Best Colleges in Alaska

Alaska College Guide – What You Need to Know

Expand in page Navigation

Alaska is a huge landmass, but it has one of the smallest populations in the United States. It's no surprise then that they have so few colleges. There is the rather small University of Alaska system that maintains three campuses, and then Alaska Pacific University, which is a small private institution. If you wish to expand your educational horizons, you can take advantage of the Western Undergraduate Exchange, which provides out-of-state tuition to students from member states at a reduced price. Through WUE, you can attend college in California, any state on the western seaboard, and twelve other states. You can even study in Guam or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

alaska_map_university

What are the most popular bachelor's degrees offered in Alaska?

Alaskans are seeking the same thing that students in other states desire: satisfying, stable careers. Their academic opportunities reflect the needs and desires of both incoming students and the state in general. For instance, you can find an associate degree in Outdoor Leadership at Prince William Sound College or you could get a degree in Alaska Native Studies from Kenai Peninsula College. Both degrees can be springboards to brilliant Alaskan careers. That said, some of the most popular bachelor's degrees in Alaska are not unlike what you might find in the Lower 48 or elsewhere. Here's a brief list:

Some of the most popular bachelor's degrees offered in Alaska include:

How Much Can You Make by Having a Degree in Alaska

NO FORMAL EDUCATION HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA ASSOCIATE DEGREE BACHELOR’S DEGREE MASTER’S DEGREE DOCTORAL DEGREE
$30,784* $38,792* $46,124* $64,896* $77,844* $96,772*
*National Average Earnings by Degree Level
arizona-National-Average-earning-by-educational-attainment

Most Popular Degrees and Careers in Alaska

The overall unemployment rate in Alaska has been slow to follow the steep decline elsewhere in the U.S. economy, but in 2018 it began a marked downturn that shows promise of continuing. Sectors such as construction and healthcare are seeing an expansion and the fishing industry is also growing. Relaxed cannabis laws are creating a new industry and vital economic growth as marijuana gains legitimacy in the Alaskan economy. This new industry also promises to flood the state with tax revenue, on top of creating a job increase as growers and retailers proliferate, purchase equipment, and hire employees.

Top Accounting Careers and Salaries

CAREER NAME CURRENTLY EMPLOYED AVERAGE ANNUAL WAGE
Bookkeeper 4,140 $43,500
Management Consultant 510 $87,700
Financial Management 1,320 $74,200
Compliance Auditor 680 $58,900
Tax Accountant 2,180 $57,400
  • Bookkeeper:
    It's easy to get started in business with an associate degree in accounting and a bookkeeping position. You'll learn how the business operates from a financial point of view. You'll need these skills if you ever open a business of your own.
  • Management Consultant:
    Sometimes firms need an outside view of their operations. As a consultant you can offer a much-needed objective view that helps get everyone motivated and the business running like a well-oiled machine.
  • Financial Management:
    Individuals frequently need a financial consultant to help them invest and manage their money. With a Series 7 designation from the SEC, you can buy and sell equities on behalf of your client. If you have a CPA license, you can also sign off on tax documents and maintain an individual or entity's entire portfolio.
  • Compliance Auditor:
    Your firm needs assurance that it is in compliance with relevant rules and laws. Therefore, they hire a compliance auditor. With your Alaska accountancy license, you can offer advice on how to manage funds in a way that is fiscally sound as well as in legal compliance.
  • Tax Accountant:
    Taxes are one of the more reliable parts of life. Businesses and individuals alike need accountants to help prepare tax documents and manage their accounts so that they can save on their tax bill. As a tax accountant, you'll be an expert in deductions, tax-free trust accounts, and more.
  • Accountant in Alaska

Best Alaska Schools for Accounting

  • University of Alaska Anchorage
  • Alaska Pacific University
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks
  • University of Alaska Southeast

