University of Alaska Fairbanks vs. Western Washington University

Deciding between University of Alaska Fairbanks and Western Washington 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 Washington University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks Fairbanks, AK
  • Western Washington University Bellingham, WA
  • Setting
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks Small Suburban
  • Western Washington University Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 6,893
  • Western Washington University 14,710
  • Type
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks Public 4 Year
  • Western Washington University Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks #1023
  • Western Washington University #362
  • Religious Affiliation
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks -
  • Western Washington University -
  • Status
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks Non-profit
  • Western Washington University Non-profit
  • Website
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks uaf.edu
  • Western Washington University wwu.edu
  • Team Colors
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks
  • Western Washington University

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks $8,736
  • Western Washington University $9,582
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks $22,320
  • Western Washington University $28,707
  • Room & Board
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks $10,590
  • Western Washington University $15,747
  • Average Net Price
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks $11,278
  • Western Washington University $24,338
  • Average Grant Aid
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks $10,424
  • Western Washington University $6,902
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 87%
  • Western Washington University 93%

  • Admissions

  • Admission Chances
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks Calculate
  • Western Washington University Calculate
  • Applied
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks -
  • Western Washington University 14,115
  • Admitted
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks -
  • Western Washington University 13,162
  • Acceptance Rate
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks Open
  • Western Washington University 93.2%
  • Enrolled
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks Open
  • Western Washington University 22.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 1240
  • Western Washington University 1270
  • Typical ACT score
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 22
  • Western Washington University 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 3.4
  • Western Washington University 3.46
  • Typical High School Grades
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks B+
  • Western Washington University B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks Challenging
  • Western Washington University Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks
  • Western Washington University
  • ACT Range
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 17/27
  • Western Washington University 24/31
  • SAT Range
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 1110/1360
  • Western Washington University 1150/1390
  • Submit Test Scores
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks Open admission
  • Western Washington University Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks Jun 15, 2027
  • Western Washington University Jan 31, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 11:1
  • Western Washington University 18:1
  • 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 Washington University
    • Business (13%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • English and Literature (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
    • Psychology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 31%
  • Western Washington University 73%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks $42,200
  • Western Washington University $48,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 53%
  • Western Washington University 71%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks $16,975
  • Western Washington University $19,413
  • Median Loan Payment
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks $175
  • Western Washington University $200

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 39%
  • Western Washington University 43%
  • % Women
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 61%
  • Western Washington University 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks High
  • Western Washington University Medium
  • HBCU
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks No
  • Western Washington University No
  • % White
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 42%
  • Western Washington University 73%
  • % Asian
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 1%
  • Western Washington University 7%
  • % Black
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 2%
  • Western Washington University 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 6%
  • Western Washington University 8%
  • % Native American
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 14%
  • Western Washington University 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 0%
  • Western Washington University 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 4%
  • Western Washington University 9%
  • % International
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 1%
  • Western Washington University 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 29%
  • Western Washington University 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 78%
  • Western Washington University 83%
  • % Out-of-State
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks 20%
  • Western Washington University 16%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Western Washington University is larger than University of Alaska Fairbanks based on total student enrollment (14,710 students vs. 6,893 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Alaska Fairbanks is located in Fairbanks, AK (Small Suburban setting); Western Washington University is in Bellingham, WA (Small City setting).
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Western Washington University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Alaska Fairbanks 11:1; Western Washington University 18:1.

University of Alaska Fairbanks vs. Western Washington University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of Alaska Fairbanks or Western Washington 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 Washington University ($11,278 vs. $24,338).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Alaska Fairbanks are 32.7% lower than at Western Washington University ($10,590 vs. $15,747).
  • Western Washington University is 9.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than University of Alaska Fairbanks (about $846 more per year; $9,582.00 vs. $8,736.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 28.6% higher at Western Washington University than at University of Alaska Fairbanks (about $6,387 more per year; $28,707.00 vs. $22,320.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Western Washington University than at University of Alaska Fairbanks (93% vs. 87%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Alaska Fairbanks students is 51% larger than aid received by Western Washington University students ($10,424 vs. $6,902).

University of Alaska Fairbanks vs. Western Washington University Admissions comparison

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

  • University of Alaska Fairbanks reports an open admissions policy.
  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Western Washington University (1270) is 30 points higher than at University of Alaska Fairbanks (1240).
  • Incoming Western Washington University students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 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 Washington University 1150/1390.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Alaska Fairbanks 17/27; Western Washington University 24/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: University of Alaska Fairbanks - Open admission; Western Washington University - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: University of Alaska Fairbanks Jun 15, 2027; Western Washington University Jan 31, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Western Washington University students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.46) than students at University of Alaska Fairbanks (3.4).

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

How do outcomes compare for University of Alaska Fairbanks and Western Washington 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 Washington University's six-year graduation rate (73%) is higher than University of Alaska Fairbanks's (31%).
  • Graduates from Western Washington University earn a median of about $5,800 more per year than University of Alaska Fairbanks graduates about ten years after starting college ($48,000 vs. $42,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Alaska Fairbanks graduates have a $2,438 lower median loan debt than Western Washington University graduates ($16,975 vs. $19,413).
  • Among borrowers, University of Alaska Fairbanks graduates have an estimated $25 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Western Washington University graduates ($175 vs. $200).
  • More Western Washington University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Alaska Fairbanks students, three years after graduation. (71% 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.