University of Alaska Fairbanks
- Graduation Rate
- 35% D
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $48,866 B-
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $10,892 B
- 36% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 4,207
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 28.1× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $28.1 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $28.1 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,178,982.
What The Data Says
-
A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
-
Earnings 20% above the national college median.
-
Graduation of 35% — 39% below the national average.
-
Every $1 invested returns $28.1 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
- World Rank
- #276-300
- Times Higher Education
- Research Score
- 26/100
- Times Higher Education
Why University of Alaska Fairbanks Matters
University of Alaska Fairbanks is a public research university in Fairbanks, AK ranked #276-300 in the world by Times Higher Education, and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a strong research base and a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Research University
- Carnegie Class
- R2 · High Research
- Enrollment
- 4,207
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Humanities, Health Professions, Criminal Justice
Why students choose University of Alaska Fairbanks
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $10,892 a year after grants and scholarships — 36% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $48,866 ten years after enrolling — 20% above the typical college, against $20,291 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.49 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
The University of Alaska Fairbanks has a net price of $10,892, making it an affordable option for students seeking a public education in a unique setting. With an enrollment of about 4,207, it offers a more intimate campus experience compared to larger institutions.
Graduates earn an average of $48,866 ten years after starting their program. While the graduation rate stands at 35%, the data from Opportunity Insights indicates that the university serves a diverse student body, including those from low-income backgrounds, with 22% of students receiving Pell Grants. This suggests that while outcomes may vary, many students have opportunities for upward economic mobility after graduation.
Students who thrive here are often those interested in specialized fields like Business, Health Professions, and Criminal Justice. The university's location in Fairbanks provides a unique environment for those who appreciate outdoor activities and a tight-knit community. While student debt averages around $20,291, graduates can find pathways to stable careers in several of the university's top programs.
Rankings
- #33 Most Affordable Online Bachelor's in Engineering
- #33 Most Affordable Online Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering
- #33 Most Affordable Online Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering
- #33 Most Affordable Online Bachelor's in Civil Engineering
- #41 Most Affordable Online Master's in Engineering
- #41 Most Affordable Online Master's in Mechanical Engineering
- #41 Most Affordable Online Master's in Electrical Engineering
- #41 Most Affordable Online Master's in Civil Engineering
Can I Get In?
How selective University of Alaska Fairbanks is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of Alaska Fairbanks? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
University of Alaska Fairbanks, located in Fairbanks, Alaska, enrolls students across a range of programs. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 22. The graduation rate is roughly 35%.
- Retention Rate
- 74%
- ACT Midpoint
- 22
- Full-Time Faculty
- 62%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $10,444
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 11:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.69
- First-Gen Students
- 40%
Inside the Admissions Office
School-reported Common Data Set · 2024-25
The acceptance rate tells you how hard University of Alaska Fairbanks is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds. 23% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school most admitted students ultimately pass on.
- Yield Rate
- 23%
- of admits enroll
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of Alaska Fairbanks? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of Alaska Fairbanks is $22,320, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $10,892. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,992 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $20,291 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $8,736
- Out-of-State
- $22,320
- Avg Net Price
- $10,892
- Median Debt
- $20,291
- Pell Grant Rate
- 22%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 17%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $7,992
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $6,065
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $11,323
- Family Income $110K+
- $17,512
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at University of Alaska Fairbanks — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is University of Alaska Fairbanks Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of Alaska Fairbanks earn a median of $48,866, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $40,746
- 8 Years
- $46,319
- 10 Years
- $48,866
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.42x
- Earning > $25K
- 60%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (105)
- 22%
- 100% (105)
- 22%
- 100% (105)
- 22%
- 100% (105)
- 22%
How University Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is University of Alaska Fairbanks Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, University of Alaska Fairbanks delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $10,892/year ($43,568 total). Graduates earn $48,866 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,222,550 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,178,982 (28.1× your investment). The median debt is $20,291, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 35% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $43,568
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,222,550
- Net Return
- $1,178,982
- ROI Multiple
- 28.1×
- Cost Per Year
- $10,892
- Median Debt
- $20,291
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 35%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
- Research Score
- 26/100
- Times Higher Ed
- Academic Influence
- 57/100
- Citation impact (THE)
- Industry Engagement
- 53/100
- Knowledge transfer (THE)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-164,924
Top Programs
The fields University of Alaska Fairbanks awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Business & Marketing 14% $52,040 early-career
- Humanities 11%
- Health Professions 10%
- Criminal Justice 9% $52,348 early-career
- Engineering 7% $90,171 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 5% $30,854 early-career
- Psychology 5% $37,207 early-career
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 5% $53,400 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for University of Alaska Fairbanks's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Optometrist$131,860 · 9% growthResilient 96
- CPurchasing Manager$131,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of Alaska Fairbanks? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
University of Alaska Fairbanks, located in Fairbanks, Alaska, enrolls students across a range of programs. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 22. The graduation rate is roughly 35%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of Alaska Fairbanks? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of Alaska Fairbanks is $22,320, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $10,892. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,992 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $20,291 in federal student loans.
Is University of Alaska Fairbanks Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of Alaska Fairbanks earn a median of $48,866, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
How Connected Is University of Alaska Fairbanks? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of Alaska Fairbanks. Its economic connectedness score is 1.49, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 12% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
How Research-Intensive Is University of Alaska Fairbanks? World Rank, Teaching & Citations
Times Higher Education places University of Alaska Fairbanks at #276-300 worldwide. Its profile spans a research score of 26/100, teaching at 26/100, and citation impact of 57/100, reflecting both the volume of research output and how often that work is cited by scholars elsewhere.
Does University of Alaska Fairbanks offer Early Decision?
No. University of Alaska Fairbanks does not report a binding Early Decision plan (2024-25 Common Data Set).
What percentage of admitted students enroll at University of Alaska Fairbanks?
About 23% of admitted students choose to enroll at University of Alaska Fairbanks — its yield rate (2024-25 Common Data Set). Yield reflects how often a school wins when applicants weigh competing offers.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to University of Alaska Fairbanks.
- Delaware State UniversityDover, DE · Close peer39% grad $49,307 earn 47% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Clayton State UniversityMorrow, GA · Close peer38% grad $49,179 earn 68% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Edmonds CollegeLynnwood, WA · Close peer31% grad $48,144 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Highline CollegeDes Moines, WA · Close peer37% grad $47,869 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- National Louis UniversityChicago, IL · Close peer33% grad $45,799 earn 95% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- University of New OrleansNew Orleans, LA · Close peer40% grad $47,872 earn 74% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is University of Alaska Fairbanks? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of Alaska Fairbanks. Its economic connectedness score is 1.49, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 12% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note