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.
AccreditorNorthwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Academic CalendarSemester
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
Outcomes60
Value71
Affordability40
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.
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.
$2,50010%percentile
$4,67825%percentile
$20,291Medianpercentile
$21,90175%percentile
$36,93490%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
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.
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
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
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 CityFairbanks, Alaska
Housing
Mostly residential1,746 beds on campus
Adult Learners
40%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling 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.
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.
Related Colleges in Alaska
Other colleges in Alaska share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Business Administration
Nursing
Business Administration
Related Guides
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Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
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Rankings That Feature University of Alaska Fairbanks
University of Alaska Fairbanks appears in these rankings, built from the same federal data and the UCD Score.
Highest-Earning Construction Colleges
The highest-earning colleges for Construction, ranked by graduate salary 10 years after entry.
$82,721 Top Earn
$52,227 Avg Earn
79 UCD Score
20 Colleges
Highest-Earning Mechanics & Repair Colleges
The highest-earning colleges for Mechanics & Repair, ranked by graduate salary 10 years after entry.
$84,131 Top Earn
$48,380 Avg Earn
77 UCD Score
36 Colleges
Highest-Earning Personal Services Colleges
The highest-earning colleges for Personal Services, ranked by graduate salary 10 years after entry.
$84,648 Top Earn
$43,233 Avg Earn
83 UCD Score
51 Colleges
Most Affordable Construction Colleges
The most affordable colleges for Construction, ranked by net price with earnings and outcomes shown.
$7,051 Lowest Net
$18,369 Avg Net
79 UCD Score
$82,721 Top Earn
Most Affordable Legal Studies Colleges
The most affordable colleges for Legal Studies, ranked by net price with earnings and outcomes shown.
$3,203 Lowest Net
$23,289 Avg Net
93 UCD Score
$78,466 Top Earn
Most Affordable Mechanics & Repair Colleges
The most affordable colleges for Mechanics & Repair, ranked by net price with earnings and outcomes shown.
$7,051 Lowest Net
$14,946 Avg Net
77 UCD Score
$66,099 Top Earn
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