University of Alaska Fairbanks vs. Western Colorado University

Deciding between University of Alaska Fairbanks and Western Colorado University? 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
Western Colorado University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks Fairbanks, AK
  • Western Colorado University Gunnison, CO
  • Setting
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks Small Suburban
  • Western Colorado University Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 6,893
  • Western Colorado University 3,568
  • Type
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks Public 4 Year
  • Western Colorado University Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks #1023
  • Western Colorado University #1026
  • Religious Affiliation
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks -
  • Western Colorado University -
  • Status
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks Non-profit
  • Western Colorado University Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks
  • Western Colorado University

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks $8,736
  • Western Colorado University $11,318
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks $22,320
  • Western Colorado University $24,434
  • Room & Board
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks $10,590
  • Western Colorado University $10,760
  • Average Net Price
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks $11,278
  • Western Colorado University $17,711
  • Average Grant Aid
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks $10,424
  • Western Colorado University $8,425
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 87%
  • Western Colorado University 93%

  • Admissions

  • Admission Chances
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks Calculate
  • Western Colorado University Calculate
  • Applied
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks -
  • Western Colorado University 3,119
  • Admitted
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks -
  • Western Colorado University 3,110
  • Acceptance Rate
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks Open
  • Western Colorado University 99.7%
  • Enrolled
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks Open
  • Western Colorado University 11.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 1240
  • Western Colorado University 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 22
  • Western Colorado University 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 3.4
  • Western Colorado University 3.42
  • Typical High School Grades
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks B+
  • Western Colorado University B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks Challenging
  • Western Colorado University Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks
  • Western Colorado University
  • ACT Range
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 17/27
  • Western Colorado University 22/26
  • SAT Range
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 1110/1360
  • Western Colorado University 1163/1353
  • Submit Test Scores
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks Open admission
  • Western Colorado University Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks Jun 15, 2027
  • Western Colorado University

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 11:1
  • Western Colorado University 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks
    • Business (12%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)
  • Western Colorado University
    • Business (28%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (17%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Biology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 31%
  • Western Colorado University 39%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks $42,200
  • Western Colorado University $40,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 53%
  • Western Colorado University 61%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks $16,975
  • Western Colorado University $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks $175
  • Western Colorado University $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 39%
  • Western Colorado University 47%
  • % Women
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 61%
  • Western Colorado University 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks High
  • Western Colorado University Low
  • HBCU
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks No
  • Western Colorado University No
  • % White
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 42%
  • Western Colorado University 75%
  • % Asian
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 1%
  • Western Colorado University 1%
  • % Black
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 2%
  • Western Colorado University 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 6%
  • Western Colorado University 10%
  • % Native American
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 14%
  • Western Colorado University 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 0%
  • Western Colorado University 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 4%
  • Western Colorado University 4%
  • % International
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 1%
  • Western Colorado University 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 29%
  • Western Colorado University 6%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 78%
  • Western Colorado University 62%
  • % Out-of-State
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 20%
  • Western Colorado University 38%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks Yes
  • Western Colorado University Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks No
  • Western Colorado University No
  • Meal Plan
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks Yes
  • Western Colorado University Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks No
  • Western Colorado University No
  • Daycare Facility
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks No
  • Western Colorado University Yes
  • Learn More
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks Details
  • Western Colorado University Details

Comparable Facts

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

University of Alaska Fairbanks is larger than Western Colorado University based on total student enrollment (6,893 students vs. 3,568 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Alaska Fairbanks is located in Fairbanks, AK (Small Suburban setting); Western Colorado University is in Gunnison, CO (Remote Town setting).
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Western Colorado University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Alaska Fairbanks 11:1; Western Colorado University 17:1.

University of Alaska Fairbanks vs. Western Colorado University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of Alaska Fairbanks or Western Colorado University? 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 Western Colorado University ($11,278 vs. $17,711).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Alaska Fairbanks are 1.6% lower than at Western Colorado University ($10,590 vs. $10,760).
  • Western Colorado University is 29.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than University of Alaska Fairbanks (about $2,582 more per year; $11,318.00 vs. $8,736.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 9.5% higher at Western Colorado University than at University of Alaska Fairbanks (about $2,114 more per year; $24,434.00 vs. $22,320.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Western Colorado University than at University of Alaska Fairbanks (93% vs. 87%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Alaska Fairbanks students is 23.7% larger than aid received by Western Colorado University students ($10,424 vs. $8,425).

University of Alaska Fairbanks vs. Western Colorado University Admissions comparison

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

  • University of Alaska Fairbanks reports an open admissions policy.
  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Western Colorado University (1260) is 20 points higher than at University of Alaska Fairbanks (1240).
  • Incoming Western Colorado University students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (24 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; Western Colorado University 1163/1353.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Alaska Fairbanks 17/27; Western Colorado University 22/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: University of Alaska Fairbanks - Open admission; Western Colorado University - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: University of Alaska Fairbanks Jun 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Western Colorado University students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at University of Alaska Fairbanks (3.4).

University of Alaska Fairbanks vs. Western Colorado University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for University of Alaska Fairbanks and Western Colorado University? 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).

  • Western Colorado University's six-year graduation rate (39%) is higher than University of Alaska Fairbanks's (31%).
  • Graduates from University of Alaska Fairbanks earn a median of about $1,400 more per year than Western Colorado University graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,200 vs. $40,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Alaska Fairbanks graduates have a $4,525 lower median loan debt than Western Colorado University graduates ($16,975 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, University of Alaska Fairbanks graduates have an estimated $47 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Western Colorado University graduates ($175 vs. $222).
  • More Western Colorado University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Alaska Fairbanks students, three years after graduation. (61% 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.