Best Colleges in Alaska (2023 Rankings)

Alaska is well-known for its tremendous history and culture along with its one-of-a-kind natural beauty. Sure, it can be pretty cold in the Arctic most of the year, but don't let that scare you away from experiencing all that Alaska has to offer. 

It's easy to forget about Alaska when there's an entire country separating it from the rest of the United States, but as you'll quickly learn from this article, you shouldn't write it off when you're thinking about where to go to college. 

Alaska's colleges and universities are some of the best you'll find anywhere, and we're excited to tell you more about some of the state's top postsecondary education options in this article (in no particular order). 

University of Alaska Fairbanks

Location: Fairbanks, AK

Acceptance rate: 67%

Undergraduate enrollment: 5,850

In-state tuition: $7,176 

Out-of-state tuition: $21,312 

Student-to-faculty ratio: 10:1

The University of Alaska Fairbanks is a place where revolutionary ideas pass from one generation to the next. Although the school offers both bachelor's and master's degree programs, nine in ten students are undergraduates. 

The school was founded in 1917 and has over 35,000 alumni who are out making a difference in the world. Most students are from Alaska, but several students come from elsewhere in the country and the world. In addition to the in-person experience, they also have award-winning online courses to offer as well. 

University of Alaska Anchorage

Location: Anchorage, AK

Acceptance rate: 77%

Undergraduate enrollment: 11,323

In-state tuition: $8,622 

Out-of-state tuition: $25,228

Student-to-faculty ratio: 15:1 

The University of Alaska Anchorage is located in the largest city in Alaska and attracts students from 89 different countries across the globe. They love UAA for its unique location and the tremendous opportunities nearby for outdoor exploration and industry connections. 

You'll have over 100 different academic programs to choose from, and you're likely to have access to significant financial aid (the school has already administered $47 million in grants and scholarships). When you're not busy studying for a test or wrapping up a project, you can learn more about one of the university's many student organizations and clubs.

University of Alaska Southeast

Location: Juneau, AK

Acceptance rate: 64%

Undergraduate enrollment: 1,805

In-state tuition: $6,960 

Out-of-state tuition: $21,096 

Student-to-faculty ratio: 8:1 

The University of Alaska Southeast (UAS) is located 12 miles away from downtown Juneau, Alaska's capital city. Their top priority is equipping students for future success and community contribution through their undergraduate and graduate degrees. 

They maintain several research, industry, and government partnerships in order to enhance the academic experience of each student. On-campus students will have plenty of opportunities to get involved with student organizations, leadership opportunities, and community engagement in addition to helping keep various campus life traditions going. 

Alaska Pacific University

Location: Anchorage, AK

Acceptance rate: 91%

Undergraduate enrollment: 312

Average tuition: $20,760 

Six-year graduation rate: 56% 

Student-to-faculty ratio: 8:1 

Alaska Pacific University's education is known for being collaborative, transformational, and innovative. They care deeply about developing their students and engaging with the local community. They also take their responsibility to honor Alaska's indigenous heritage seriously, and it directly impacts the unique educational experience they offer. 

The school first began offering classes in 1960 and changed its name from Alaska Methodist University in 1978. To this day, they remain affiliated with the Methodist church, and they help students earn undergraduate degrees in fields such as Community Health, Alaska Native Governance, and Marine & Environmental Sciences. 

Alaska Bible College

Location: Palmer, AK

Undergraduate enrollment: 40

Average tuition: $9,700 

Six-year graduation rate: 63% 

Student-to-faculty ratio: 6:1 

Alaska Bible College is a small, tight-knit college in Palmer with accreditation from the Association of Biblical Higher Education. They aren't affiliated with a specific denomination, but they are committed to providing a faith-based education. 

Students can choose between Elementary Education or Biblical Studies and Christian Ministry when deciding their major. The private school has also built a special mentorship program that helps students learn how to put spiritual principles into practice in their daily lives. Students meet with mentors in addition to attending chapel twice a week and participating in a local church. 

Alaska Christian College

Location: Soldotna, AK

Undergraduate enrollment: 93

Average tuition: $8,414

Student-to-faculty ratio: 5:1 

Alaska Christian College takes pride in its faith-based education and supportive community. They exist to provide Biblically-based education to Alaskan natives that also provides opportunities for character development and Christian faith formation. 

The school's first classes took place in September 2001, and they currently offer four degree programs: Behavioral Health, Christian Ministry, General Studies, and Paraprofessional Education. Students can also take advantage of campus-wide student events, local sports leagues, and spiritual life activities. 

Ilisagvik College

Location: Barrow, AK

Undergraduate enrollment: 232

Average tuition: $4,780

Student-to-faculty ratio: 8:1 

Ilisagvik College is an established tribal college that is proud of its heritage while still seeking to establish a diverse community of students who can learn from each other. Many students at Ilisagvik are first-generation college students, and the school's faculty and staff work hard to walk alongside students each step of the way to provide the proper amount of support and encouragement. 

Currently, the school offers 14 different undergraduate programs ranging from accounting to industrial safety to liberal arts and office management. They have also built an incredible student life program that exposes students to Inupiaq culture while also providing traditional opportunities for connection and engagement. 

Honorable Mentions

You thought we were done, but we're back out for an encore. Here are a few more colleges we think are worth exploring as you continue learning about the amazing higher education options in Alaska.

• Charter College (Anchorage and Wasilla, AK). Charter College has campuses in five states (plus an entirely online campus) in addition to its Anchorage and Wasilla locations. Their mission is to prepare students for successful careers in business, healthcare, Information Technology (IT), and various trades.
• Prince William Sound College (Valdez, AK). PWSC attempts to offer many of the same benefits of being at a larger university while maintaining a smaller student body and prioritizing individualized attention from staff and faculty.
• Kenai Peninsula College (Soldotna, AK). As an affiliate of the University of Alaska Anchorage, Kenai Peninsula specializes in two-year associate's degrees and occupational endorsement certificates. 
• Kodiak College (Kodiak, AK). Like Kenai Peninsula College, Kodiak is a member of the University of Alaska system and a great starting point for students who want to work toward an associate's degree or take classes to later transfer to a traditional four-year college. 
• UAF Community and Technical College (Fairbanks, AK). UAF's community college offers 40 different certificate and degree programs in fields that are in high demand in today's workforce. 

Learn more about top colleges in The Last Frontier with College Rover

We've covered a lot of ground in a short time, but we hope you're beginning to see how these Alaska colleges and universities could play a role in your educational journey. Whether you're fresh out of high school or looking to pursue a new career later in life, we think you'll find that the degree programs at these schools could represent a great next step for you.

If you would like more assistance in learning about the schools above (or other schools throughout the country), check out our extensive database at College Rover. We provide a wealth of information about schools and degree programs that can help you make a more informed decision about what institution is right for you. 

You can also make an account to save your preferred options and compare them side-by-side with each other. Check it out today! We're here to help you learn about the best Alaskan and American schools in addition to the top online colleges.

College Rover gets the majority of its data directly from the U.S. Department of Education (DOE). The DOE publishing schedule "lags" the most current data which some colleges post on their official websites. This may cause there to be a difference in the data you see on College Rover and an individual college website. College Rover's website is updated as the DOE data becomes available and is configured for the College Rover website.