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March 17, 2026
Daylight: 11:57:19
Week 10 – Financing your degree
Welcome back! I hope your break was exactly what you needed – time to rest, recharge and get ready for what comes next. Now you are in the final
stretch.
Take a moment to appreciate that. You’ve already come so far. Every class, every late
night of studying, every challenge you pushed through has brought you to this point.
Keep showing up and putting in the work. There really is no substitute for the time
and effort you invest in yourself.
This week, let’s talk about something that affects nearly every college student: paying
for your education.
You’ve already made an incredibly important decision – to invest in yourself. And consistently shows that education is one of the best investments you can make for
your future. In fact, short of going back in time and buying Bitcoin at $1, investing
in your education is probably one of the smartest financial decisions you can make
for your long-term success.
Of course, that doesn’t mean it’s easy – or free. If you’re feeling the financial pressure of college, you’re definitely not
alone. So here’s an important question: Have you completed the Free Application for
Federal Student Aid?
The is the key that unlocks access to federal financial aid. And every year, billions
of dollars go unclaimed simply because students never fill it out. Recently, it was
estimated that about $4.4 billion in federal Pell Grants were left on the table by
students who were eligible but didn’t submit the form. In ÀÖ»¢Ö±²¥ alone, last year. Yikes. That’s just Pell Grants – it doesn’t even include scholarships, grants and loans.
In other words, some of that money could have been free funding for students who needed
it most.
Why don’t more students complete the FAFSA? For many people, the word itself sparks
anxiety. The form has a reputation for being long, confusing and intimidating. If
that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Many students – including many of us who went through college ourselves – felt the same way.
But here’s the good news: the FAFSA has recently been redesigned and simplified. For
the first time in decades, the process is much shorter and easier to complete. Right
now is a great time to fill it out for the upcoming school year. Remember those billions
of dollars left unclaimed? Some of that money might be yours.
And if you need help, you don’t have to figure it out alone. Reach out to UAF Financial Aid – they’re here to help you through the process.
Now let’s talk briefly about student loans.
Many students are understandably nervous about taking out loans. The national conversation
around student debt can sound scary. But the reality is that a modest and well-planned
amount of borrowing can sometimes make college more manageable and increase your chances
of success.
One story from a recent UAF graduate really highlights this. He finished college with
zero debt – but he did it by living in a van for two years. As a first-generation college student,
he was deeply worried about borrowing money. Looking back, he said if he could change
one thing, it would have been this: he would have taken out a small amount of student
loans. Why? Because the extra support would have allowed him to eat better, live in
student housing, and spend more time focusing on his classes instead of just surviving
day to day. He likely would have graduated faster – and with the job he landed immediately after graduation, he said he could have paid
off that debt within months.
The lesson isn’t that everyone should take loans. The lesson is that good information
leads to good decisions.
So if you’re thinking about how to pay for school:
You deserve the knowledge that helps you make the best decision for your future.
Because here’s the truth: you are worth the investment and so is your education.
Things to do:
for fall 2026!
Have a great tenth week of classes! I see 20+ degrees in the forecast for the coming
weekend! What are you planning to do to take advantage of the amazing weather? Let
me know!
As always, I’m at obguthrie@alaska.edu.
— Owen Guthrie, vice chancellor for student affairs and enrollment management
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