Top Business Careers and Salaries

CAREER NAME CURRENTLY EMPLOYED AVERAGE ANNUAL WAGE
Sales Manager 530 $61,500
Financial Advisor 110 $59,700
Information Systems Manager 500 $83,800
Logistics 360 $66,600
  • Sales Manager:
    As a sales manager, you will oversee a team of salespeople who work in the field to sell the goods and services your firm produces. Frequently, but not always, a sales manager has worked their way to that position after several successful years in the field.
  • Financial Advisor:
    Your business and finance education will enable you to consult with firms, either as an outside analyst or long-term employee, and to help them cement the best possible practices or investments for their financial future.
  • Information Systems Manager:
    This is a data-driven position that business is finding increasingly vital to growth and long-term prosperity. You'll devise new ways to store, retrieve, and analyze data from a variety of sources. MIS professionals need to be able to write computer code and have strong skills in quantitative analysis.
  • Logistics/Supply Chain Management:
    The global economy has opened a plethora of resources and markets worldwide. Logistics professionals devise methods for shipping and receiving items along complicated supply chains.
  • Business Programs & Careers
  • Business Administrator
  • Business Manager
  • Entrepreneur

Best Alaska Schools for Business

  • University of Alaska Anchorage
  • Alaska Pacific University
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks
  • University of Alaska Southeast

Top Alaska Careers and Salaries

CAREER NAME CURRENTLY EMPLOYED AVERAGE ANNUAL WAGE
Manager 6,760 $65,900
Marketing Manager 300 $65,900
Healthcare Administration 1,030 $69,500
Occupational Therapist 300 $66,600
Physical Therapist 640 $71,500
Economist 120 $76,400
Civil Engineer 1,590 $67,100
Electrical Engineer 330 $76,400
Environmental Engineer 320 $66,100
Computer Systems Analyst 680 $69,500
Biologist 360 $54,300
Accountant 2,180 $51,600
Bookkeeper 4,140 $43,500
Financial Analysts 580 $61,400

  • Manager:
    Managers are needed across all industries and businesses. As a manager, you will hire, motivate, and delegate tasks to employees. Managers also consider financial issues such as overall business health and the firm's forecasted growth.

  • Marketing Manager:
    This sort of manager helps ensure that sales and marketing initiatives are carried out with optimal efficiency and you will help art directors, copywriters, and other creatives implement the results of you market analyses into advertising campaigns.

  • Healthcare Administration:
    Healthcare is one of the fastest growing sectors in the Alaskan economy, and the field needs managers, information technology workers, and others to support the work of the clinicians who deliver care.

  • Occupational Therapist:
    This diversified health science career involves administering care to those who are learning or re-learning life skills. You might work in a hospital with people recovering from injury or disease, or you might work in the field with teenagers who struggle with mental illness.

  • Physical Therapist:
    If you start in this field with a bachelor's degree, you can work as a Physical Therapy assistant. When you reach the doctoral level, you can finally take the title of Physical Therapist. You'll help people regain mobility or learn to work with a disability resulting from injury or disease.

  • Economist:
    To fully succeed as an Economist, you will probably need a master's degree. Once at that level, you will spend your time analyzing the elements of the economy: labor, consumption, employment, supply, demand, and all the trends that impact these elements.

  • Civil Engineer:
    If you want to build roads, bridges, and structures civil engineering is the position for you. You will spend a lot of time on work sites, overseeing construction. Civil Engineers frequently work on a contract basis, so you will need to be ready as your projects near completion.

  • Electrical Engineer:
    In this position, you might do highly technical work on cellphone networks, power grids, electric motors, or alternative energy systems. You could help bring Alaska into the new era of sustainable energy and green-energy power grids.

  • Environmental Engineer:
    Considering a growing push for oil pipelines and drilling in Alaska, you might find a lot of work as an Environmental Engineer. In your job, you will develop solutions to environmental problems such as oil spills and other problems endemic to the oil industry.

  • Computer Science & Systems Analyst:
    These professionals help bridge the gap between the needs of business and the capabilities of technology. You will help design new systems or analyze and improve existing information technology infrastructure.

  • Cybersecurity Specialists

  • Biologist:
    As climate change takes effect, Alaska will need wildlife biologists to study its ecosystems and help to lessen the damage to native species. You might work on the tundra, taking a census of the wolf population, or on the sea, studying how ocean acidification impacts aquatic plants and animals.

  • Accountant:
    Every organization relies on its accountant to audit the books. If you achieve the field's highest credential, CPA, your salary and responsibilities will increase. While you could work for a major accounting firm, you could also work on your own and help small businesses or individuals. Some accountants even specialize in forensics and help investigators prosecute white-collar crimes.

  • Bookkeeper:
    If you are starting as an Alaskan accountant with an associate degree, you might take a position as a bookkeeper. This is an entry-level position, but you will learn a lot about maintaining financial records and the rudiments of auditing. If you plan on starting a small business, it will be vital to have bookkeeping skills.

