ANSEP Acceleration Academy opens applications for Fall 2026

Following the January graduation of students from the Alaska Native Science & Engineering Program (ANSEP), the program is gearing up for the next school year as it is welcoming applications for its full-time Acceleration Academy for the 2026-2027 academic year.

The immersive opportunity helps students in grades nine through 12 take university courses that count toward both high school graduation and college credit, all at no cost to students or their family. Applications for campuses in Mat-Su, Anchorage, Nome, Kotzebue and Bethel are open through June 6.

ANSEP is part of the University of Alaska system that began as a university scholarship program for a single student in 1995, and has grown to provide unmatched educational opportunities for nearly 3,000 Alaskans over 30 years.

Beginning in kindergarten, today ANSEP’s sequential model continues through high school and into undergraduate, graduate and even doctoral programs, allowing students to succeed at rates far exceeding national numbers.

The full-time opportunity runs the full academic year, August through May, bringing students together as a cohort, which creates a strong sense of community and accountability at each campus and with the larger ANSEP family around the state.

“We built Acceleration Academy around the idea that students learn best when they feel they belong and are challenged in meaningful ways,” said Matt Calhoun, executive director of ANSEP. “This is a place where students support each other, push through hard problems, and start to see themselves as scholars and leaders.”

Key benefits from ANSEP include shortening the path to a college degree and significantly reducing the financial burden of achieving one. On average, students earn almost 70 college credits before graduating high school, which allows them to bypass about two years of college coursework and the associated costs.

All approved program costs for Acceleration Academy, including tuition and university fees, are covered by ANSEP through support from its strategic partners, making the program free for students and their families. After completing the program, students can continue at any University of Alaska campus with ongoing advising and support.

ANSEP opportunities are open to all Alaskans. Students who do not meet initial placement requirements can join Acceleration Ready sessions. Homeschool students are welcome to apply; with guidelines for recommendation forms are available.

To learn more and to apply for the 2026-2027 Academic Year, visit: the Acceleration Academy (Full-time) page at www.ANSEP.net.