Public Graduate Strong 72/100

University of Alaska Fairbanks

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Fairbanks, Alaska

About University of Alaska Fairbanks

University of Alaska Fairbanks is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Fairbanks, Alaska. It enrolls 4,207 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Acceptance
Graduation
26.8%
Net Price
$10,892
Median Earnings (10yr)
$48,866
Enrollment
4,207
Student : Faculty
12:1

Accreditor Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Open / Online). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Strong
72/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Open / Online
Outcomes 60
Value 71
Affordability 40
Selectivity

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

Admissions data is not yet reported for University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Acceptance Rate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported

5-Year Admission Trend

Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether University of Alaska Fairbanks is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

76%201967%202064.7%2021

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending University of Alaska Fairbanks isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $10,892 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price
$10,892
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
22%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
17%
Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$8,736
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$22,320
Room & Board (on-campus)
$10,590
Room & Board (off-campus)
$13,750
Books & Supplies
$1,200
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,750
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,750
Total Cost of Attendance
$22,407

Application fee: $50 (one-time, due at submission)


Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

  • Under $30,000
    $7,992
  • $30,001 – $48,000
    $6,065
  • $48,001 – $75,000
    $11,323
  • $75,001 – $110,000
    $15,526
  • Over $110,000
    $17,512

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$2,500
10% percentile
$4,678
25% percentile
$20,291
Median percentile
$21,901
75% percentile
$36,934
90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $13,245 ↓ $7,046
No Pell $9,500 ↓ $10,791
Dependent students $9,500 ↓ $10,791
Independent students $13,250 ↓ $7,041
Female students $11,000 ↓ $9,291
Male students $12,000 ↓ $8,291
Pell recipients: 19.3% (3,924 students)No Pell: 13.9% (2,814 students)Dependent students: 13.9% (2,814 students)Independent students: 19.3% (3,925 students)Female students: 16.1% (3,259 students)Male students: 17.5% (3,555 students)Overall Median$20,291
Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,500, less than completers ($20,291), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

27% of full-time students who enrolled at University of Alaska Fairbanks graduate within six years, and 73% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate
27%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
73%
Returning for their second year
What this means: Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered University of Alaska Fairbanks earn a median of $48,866 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$48,866
Earning > $25K
70%
10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

$40,000$42,000$45,000$47,000$50,0006 yrs8 yrs10 yrs

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates
$35,700

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates
$57,800

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.


By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)
$41,100

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)
$46,600

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)
$50,300

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $22,100, about 38% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt 14.4 pts across 6 years
67.9%1yr74.4%3yr75.7%5yr82.3%7yr
What this signals: Strong. 82% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.

Who Studies Here

University of Alaska Fairbanks is home to 4,207 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 40% are first-generation college students, 41% study part-time.

Total Enrolled
4,207
Part-Time
41%
First-Generation
40%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents
White 53.2% 2,239
Other 24.7% 1,038
Hispanic 9.8% 412
Asian 3.2% 134
Black 3.0% 128
International 1.0% 43
White: 53.2% (2,239 students)Other: 24.7% (1,038 students)Hispanic: 9.8% (412 students)Asian: 3.2% (134 students)Black: 3.0% (128 students)International: 1.0% (43 students)Total4,207

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at University of Alaska Fairbanks. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting
Small City Fairbanks, Alaska
Housing
Mostly residential 1,746 beds on campus
Adult Learners
40% of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAA athletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semester scheduling structure

What You Can Study

University of Alaska Fairbanks offers an extensive catalog of programs: 131 distinct programs across 31 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

9 Programs
12 Programs
1 Program
6 Programs
12 Programs
6 Programs
2 Programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at University of Alaska Fairbanks is 12:1, close to the national average.

Student : Faculty
12:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$20,710
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$149M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$91,224
9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

279 instructional faculty across 5 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank Faculty Count Share Avg Salary
Full Professors 73 26% $108,530
Associate Professors 78 28% $94,309
Assistant Professors 104 37% $79,136
Instructors 19 7% $82,072
No Rank 5 2% $79,068

Pros & Cons of University of Alaska Fairbanks

A quick at-a-glance summary of how University of Alaska Fairbanks tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS
  • Below-average net price
  • Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
CONS
  • Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
  • Modest first-year retention
  • Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for: Based on the data, University of Alaska Fairbanks is a fit for working adults or students needing part-time study options.

Frequently Asked Questions about University of Alaska Fairbanks

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about University of Alaska Fairbanks.

How much does University of Alaska Fairbanks cost?
The average net price after aid at University of Alaska Fairbanks is $10,892 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is University of Alaska Fairbanks worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $48,866 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $10,892 per year. That's roughly 4.5x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is University of Alaska Fairbanks known for?
University of Alaska Fairbanks is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Business Administration, Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do University of Alaska Fairbanks graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering University of Alaska Fairbanks are $48,866, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is University of Alaska Fairbanks accredited?
Yes. University of Alaska Fairbanks is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
How many students attend University of Alaska Fairbanks?
University of Alaska Fairbanks enrolls 4,207 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at University of Alaska Fairbanks?
University of Alaska Fairbanks graduates 27% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is University of Alaska Fairbanks a public or private college?
University of Alaska Fairbanks is a Public institution.
Where is University of Alaska Fairbanks located?
University of Alaska Fairbanks is located in Fairbanks, Alaska.
What programs does University of Alaska Fairbanks offer?
University of Alaska Fairbanks offers 131 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Business Administration, Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at University of Alaska Fairbanks?
The student-to-faculty ratio at University of Alaska Fairbanks is 12:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

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