is especially handy when you're looking for last minute scholarships.
Finaid Scholarships provides information regarding the Federal Financial Aid programs available on this site.GoingMerry is a FREE scholarship and financial aid platform that uses personalized matching to thousands of scholarships and grants. They even have a mobile app to make the application process easier. A few other cool features include auto-filled forms and bundled scholarships so you can fill out one application to apply for multiple awards.
Nursing Explorer is a searchable scholarship database specifically for nursing students.
Sallie Mae's Scholarship Search Tool provides access to an award database that contains more than 3 million scholarships worth over $16 billion, and is expanded and updated daily.
Scholarships for specific majors locates scholarship sources for majors such as art, biology, computer science, engineering, journalism, and nursing.U.S. Department of Labor One-Stop is a one-stop scholarship, career exploration, training & jobs site. Any UAA scholarships listed when filtering by "Alaska" refer to our UA Foundation Scholarship Application open each year October 1 - February 15th.
- ALASKA AND NATIONAL PRIVATE SCHOLARSHIPS
Some local and national private scholarship sources are included below for you to consider. Deadlines vary so please follow the link for more information and details on how to apply.
Alaska-Specific Scholarships
National Scholarships
The University of Alaska Anchorage is no longer posting scholarship advertisements for entities/organizations not affiliated with the University of Alaska unless we have worked directly with them in the past.
Service-Related Scholarships
Miscellaneous Scholarships