University of Alaska Fairbanks vs. UCSC

Deciding between University of Alaska Fairbanks and University of California Santa Cruz? 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 Fairbanks
University of California Santa Cruz

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks Fairbanks, AK
  • UCSC Santa Cruz, CA
  • Setting
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks Small Suburban
  • UCSC Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 6,893
  • UCSC 19,938
  • Type
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks Public 4 Year
  • UCSC Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks #1023
  • UCSC #255
  • Religious Affiliation
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks -
  • UCSC -
  • Status
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks Non-profit
  • UCSC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks
  • UCSC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks $8,736
  • UCSC $16,005
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks $22,320
  • UCSC $50,205
  • Room & Board
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks $10,590
  • UCSC $19,948
  • Average Net Price
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks $11,278
  • UCSC $18,059
  • Average Grant Aid
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks $10,424
  • UCSC $22,774
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 87%
  • UCSC 57%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks -
  • UCSC 71,722
  • Admitted
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks -
  • UCSC 47,186
  • Acceptance Rate
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks Open
  • UCSC 65.8%
  • Enrolled
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks Open
  • UCSC 9.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 1240
  • UCSC 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 22
  • UCSC 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 3.4
  • UCSC 3.63
  • Typical High School Grades
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks B+
  • UCSC A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks Challenging
  • UCSC Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks
  • UCSC Low
  • ACT Range
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 17/27
  • UCSC 25/33
  • SAT Range
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 1110/1360
  • UCSC 1160/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks Open admission
  • UCSC Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks Jun 15, 2027
  • UCSC Nov 30, 2026

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 11:1
  • UCSC 22:1
  • Popular Majors
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks
    • Business (12%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)
  • UCSC
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Business (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 31%
  • UCSC 73%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks $42,200
  • UCSC $50,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 53%
  • UCSC 74%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks $16,975
  • UCSC $19,959
  • Median Loan Payment
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks $175
  • UCSC $206

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 39%
  • UCSC 48%
  • % Women
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 61%
  • UCSC 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks High
  • UCSC Very High
  • HBCU
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks No
  • UCSC No
  • % White
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 42%
  • UCSC 33%
  • % Asian
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 1%
  • UCSC 21%
  • % Black
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 2%
  • UCSC 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 6%
  • UCSC 31%
  • % Native American
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 14%
  • UCSC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 0%
  • UCSC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 4%
  • UCSC 7%
  • % International
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 1%
  • UCSC 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 29%
  • UCSC 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 78%
  • UCSC 92%
  • % Out-of-State
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 20%
  • UCSC 5%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Santa Cruz is larger than University of Alaska Fairbanks based on total student enrollment (19,938 students vs. 6,893 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Alaska Fairbanks is located in Fairbanks, AK (Small Suburban setting); University of California Santa Cruz is in Santa Cruz, CA (Small City setting).
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California Santa Cruz is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Alaska Fairbanks 11:1; University of California Santa Cruz 22:1.

University of Alaska Fairbanks vs. UCSC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of Alaska Fairbanks or UCSC? 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 UCSC ($11,278 vs. $18,059).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Alaska Fairbanks are 46.9% lower than at University of California Santa Cruz ($10,590 vs. $19,948).
  • University of California Santa Cruz is 83.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than University of Alaska Fairbanks (about $7,269 more per year; $16,005.00 vs. $8,736.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 124.9% higher at UCSC than at University of Alaska Fairbanks (about $27,885 more per year; $50,205.00 vs. $22,320.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Alaska Fairbanks than at University of California Santa Cruz (87% vs. 57%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Santa Cruz students is 118.5% larger than aid received by University of Alaska Fairbanks students ($22,774 vs. $10,424).

University of Alaska Fairbanks vs. UCSC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, University of Alaska Fairbanks or UCSC? 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 UCSC and University of Alaska Fairbanks.

  • University of Alaska Fairbanks reports an open admissions policy.
  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Santa Cruz (1260) is 20 points higher than at University of Alaska Fairbanks (1240).
  • Incoming UCSC students have a 7 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 22 at University of Alaska Fairbanks).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Alaska Fairbanks 1110/1360; University of California Santa Cruz 1160/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Alaska Fairbanks 17/27; University of California Santa Cruz 25/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: University of Alaska Fairbanks - Open admission; UCSC - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: University of Alaska Fairbanks Jun 15, 2027; UCSC Nov 30, 2026.
  • Accepted freshman UCSC students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.63) than students at University of Alaska Fairbanks (3.4).

University of Alaska Fairbanks vs. UCSC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for University of Alaska Fairbanks and UCSC? 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 California Santa Cruz's six-year graduation rate (73%) is higher than University of Alaska Fairbanks's (31%).
  • Graduates from University of California Santa Cruz earn a median of about $8,200 more per year than University of Alaska Fairbanks graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,400 vs. $42,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Alaska Fairbanks graduates have a $2,984 lower median loan debt than UCSC graduates ($16,975 vs. $19,959).
  • Among borrowers, University of Alaska Fairbanks graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UCSC graduates ($175 vs. $206).
  • More UCSC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Alaska Fairbanks students, three years after graduation. (74% 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.