Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks University of Alaska Anchorage #578 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. University of Alaska Anchorage sits in the 79.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks University of Alaska Anchorage #1024 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. University of Alaska Anchorage's composite ranking reflects balanced outcomes across access, mobility and affordability. The university's median 4-year earnings of $6,543 beyond expectations anchors its mobility performance among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks University of Alaska Anchorage #578 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Anchorage, Alaska, University of Alaska Anchorage enrolls roughly 7,212 undergraduates. Retention is 70.7% and the six-year graduation rate is 29.7%, reflecting solid completion outcomes for a public master's institution serving Alaska's largest city. University of Alaska Anchorage draws a student population with significant need: 18.5% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 38.9% are first-generation college students. The institution's program portfolio centers on Health, aligning with regional workforce demand in healthcare and related fields. Azimuth ranks University of Alaska Anchorage #456 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $6,543 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of Alaska Anchorage in the 79.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Access and affordability are the institution's defining strengths in the composite. University of Alaska Anchorage sits in the 41.3 percentile for access and the 78.7 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting broad enrollment of Pell-eligible and first-generation students alongside public tuition pricing. Mobility outcomes rank in the 30.7 percentile, indicating that low-income graduates achieve earnings gains relative to national peers. For Alaska residents seeking an affordable, accessible pathway to a degree with strong regional labor-market alignment, University of Alaska Anchorage delivers measurable value.
University of Alaska Anchorage's published cost of attendance is $24,096. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $11,582, middle-income families pay around $16,662, and higher-income families pay approximately $20,975. Azimuth ranks University of Alaska Anchorage #305 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. University of Alaska Anchorage participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans) and state aid programs. The institution's location in Anchorage provides access to Alaska's regional labor market, which shapes both the cost structure and the post-graduation earnings context for graduates. As a public research university, UAA emphasizes need-based aid and workforce alignment, particularly in health and allied health fields where employer demand remains strong. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $20,210, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $15,360; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $68,777, median federal debt of $20,210 projects to a monthly payment of about $228 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
University of Alaska Anchorage is a strong fit for students interested in Health fields who want an affordable public university experience in AK, particularly those planning to work in the local labor market after graduation. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $68,777, placing University of Alaska Anchorage in the 72.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They earn about $6,543 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 79.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The university serves a significant population of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 18.5% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 38.9% are first-generation. This cohort achieves a 21.7% graduation rate, demonstrating the institution's ability to support students from diverse backgrounds. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program mix is heavily concentrated in Health (18% of graduates), and the regional labor market plays a significant role in post-graduation outcomes. Students whose career goals align with these local opportunities will find the strongest outcomes.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the University Of Alaska Anchorage hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
University of Alaska Anchorage's published cost of attendance is $24,096. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $11,582, middle-income families pay around $16,662, and higher-income families pay approximately $20,975.
Azimuth ranks University of Alaska Anchorage #305 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
University of Alaska Anchorage participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans) and state aid programs. The institution's location in Anchorage provides access to Alaska's regional labor market, which shapes both the cost structure and the post-graduation earnings context for graduates.
As a public research university, UAA emphasizes need-based aid and workforce alignment, particularly in health and allied health fields where employer demand remains strong. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $20,210, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $15,360; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $68,777, median federal debt of $20,210 projects to a monthly payment of about $228 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of University of Alaska Anchorage earn median 4-year earnings of $68,777, placing the institution in the 72.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $6,543 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of Alaska Anchorage in the 79.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks University of Alaska Anchorage #456 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects University of Alaska Anchorage's concentration in health-related fields.
Nursing is the largest program with 125 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $93,001, performing at 1.0x the national benchmark for the field. The Business Administration program graduates 63 students earning $63,122, while Psychology, General supports 58 graduates at $51,858.
Public Health and Accounting round out the institution's core offerings, with 44 and 39 graduates respectively earning $53,245 and $77,625. These outcomes align with University of Alaska Anchorage's mission as an urban public institution serving Alaska's workforce development needs in healthcare, nursing, and allied health professions.
Construction Management
10 graduates
Mechanical Engineering
27 graduates
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
125 graduates
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
12 graduates
Science Technologies/Technicians, Other
26 graduates
University of Alaska Anchorage's program mix is anchored in health-related fields, reflecting the institution's mission as a comprehensive university serving Alaska's healthcare workforce needs. The largest programs include Nursing with 125 graduates earning a median $93,001 four years after enrollment, followed by Business Administration with 63 graduates earning a median $63,122, and Psychology, General with 58 graduates earning a median $51,858.
Public Health and Accounting round out the five largest programs, serving 44 and 39 graduates respectively. The institution's highest-earning programs reflect Alaska's regional labor-market demand for skilled professionals.
Mechanical Engineering leads with graduates earning a median $98,156 four years after enrollment, followed by Nursing with graduates earning a median $93,001, and Air Transportation with graduates earning a median $80,981. Accounting and Business Administration also deliver solid median four-year earnings of $77,625 and $63,122 respectively.
The concentration of earnings strength in health and applied professional fields aligns with Alaska's healthcare sector growth and the state's geographic isolation, which creates sustained demand for locally trained practitioners. The University of Alaska Anchorage program graduates 875 students annually across 40 programs.
The program portfolio emphasizes direct workforce entry rather than graduate-school-dependent pathways, meaning four-year earnings reflect actual labor-market outcomes for most graduates.
