Why This Matters
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6 FOUR-YEAR COLLEGES IN ALASKA
According to College Navigator, the four-year colleges in Alaska include 4 public and 2 private non-profit options.
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$8,987 AVERAGE IN-STATE TUITION & FEES
For the 2022-23 school year, the average in-state tuition for public four-year colleges in Alaska is $8,987, according to College Board.
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$15,330 AVERAGE FINANCIAL AID
In the U.S., full-time undergraduate students attending college in 2021-22 received an average of $15,330 per year in financial aid.
Our Research
This list features some of the best brick-and-mortar colleges in Alaska. Each school featured is a nonprofit, accredited institution — either public or private — with a high standard of academic quality. We included liberal arts colleges and research universities as well as small, midsize, and large institutions. Next, we compared this comprehensive list to a list of aggregated college rankings from reputable publications, such as U.S. News & World Report, to simplify a student’s college search. We pored through these rankings so students don’t have to.
The colleges on our list are accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) — this organization examines the objectives, quality, and overall effectiveness of higher education programs in the northwestern United States.
We evaluated each school on tuition costs, admission standards, retention and graduation rates, faculty, and reputation as well as the resources and services provided for on-campus students. Then, we used this information to calculate the Intelligent Score on a scale of 0 to 100. Read more about our ranking methodology.
Online College Programs That Might Interest You
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
The Top 50 Colleges in Alaska
What You Should Know About Graduating From College in Alaska
When selecting a college in Alaska, you should consider how the school’s degree program will prepare you for a future career in the state. As of May 2022, the five Alaska industries with the highest number of employees are office and administrative support occupations, transportation and material moving, food preparation and serving, management, and sales.
For workers who hold a bachelor’s degree, the five fastest-growing careers in Alaska are aerospace engineers, fundraisers, airline pilots and flight engineers, computer hardware engineers, and computer network architects.
You should also become familiar with the top employers in Alaska so that you’ll have a good starting point for your job search. These include Fort Wainwright Military Base, Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, Elmendorf Hospital, the Southcentral Foundation, and Providence Alaska Medical Center.
What’s Next?
As you research the best colleges in Alaska, take into account how you’ll pay for a degree. There are many financial aid opportunities that you may qualify for. Here are a few state and federal resources to help with your search for grants, scholarships, and other forms of financial aid:
- Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education. The Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education has a wealth of state-specific information available, including details about state grants, scholarships, and education loans.
- Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Provided by the U.S. Department of Education, FAFSA is the main form students use to apply for financial aid for college. To determine if you’re eligible for aid, submit a completed FAFSA form online.
- CareerOneStop Scholarship Finder. This tool will show you available scholarships, grants, and loans and can be filtered by state and degree type. It includes information such as dollar amounts, how to apply, qualifications, deadlines, and contact details.