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This study examined the historic and current contexts regarding student participation in higher education as a step toward developing policy recommendations for improving the percentage of Alaskans going to college. There appears to be a mismatch between the workforce needs of the state and the availability of qualified Alaskans for those jobs. As the need for workers grows, projections indicate that Alaska will not enjoy a commensurate increase in high school graduates. There is financial aid available, but still relatively few Alaskans are going to college. The following strategies are suggested to increase access to higher education in Alaska: (1) establish a nonportable need-based grant program; (2) improve the linkage of K-12 and higher education systems; (3) establish indigenous advanced placement programs in Alaskan high schools; (4) improve access to distance education; (5) improve access to distance education; (6) encourage more Alaskan business and industry involvement; and (7) improve th