UAA vs. University of Alaska Fairbanks

Deciding between University of Alaska Anchorage and University of Alaska Fairbanks? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

University of Alaska Anchorage
University of Alaska Fairbanks

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UAA Anchorage, AK
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks Fairbanks, AK
  • Setting
  • UAA Large City
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks Small Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UAA 10,493
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 6,893
  • Type
  • UAA Public 4 Year
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UAA
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks #1023
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UAA -
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks -
  • Status
  • UAA Non-profit
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UAA
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UAA $7,738
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks $8,736
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UAA $21,322
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks $22,320
  • Room & Board
  • UAA $14,216
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks $10,590
  • Average Net Price
  • UAA $16,039
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks $11,278
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UAA $7,221
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks $10,424
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UAA 75%
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 87%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UAA -
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks -
  • Admitted
  • UAA -
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UAA Open
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks Open
  • Enrolled
  • UAA Open
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • UAA
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 1240
  • Typical ACT score
  • UAA
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 22
  • Average High School GPA
  • UAA 3.39
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 3.4
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UAA B+
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • UAA Unavailable
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • UAA
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks
  • ACT Range
  • UAA
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 17/27
  • SAT Range
  • UAA
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 1110/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UAA Open admission
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • UAA Aug 15, 2027
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks Jun 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UAA 11:1
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UAA
    • Health Professions (20%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Psychology (5%)
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks
    • Business (12%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UAA 25%
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 31%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UAA $48,900
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks $42,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UAA 55%
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 53%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UAA $18,704
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks $16,975
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UAA $193
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks $175

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UAA 40%
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 39%
  • % Women
  • UAA 60%
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 61%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UAA High
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks High
  • HBCU
  • UAA No
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks No
  • % White
  • UAA 57%
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 42%
  • % Asian
  • UAA 8%
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 1%
  • % Black
  • UAA 4%
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • UAA 8%
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 6%
  • % Native American
  • UAA 6%
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 14%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UAA 1%
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UAA 11%
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 4%
  • % International
  • UAA 2%
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UAA 4%
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 29%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UAA 91%
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 78%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UAA 7%
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 20%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • UAA Yes
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • UAA No
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks No
  • Meal Plan
  • UAA Yes
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • UAA No
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks No
  • Daycare Facility
  • UAA Yes
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks No

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Alaska Anchorage in Anchorage, AK with University of Alaska Fairbanks in Fairbanks, AK on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Alaska Anchorage is larger than University of Alaska Fairbanks based on total student enrollment (10,493 students vs. 6,893 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Alaska Anchorage is located in Anchorage, AK (Large City setting); University of Alaska Fairbanks is in Fairbanks, AK (Small Suburban setting).
  • University of Alaska Anchorage is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Alaska Fairbanks is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Alaska Anchorage 11:1; University of Alaska Fairbanks 11:1.

UAA vs. University of Alaska Fairbanks Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UAA or University of Alaska Fairbanks? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Alaska Fairbanks than UAA ($11,278 vs. $16,039).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Alaska Fairbanks are 25.5% lower than at University of Alaska Anchorage ($10,590 vs. $14,216).
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks is 12.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than UAA (about $998 more per year; $8,736.00 vs. $7,738.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.7% higher at University of Alaska Fairbanks than at University of Alaska Anchorage (about $998 more per year; $22,320.00 vs. $21,322.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Alaska Fairbanks than at University of Alaska Anchorage (87% vs. 75%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Alaska Fairbanks students is 44.4% larger than aid received by University of Alaska Anchorage students ($10,424 vs. $7,221).

UAA vs. University of Alaska Fairbanks Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UAA or University of Alaska Fairbanks? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between University of Alaska Fairbanks and UAA.

  • Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of Alaska Fairbanks 1110/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of Alaska Fairbanks 17/27.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UAA - Open admission; University of Alaska Fairbanks - Open admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UAA Aug 15, 2027; University of Alaska Fairbanks Jun 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman University of Alaska Fairbanks students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.4) than students at UAA (3.39).

UAA vs. University of Alaska Fairbanks Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UAA and University of Alaska Fairbanks? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • University of Alaska Fairbanks's six-year graduation rate (31%) is higher than University of Alaska Anchorage's (25%).
  • Graduates from University of Alaska Anchorage earn a median of about $6,700 more per year than University of Alaska Fairbanks graduates about ten years after starting college ($48,900 vs. $42,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Alaska Fairbanks graduates have a $1,729 lower median loan debt than UAA graduates ($16,975 vs. $18,704).
  • Among borrowers, University of Alaska Fairbanks graduates have an estimated $18 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UAA graduates ($175 vs. $193).
  • More UAA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Alaska Fairbanks students, three years after graduation. (55% vs. 53%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.