University of Alaska Fairbanks — College Profile

About

The University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) is a premier public research university globally renowned for its focus on the North, boasting top-tier programs in geosciences, wildlife and marine biology, cold-climate engineering, and Alaska Native studies. As a land, sea, and space-grant institution situated just south of the Arctic Circle, UAF offers undergraduates unparalleled hands-on field research opportunities alongside leading scientists at facilities like the Geophysical Institute. Campus life is shaped by a tight-knit, resilient, and adventurous community, where students actively embrace the subarctic wilderness through cross-country skiing, unique winter traditions, and front-row views of the aurora borealis.

Wikipedia:The University of Alaska Fairbanks is a public land-, sea-, and space-grant research university in College, Alaska, United States, a suburb of Fairbanks. It is the flagship campus of the University of Alaska System. UAF was established in 1917 and opened for classes in 1922. Originally named the Alaska Agricultural College and School of Mines, it became the University of Alaska in 1935. Fairbanks-based programs became the University of Alaska Fairbanks in 1975.

Location

Fairbanks, AK, 99775 · City campus

✈

Nearest airport from college

ANC · Anchorage

263 mi away

Open in Google Maps

Cost & aid

Cost of attendance

These figures are federal data and may be out of date.

In-stateOut-of-state

Tuition & fees$8,736$22,320

Housing & food (on campus)$10,590$10,590

Books & supplies$1,200$1,200

Cost of attendance$22,407$35,991 est.

Average net price$10,892Not published

Out-of-state prices

Tuition & fees$22,320

In-state: $8,736

Housing & food (on campus)$10,590

Books & supplies$1,200

Cost of attendance$35,991 est.

In-state: $22,407

Average net priceNot published

In-state: $10,892

est. = the in-state cost of attendance with out-of-state tuition swapped in; no out-of-state figure is published.

Source: U.S. College Scorecard

Net price by family income · in-state students, 2023-24

$0–30k

$7,992

$30–48k

$6,065

$48–75k

$11,323

$75–110k

$15,526

$110k+

$17,512

Your family's actual price → University of Alaska Fairbanks net price calculator

Source: U.S. College Scorecard

Merit aid · 2024-25

Awarded without financial need. Students with financial need can get merit awards too; they're counted as need-based aid.

Average award$5,302

First-years who got one234

Source: University of Alaska Fairbanks's Common Data Set — the school's own yearly report of its admissions and aid figures (PDF).

Outcomes

Completion

Within 6 yrs

35%

Entered 2017–18

Within 4 yrs

25%

Back for yr 2

74%

Transferred

20%

8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students

44% graduated · 23% transferred · 2% still enrolled · 31% left or unknown

Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021

6 yrs after entry$40,746

10 yrs after entry$48,866

Debt

Median at graduation$20,291

Monthly payment$215

Middle 50% owe$4.7k–$21.9k

90th percentile$36,934

Admissions

Getting in · applied for fall 2024

ACT midpoint

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Essay prompts

How much essays count at University of Alaska Fairbanks: Not considered (one of four levels: very important · important · considered · not considered)

Source: University of Alaska Fairbanks's Common Data Set for 2024-25 — the school's own yearly report of its admissions and aid figures (PDF).

If University of Alaska Fairbanks asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the Common App.

The personal essay is separate: see the Common App essay prompts.

Student Body

Gender

Men 40%Women 60%

Who enrolls

Faculty ratio

11 : 1

Pell grant

22%

First-gen

40%

Family income

$35,967

Independent

53%

Veterans

Age at entry

25.0

Part-time

41%

Race & ethnicity

White

53%

Hispanic

10%

Black

Asian

Two or more

11%

Non-resident

AI/AN

13%

Unknown

Varsity sports

NCAA Division II without football · EADA 2024-25

Basketball
Men's · Women's
Cross Country
Men's · Women's
Ice Hockey
Men's
Rifle
Co-ed
Skiing
Men's · Women's
Swimming
Women's
Volleyball
Women's

Programs & Earnings

Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings

Median earnings, all programs · measured 2020 & 2021

After 6 yrs

$40,746

After 10 yrs

$48,866

Business Administration, Management and Operations51

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other45

Psychology, General36

Homeland Security32

Biology, General28

Social Work23

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods21

Accounting and Related Services21

Criminal Justice and Corrections17

Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management16

Mechanical Engineering16

Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness11

Civil Engineering10

Geological/Geophysical Engineering9

Political Science and Government9

Fine and Studio Arts9

Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.

Institutional

Resources

Endowment

$160M

Full-time faculty

62%

Faculty salary

$10,444/mo

Teaching spend

$19,769

per student

Federal loans

17%

Classification

Carnegie type

Doctoral University

Research activity

R2 — high research

$246M research spending · 31 research doctorates a year

Undergraduate profile

Four-year, mostly part-time