University of Alaska

University of Alaska Degree Programs

The University of Alaska appears in our ranking of the 30 Best Online Bachelor’s in Emergency Management Degrees. Students in the University of Alaska system have many options for degree programs:

• associate
• bachelor’s
• graduate-level
• professional
• certificate

Many of the university system’s programs are also available either entirely or partially online. Because of Alaska’s unique geography and cultural history, many majors and programs of study are specific to the Alaskan way of life. Undergraduate programs include:

• accounting
• Alaska Native studies and languages
• aerospace engineering
• anthropology
• Arctic and Northern studies
• biochemistry
• aviation maintenance
• civil engineering
• community health
• construction trades
• digital journalism
• culinary arts
• early childhood education
• Eskimo studies
• environmental chemistry
• ethnobotany
• fire science
• emergency management
• fisheries
• forest management
• geoscience
• homeland security
• marine studies
• tribal management and justice
• welding
• wildlife biology and conservation
• Yup’ik language and culture
• military science and leadership.

Graduate students can continue their studies in many of these areas, earning master’s, doctoral, and professional degrees. There are also graduate degrees in:

• special education
• science teaching and outreach
• resilience and adaptation
• petroleum engineering
• online innovation land design
• oceanography
• national resources and sustainability
• justice administration
• several other areas that are relatively unique to the University of Alaska system.

The University of Alaska also provides ample opportunities for students to study abroad. Students in many U of A programs are able to find a study abroad program in their area of study. U of A is a member of:

• The American Institute for Foreign Study
• Academics Program International
• Global Education Oregon
• The Institution for Study Abroad
• International Studies Abroad
• Knowledge Exchange Institute
• Semester at Sea

Semester at Sea is particularly unique. Students spend several days in over a dozen countries over the course of the semester. This gives the student an opportunity to study on four or more continents per semester.

About the University of Alaska

The University of Alaska system has three:

• educational institutions
• 13 community campuses
• extensive online offerings

All three institutions are separately accredited and together enroll nearly 30,000 students. There are 400 degree, certificate, or endorsement programs. The University of Alaska Anchorage is the largest of the three. The University of Alaska Fairbanks is  the only Tier 1 university in Alaska and is the oldest of the three universities. The University of Alaska Southeast focuses on marine and maritime studies due to all of the institution’s campuses being located in coastal communities. Because many areas in Alaska are remote or difficult for commuters, the system places a significant focus on online and distance learning opportunities. The U of A system was established in 1917 as a land, sea, and space grant system of higher education in Fairbanks. The University of Alaska Fairbanks now enrolls approximately 8,700 students. The median age of 26. The university’s focus is on land, sea, and space. Many of its degree offerings are housed in the:

• College of Engineering and Mines
• College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences
• College of Rural and Community Development
• College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
• School of Natural Resources and Extension

The University of Alaska Anchorage was established in 1954 as Anchorage Community College. It became a four-year institution in the 1960s. Today it is home to 20,000 students. The average age of a UAA student is 28.5. The newest of the three universities, University of Alaska Southeast, was established in 1987. It was part of the restructuring of the former University of Alaska Juneau, Islands Community College, and Ketchikan Community College. It is the smallest of the three universities, housing:

• a School of Arts and Sciences
• a School of Career Education
• the Alaska College of Education

The three universities in the University of Alaska system have received many accolades and recognitions. The U.S. News and World Report in 2018 list UAF’s online programs as among the:

• Best Online Bachelor’s Programs
• Best Online Graduate Criminal Justice Programs
• Best Online MBA Programs
• Best Online Graduate Education Programs

UAA’s engineering program was ranked by The U.S. News and World Report as one of the nation’s top engineering programs.

University of Alaska Accreditation Details

All three universities in the Universities of Alaska system are separately accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. Many of the departments also have separate program-specific accreditations, including:

•  Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
•  Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, Inc.
•  Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
•  Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE)
•  Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation
•  Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND)
•  Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC)
•  American Bar Association
•  American Psychological Association
•  National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education
•  National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation
•  Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)

University of Alaska Application Requirements

Applications requirements vary slightly among the three universities in the U of A system. Prospective students must fill out an application specific to the University of Alaska system institution they want to attend. New freshmen are required to submit evidence of a high school diploma or GED completion. Students with at least a 3.0 high school GPA are required to submit ACT or SAT scores, but no minimum score is required. For those with a 2.5–2.99 GPA, an ACT score of at least 18 or an SAT score of at least 955 are required. Graduate students are required to have at least a 3.0 cumulative undergraduate GPA and a 3.0 GPA in their major. Prospective students are subject to the individual requirements of their specific graduate program of choice. For non-degree seeking students, applications are not needed. Individuals wishing to take classes for professional and personal development can register through the University of Alaska Online.

Tuition and Financial Aid

The University of Alaska’s website states that tuition and fees throughout the university’s system are well below the national average. In-state tuition rates are offered to:

• active duty military
• dependent children of alumni
• participants in the UA College Savings Plan
• descendants of current Alaskan relatives

In-state tuition and fees average $7,758, while out of state tuition is $23,576 per year. For those in specific career and technical education program courses, there is a 25% tuition discount. The University of Alaska is committed to ensuring that all students can afford their education, offering extensive financial aid packages. The University of Alaska Anchorage’s website says that its financial aid office awards over $34 million in scholarships annually. Current students interested in scholarships can apply between October 1st and February 15th each year. Incoming freshmen do not have to apply. All incoming freshmen are considered for financial aid options using information from their admissions application.  

Related Resources:

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Top 30 Affordable BBA Degree Online Programs

50 Most Affordable Online Degree Programs For In-State Students