Do I have to apply for the Nanook Pledge?

No. It is automatic — recipients are notified at the time of admission, based on previous high school or college GPA and your tuition rate.

How much does UAF cost?

For 2026-27 (12-credit basis), the estimated tuition+fees+housing+food is $11,370/semester ($22,740/year) for Alaska residents, $18,858/semester ($37,716/year) for non-residents, and $13,230/semester ($26,460/year) at the WUE rate (plus ~$1,128 books, ~$2,500 personal, ~$1,000 transportation per year).

UAF award rules

Will the scholarship last four years at UAF?

We pulled the school’s grade, credit, and time limits into one place so you can see what it takes to keep the award.

Verified Jun 20263 months ago

The short answer

7 of 7 published awards are listed as renewable.

The exact rule can change by award. Check the award your student may receive before you count on the same amount every year.

What to do

Find the award name in the full research below. Save its grade, credit, and deadline rules with your college plan.

See every award rule, common mistake, and source

At a glance

Renewable tiers: 7 of 7
One-time tiers: 0
Tiers with published renewal terms: 7
Renewal risk profile: moderate

Renewal risk profile

UAF's renewal bar is achievable for steady students but isn't generous. Most awards require a cumulative GPA in the 3.0–3.4 band plus full-time enrollment. Audit the strictest tier on this school's list before assuming the four-year value is locked in.

Nanook Pledge Scholarship — Alaska Resident rate: Full-time enrollment
Nanook Pledge Scholarship — Non-Resident rate: 2.0 GPA
Nanook Pledge Scholarship — WUE rate: Full-time enrollment
UA Scholars Award: 2.5 GPA
Alaska Adventure Award (non-residents, lower-GPA): 2.0 GPA
Nanook Fine and Performing Arts Scholarship: Full-time enrollment
Alaska Performance Scholarship (APS) — state award via ACPE: 2.5 GPA

Renewal terms by tier

Nanook Pledge Scholarship — Alaska Resident rate
$2,000-$4,000/year ($8,000-$16,000 over four years)
Entry requirements: First-Year: 3.5+ → $4,000/yr; 3.2-3.49 → $3,000/yr; 3.0-3.19 → $2,000/yr. Transfer: prior college 3.8+ → $3,000/yr; 3.0-3.79 → $1,000/yr GPA
To keep it: Up to four years of continuous enrollment; must be full-time (12 UAF credits) fall and spring and meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (GPA 2.0+ and complete 67% of attempted classes). Amount may be reduced for students living off campus and changes if residency status changes; cannot exceed cost to attend (no refund if gift aid exceeds the bill).
Source: https://www.uaf.edu/finaid/akresident.php
Nanook Pledge Scholarship — Non-Resident rate
$5,000-$12,000/year first-year ($20,000-$48,000 over four years)
Entry requirements: First-Year: 3.8+ → $12,000/yr; 3.5-3.79 → $8,000/yr; 3.2-3.49 → $5,000/yr. Transfer: 3.8+ → $5,000/yr; 3.5-3.79 → $3,000/yr; 3.0-3.49 → $1,000/yr GPA
To keep it: Up to four years; full-time (12 credits) + SAP (2.0 GPA, 67% completion); reduced if living off campus; cannot exceed cost to attend.
Source: https://www.uaf.edu/finaid/nonresident.php
Nanook Pledge Scholarship — WUE rate
$1,000-$8,000/year first-year ($4,000-$32,000 over four years)
Entry requirements: First-Year (WUE rate): 3.8+ → $8,000/yr; 3.5-3.79 → $5,000/yr; 3.2-3.49 → $3,000/yr; 3.0-3.19 → $1,000/yr. Transfer: 3.8+ → $5,000/yr; 3.5-3.79 → $3,000/yr; 3.0-3.49 → $1,000/yr GPA
To keep it: Up to four years; full-time + SAP; reduced if off campus; cannot exceed cost to attend.
Source: https://www.uaf.edu/finaid/nonresident.php
UA Scholars Award
$15,000 (paid over eight semesters)
To keep it: Eight semesters of use (deferrable up to 2 years/4 semesters leave). Must be full-time (12+ credits) and maintain a 2.5 GPA each semester; continuing-eligibility credit checkpoints after every 2 terms (24/54/84 earned credits).
Source: https://www.uaf.edu/admissions/apply/ua-scholars.php
Alaska Adventure Award (non-residents, lower-GPA)
$500-$3,000/year
Entry requirements: First-Year: 3.0-3.19 → $3,000/yr; 0-2.99 → $1,000/yr. Transfer: prior college 2.6-2.99 → $500/yr GPA
To keep it: Up to four years of continuous enrollment; full-time (12 credits) + SAP (2.0 GPA, 67% completion); reduced if living off campus; cannot exceed cost to attend.
Source: https://www.uaf.edu/finaid/nonresident.php
Nanook Fine and Performing Arts Scholarship
$1,000-$5,000/year (renewable, 4 years total)
Entry requirements: Not based on incoming GPA — awarded on artistic talent/potential GPA
To keep it: Maintain eligibility by enrolling in 12+ UAF credits (full-time) fall and spring and meeting SAP.
Source: https://www.uaf.edu/finaid/akresident.php
Alaska Performance Scholarship (APS) — state award via ACPE
Up to $7,000/yr (Level 1), $5,250/yr (Level 2), $3,500/yr (Level 3)
Entry requirements: Level 1: HS GPA 3.5 OR ACT 25/SAT 1210; Level 2: GPA 3.0 OR ACT 23/SAT 1130; Level 3: GPA 2.5 OR ACT 21/SAT 1060 (all require the specified HS curriculum) GPA · 1210 (L1) / 1130 (L2) / 1060 (L3) SAT · 25 (L1) / 23 (L2) / 21 (L3) ACT
To keep it: Up to 8 semesters or 8 years from HS graduation; full-time 12+ credits for full award (half for 6-11 credits); FAFSA by June 30 each year; continuing checkpoints (24/54/84 credits, 2.5 GPA).
Source: https://www.uaf.edu/finaid/akresident.php