  • Financial Analyst:
    With a degree in business and a focus on finance, you can get to work as a financial analyst. Some analysts work with individuals to help maximize personal wealth, others work with businesses to manage the firm's equity portfolio, seek acquisition targets, or help the organization as it undergoes a merger.

  • Criminal Justice

Top Healthcare Administration Careers and Salaries

CAREER NAME CURRENTLY EMPLOYED AVERAGE ANNUAL WAGE
Healthcare Informatics 1,040 $68,400
Network Administration 880 $60,100
Healthcare Accounting 2,180 $51,600
Healthcare marketing - $72,600
Hospital Administration 1,030 $87,600
  • Healthcare Informatics:
    Healthcare systems would be lost without their informatics professionals. In this field, you will help hospitals, clinics, and small practices manage the medical records of countless patients. You may even need to learn how to cross-reference records in ways that might help marketing professionals or epidemiologists as they seek relevant trends.
  • Information Technology:
    Healthcare has particular needs for Information Technology and a specialized degree in the field will help you create and maintain these systems. Part of your duties could involve installing hardware or software, or even integrating medical equipment with the network to make its measurements available for storage and analysis.
  • Healthcare Accounting:
    The healthcare industry's financial systems are unique. As such, the industry needs accountants who are specifically trained to work with its needs. For instance, hospitals are frequently non-profit and will need to demonstrate how they use any profits.
  • Healthcare Marketing:
    If you work in healthcare marketing, your methods and goals are distinct from a marketing executive in a standard business. Your materials will not be strictly sales driven but will have more of a public service tone.
  • Hospital Administration:
    Doctors and nurses might be the life-blood of a hospital, but its administration comprises the skeleton. You could study business administration, or you could focus on healthcare administration for your bachelor's or master’s degree. If you focus on healthcare, you will be particularly hirable.

Best Alaska Schools for Healthcare Administration

  • Alaska Pacific University
  • University of Alaska Anchorage
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks
  • University of Alaska Southeast

Top Health Sciences Careers and Salaries

CAREER NAME CURRENTLY EMPLOYED AVERAGE ANNUAL WAGE
Occupational Therapist 300 $66,600
Physical Therapist 640 $71,500
Medical Assistant 2,740 $34,300
Registered Nurse 6,210 $65,400
  • Occupational Therapist:
    From geriatric patients battling with hip replacements to teens struggling with mental illness, Occupational Therapists help a wide range of patients learn to master skills and succeed in life. You'll need a master's degree to be a full OT, but a bachelor's degree will get your foot in the door as an OT assistant.
  • Physical Therapist:
    Athletes may come to you in hopes of recovering from an injury, or to maximize their mobility in some way. Other patients might be recovering from surgeries, traumatic car crashes, or a disease that hindered their mobility.
  • Medical Assistant:
    Doctors and nurses often need an extra hand in a clinic or hospital. MAs even work in surgical theaters. The other side of this career involves entering chart data to the computer, working with hard-copy files, and other administrative tasks. From this position, you can choose to advance on either side of the healthcare picture.
  • Registered Nurse:
    These highly qualified medical professionals often specialize and can work with a wide range of populations. Some are mental health nurses, others specialize in heart surgery. When you achieve your RN certification, you will be set for a career full of excitement and satisfaction.

Additional Health & Counseling Careers in Alaska:

Best Alaska Schools for Health Sciences

  • Alaska Pacific University
  • University of Alaska Anchorage
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks
  • University of Alaska Southeast
Want to See All the Alaska Occupational Wage Averages

Best Associate Degrees in Alaska

Best Associate Degrees in Alaska
See Methodology Get Ranking Seal

In Alaska, you’re at a relatively large distance from the contiguous US states, which can limit your options of colleges and universities unless you’re willing to move. Here you can explore the various colleges to find the best associate programs in-state. This way, you can give yourself a solid foundation before deciding on an in-state degree program or if you really need to head farther afield for your advanced degree.

