Students at the University of Alaska Anchorage benefit from strong affordability and meaningful earnings outcomes, particularly for those who complete career-focused programs in high-demand fields.
The university's graduates demonstrate exceptional loan repayment performance, reflecting solid post-graduation employment in Alaska's specialized economy.
Azimuth ranks the University of Alaska Anchorage 284th out of 406 public four-year institutions nationwide, placing it in the 30th percentile for overall value. While UAA faces challenges with completion rates that are lower than typical public universities, it delivers meaningful strengths in affordability and targeted career preparation. The university serves as Alaska's primary urban public institution, offering practical pathways into high-demand fields like nursing, business, and construction management.
What distinguishes UAA is its role as a regional anchor institution that connects students directly to Alaska's unique economy. Nearly 39% of students are first-generation college attendees, and the university maintains strong affordability across income levels, with low-income students paying just $11,436 annually. While overall completion rates remain challenging, students who do graduate often enter well-paying careers that reflect Alaska's specialized job market, particularly in healthcare, construction, and business sectors.
For students committed to building careers in Alaska, UAA provides access to programs that align closely with the state's economic needs. The university's urban Anchorage location offers internship and employment opportunities that many students leverage into stable, well-compensated careers in fields where Alaska consistently needs skilled professionals.
The University of Alaska Anchorage's program portfolio reflects Alaska's economic priorities and consistently delivers strong returns in career-focused fields. Nursing stands out as both the university's largest high-return program and its most successful pathway to economic mobility, graduating 151 students annually with median earnings of $72,101. This program serves Alaska's critical healthcare workforce needs while providing graduates with some of the strongest financial outcomes available at the university.
Construction Management, though smaller with 27 graduates, delivers equally impressive earnings at $72,274, reflecting Alaska's ongoing infrastructure development and the premium wages commanded by skilled construction professionals in the state. Business Administration represents the university's largest general program with 88 graduates earning $47,260, providing solid middle-ground outcomes for students seeking versatile business skills applicable across Alaska's diverse economy.
The university's program mix demonstrates clear alignment with Alaska's specialized job market, where healthcare, construction, and business skills command premium wages due to geographic isolation and economic conditions. Students who complete degrees in these targeted fields often find that UAA's regional focus and employer connections translate into employment opportunities that might be more competitive or lower-paying in other markets, making the university particularly valuable for students committed to building careers within Alaska.
Graduates of the University of Alaska Anchorage earn a median of $51,871 ten years after enrollment, with earnings that run slightly above expectations compared with similar students at other institutions. The university shows particular strength in professional programs that connect directly to Alaska's economy, where specialized skills command premium wages due to the state's unique geographic and economic conditions.
The strongest financial outcomes come from UAA's nursing program, which graduates 151 students annually with median earnings of $72,101 ten years out, making it both the largest high-return program and a key economic driver for the institution. Construction Management delivers similarly strong results at $72,274 for its 27 graduates, reflecting Alaska's ongoing infrastructure and development needs. Business Administration, the university's largest program with 88 graduates, produces more moderate but still solid earnings at $47,260, while Psychology graduates earn $37,568, representing the lower end of the earnings spectrum.
The university's program mix reflects Alaska's economic priorities, with substantial enrollment in healthcare, business, and construction-related fields that consistently provide pathways to stable, well-paying careers. For students who complete their degrees, UAA's connection to Alaska's specialized job market often translates into earnings that exceed what similar graduates might achieve in more competitive lower-48 markets.
The University of Alaska Anchorage maintains strong affordability across all income levels, making it accessible to a broad range of Alaska families. Low-income students pay an average of $11,436 per year, well below national averages for public universities, while middle-income families see annual costs of $13,543. Even high-income families pay a relatively modest $19,563 annually, reflecting the university's commitment to keeping education accessible within Alaska's unique economic environment.
Debt levels remain manageable for most UAA graduates. Typical students leave with about $20,210 in federal loan debt, while families who choose Parent PLUS loans borrow an average of $14,196. These amounts are reasonable given Alaska's higher wage scales in many sectors, and the university's strong loan repayment patterns suggest that graduates generally manage their debt obligations successfully. UAA borrowers consistently outperform national averages in paying down their balances, with particularly strong performance in the early years after graduation when many students enter Alaska's robust job market for skilled professionals.
University Of Alaska Anchorage Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