How families lose this aid

Missing the Nanook Fine & Performing Arts deadline.
It is portfolio-based (not GPA), and the admission + transcripts + scholarship application are all due Nov. 15, with decisions by Jan. 15.

Renewal questions families ask

Do I have to apply for the Nanook Pledge?: No. It is automatic — recipients are notified at the time of admission, based on previous high school or college GPA and your tuition rate.
How much does UAF cost?: For 2026-27 (12-credit basis), the estimated tuition+fees+housing+food is $11,370/semester ($22,740/year) for Alaska residents, $18,858/semester ($37,716/year) for non-residents, and $13,230/semester ($26,460/year) at the WUE rate (plus ~$1,128 books, ~$2,500 personal, ~$1,000 transportation per year).

Rules that bite at UAF

The renewal trip wires we'd flag in a custom playbook, derived from UAF's own tier rules and not generic advice.

Renewal ruleNanook Pledge Scholarship — Alaska Resident rate: renewal floor that quietly knocks awards out
Up to four years of continuous enrollment; must be full-time (12 UAF credits) fall and spring and meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (GPA 2.0+ and complete 67% of attempted classes). Amount may be reduced for students living off campus and changes if residency status changes; cannot exceed cost to attend (no refund if gift aid exceeds the bill). A single rough term can end a four-year award here without warning if the GPA floor isn't met cumulatively.

How UAF compares across our verified dataset

665 of 749 verified schools publish at least one four-year renewable merit award.
UAF is one of them. The cohort minority (84 schools) only awards one-year scholarships, which means the four-year value families assume on a brochure quote isn't guaranteed at every school.

Sources used on this page

Every renewal claim is checked against UAF’s own published materials.

Policy pageUAF stacking policy
Cost of attendanceUAF cost-of-attendance worksheet
Merit tiersNanook Pledge Scholarship — Non-Resident rate
Merit tiersUA Scholars Award
Scholarship pageFoundation/AWARDED Scholarships