Alaska Career College
College Type
2-year, Private for-profit		 Campus Housing
No		 Student Population
361		 Graduation Rate
75%		 Net Price
$15,222
Ilisagvik College
College Type
4-year, Primarily associate's, Public		 Campus Housing
Yes		 Student Population
233		 Graduation Rate
29%		 Net Price
$12,811
Alaska Christian College
College Type
2-year, Private not-for-profit		 Campus Housing
Yes		 Student Population
95		 Graduation Rate
19%		 Net Price
$5,482

Best Bachelor's Degrees in Alaska

Best Bachelor's Degrees in Alaska
See Methodology Get Ranking Seal

Fairbanks, Anchorage, and other cities in Alaska host four-year universities. Here you can look to find which universities and colleges possess the best bachelor’s programs in-state, where you’ll be able to earn the degree foundation for the career you want. Alaska colleges that receive high rankings serve their students by staying true to the state’s character. Each university stresses community service, preservation of Native Alaskan cultures and activism.

Alaska Pacific University
College Type
4-year, Private not-for-profit		 Campus Housing
Yes		 Student Population
529		 Graduation Rate
45%		 Net Price
$20,426
Alaska Bible College
College Type
4-year, Private not-for-profit		 Campus Housing
Yes		 Student Population
40		 Graduation Rate
40%		 Net Price
$18,816
University of Alaska Fairbanks
College Type
4-year, Public		 Campus Housing
Yes		 Student Population
7,179		 Graduation Rate
35%		 Net Price
$9,643
Ilisagvik College
College Type
4-year, Primarily associate's, Public		 Campus Housing
Yes		 Student Population
233		 Graduation Rate
29%		 Net Price
$12,811
University of Alaska Anchorage
College Type
4-year, Public		 Campus Housing
Yes		 Student Population
12,766		 Graduation Rate
29%		 Net Price
$12,564
University of Alaska Southeast
College Type
4-year, Public		 Campus Housing
Yes		 Student Population
2,150		 Graduation Rate
26%		 Net Price
$11,000

Best Master's Degrees in Alaska

Best Master's Degrees in Alaska
See Methodology Get Ranking Seal

High-quality graduate degree programs prepare today’s students for future leadership. By earning that degree in-state, you may find that you’ll be able to network more easily within the communities you plan to serve once you graduate. Check out the list to find the best graduate degree programs in Alaska.

Alaska Pacific University
College Type
4-year, Private not-for-profit		 Campus Housing
Yes		 Student Population
192		 Graduation Rate
45%		 Net Price
$20,426
University of Alaska Fairbanks
College Type
4-year, Public		 Campus Housing
Yes		 Student Population
973		 Graduation Rate
35%		 Net Price
$9,643
University of Alaska Anchorage
College Type
4-year, Public		 Campus Housing
Yes		 Student Population
663		 Graduation Rate
29%		 Net Price
$12,564
University of Alaska Southeast
College Type
4-year, Public		 Campus Housing
Yes		 Student Population
264		 Graduation Rate
26%		 Net Price
$11,000

Best Online Degree Colleges in Alaska (Distance Learning Only)

Alaska is the largest state in the union, and it has vast areas of unoccupied space. This means that, if you have chosen a school that’s located on the opposite coast, you may not be able to get there—especially during the cold, snowy months. However, you, along with students from other states, have options for distance learning in the state. From home you can attend classes, be involved in forum discussions, and take your exams.

Colorado Technical University
College Type
4-year, Private for-profit		 Student Population
27,232		 Graduation Rate
26%		 Net Price
$16,260
Purdue
College Type
4-year, Public		 Student Population
38,138		 Graduation Rate
27%		 Net Price
NA
Southern New Hampshire University
College Type
4-year, Private not-for-profit		 Student Population
113,514		 Graduation Rate
44%		 Net Price
$39,743
Western Governors University
College Type
4-year, Private not-for-profit		 Student Population
136,139		 Graduation Rate
21%		 Net Price
$7,785
Capella University
College Type
4-year, Private for-profit		 Student Population
37,859		 Graduation Rate
NA		 Net Price
$17,368
Walden University
College Type
4-year, Private for-profit		 Student Population
48,420		 Graduation Rate
33%		 Net Price
NA

Cost of Alaska College Education & Salaries

Before you embark on a college education, you want to make sure that the money you are spending will be worthwhile. This is all the more important when you will probably have to repay this money with interest starting about six months after graduation. The statistics would indicate that education expenditures are indeed worthwhile. That is, the more you spend on education, the higher your salary rises, and the likelihood of job satisfaction also increases.

In fact, some professions are absolutely unapproachable if you don't have an education. Health Science careers, for instance, are almost entirely dependent on your educational level. You'll also need to pass state board exams and otherwise qualify for licensure, but you can't begin to think about that without meeting some minimum academic standards, often a master's degree.

You can mitigate some of your costs, however, by attending community colleges for your core curriculum and applying for scholarships. Since many of the Western States have sparse populations and thus few colleges, they have an agreement where you can attend an out-of-state institution for a reduced rate. Schools that fall under the Western Undergraduate Exchange can only charge a maximum 150% of in-state tuition to Alaskan students. By comparison, if you attend a public university outside of those states, you could pay 200% or more of their standard in-state tuition.

College Cost Analysis - Alaska vs National

Average Alaska Tuition & Fees at 4 Year Public Schools

In-State Tuition - $12,970

National – $14,262

Out-of-State – $15,246

National – $18,451

Percentage of Students Receiving Financial Aid

Alaskan students receive federal student aid at higher rates than the national average. However, each individual student doesn’t tend to receive quite as large a boost from their financial aid as the seen around the rest of the nation. This means that, while you might be able to get approved for financial aid, you need to be proactive in looking for scholarships and other aid right from the start.

Financial Aid Arizona Nationally
Received Federal Grants 47% 37.7%
Average $ per Recipient $9,538 $10,927

Best Scholarships for Alaska

To help defray the cost of college, seek out a scholarship that can ease the strain on your finances. If you have good grades, good character, and some interesting public service, or other extra-curricular activities, it's worth it to apply to as many as you can. For one thing, many people won't take the initiative to seek scholarship money. Then, even if you win a small sum, you can add the award to your resume. Recruiters and hiring managers will be impressed, and they don't need to know that the scholarship barely covered the cost of books for a semester. Here is a brief list of scholarships to help you earn an Alaskan degree:

UAKFS-logo

UAKFS

UAA Alaska Kidney Foundation Scholarship

https://alaska.academicworks.com/opportunities/1291
If you are attending University of Alaska Anchorage with the intention of becoming a nurse, you should consider applying for this scholarship. The Kidney Foundation seeks to support budding nurses in hopes that they will provide safe and effective kidney treatments to patients suffering from kidney disease. You will need to have been an Alaska resident for three years prior to applying and be fully enrolled in a nursing degree program that will result in an RN license.

APCS-logo

APCS

Alaska Press Club Scholarships

https://alaska.academicworks.com/donors/alaska-press-club-scholarship
Budding journalists who are attending a University of Alaska school should apply for this scholarship. Not only will it help defray tuition or other costs from your education bill, but when future editors see this award, they are sure to be pleased. Even editors in other states may recognize the name and bring you in to interview. To apply, all you need is to demonstrate merit, need, and some outstanding achievement in a specialized field.

RPMS

Roy Pedersen Memorial Scholarship

https://alaska.academicworks.com/opportunities/6072
This scholarship awards up to $2,000 to a student who has a minimum 2.0 GPA and who is ideally a graduate of an Alaska high school. This is a sports scholarship, however, and you must demonstrate skill in cross-country skiing as well as a desire to be an intercollegiate competitor for UAA.

RHS

Roger Hickel Scholarship

https://alaska.academicworks.com/opportunities/7754
Construction Management students are eligible to win this $1,000 award. You must have a minimum 2.0 GPA and be attending UAA.

KFMJS

Kay Fanning Memorial Journalism Scholarship

https://alaska.academicworks.com/opportunities/7614
If you endeavor to the noble calling of journalism, this scholarship can offset a minimum sum of $5,000 per year for 4 successive years. You can maintain the scholarship for the duration of your college career, provided that you maintain a 2.0 GPA, demonstrate financial need, and remain in the school of journalism and communication. The award does not have a limit on the number of recipients, so they will receive many applications.

EM

Excellence in Music

https://alaska.academicworks.com/opportunities/6841
Incoming first-year students to University of Alaska Anchorage who are enrolled in a Bachelor of Music, Performance, or Education program can apply for this $500 scholarship. You must have a minimum 3.0 GPA and demonstrate musical ability, motivation, as well as leadership potential. This demanding scholarship will be a tremendous feather in any student's cap long after graduation.

There are many, many more scholarships available through the University of Alaska Anchorage and other Alaskan schools and professional organizations. There is likely one that suits your particular academic interests, financial needs, and leadership goals.

sources:

✖