University of Alaska Anchorage
Anchorage, Alaska · Public
ROI Score: 54/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
University of Alaska Anchorage scores 54 (Below Average Value), a score pulled down almost entirely by its 29.7% completion rate. Average 6-year earnings of $41,500 and a 11.9-year payback period are weak in absolute terms but reflect a labor market context where many UAA students are working adults returning to school part-time. The repayment rate of 79.2% at 3 years is functional. Mechanical engineering, nursing, and construction management produce strong earnings; fine arts and interdisciplinary studies at the other end produce poor ROI.
How University of Alaska Anchorage scores under our methodology
These are the College Scorecard measures that pull this school's CampusROI score down. They describe the published figures, not the quality of the education, and they are our reading of the data. Check them against your own aid offer and intended major.
- 6-year graduation rate29.7% - The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our score, since a degree that is not finished rarely pays back.
University of Alaska Anchorage
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $7,738/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $21,322/yr |
| Average net price | $15,301/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $61,204 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $51,871 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $41,500 |
| Median debt at graduation | $20,210 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $214 |
| Estimated payback period | 11.9 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 29.7% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 7,212 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $7,738/year ($21,322/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $15,301/year, or roughly $61,204 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $11,582/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $20,975/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $20,210, which works out to about $214 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($41,500) and comes to 0.49, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $11,582 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $13,401 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $16,662 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $18,826 |
| $110,001+ | $20,975 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Low-income families (0-$30,000) pay $11,582 per year at UAA - $46,328 over four years. Against $41,500 average 6-year earnings and a 29.7% completion rate, the investment math is precarious for students who do not complete. Completers in nursing or engineering reach payback within a few years. The completion problem is the key variable: the majority of UAA students at this income level will not complete in four years. Part-time pathways and 6-year completion rates would likely show higher completion than the 4-year default.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-$75,000 bracket pays $16,662 per year ($66,648 over four years) and the $75,001-$110,000 bracket pays $18,826 ($75,304 over four years). At Alaska public prices, these net costs are below national averages for public universities. For professional program completers, the payback is solid. The completion rate challenge applies equally here: middle-income families should understand that UAA's completion statistics reflect a large part-time and working-adult population for whom 4-year completion is not the relevant metric.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Higher-income families ($110,000+) pay $20,975 per year - $83,900 over four years. At this price, UAA delivers strong value for nursing and engineering majors. For humanities, social science, or fine arts students, the payback is slow at any income level.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of Alaska Anchorage with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $93,001 | B+ |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $63,122 | B |
| Psychology | $51,858 | C+ |
| Public Health | $53,245 | B+ |
| Interdisciplinary Studies | $51,889 | C+ |
| Social Work | $56,698 | C |
| Accounting | $77,625 | B+ |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $52,199 | C |
| History | $36,650 | - |
| Biology | $53,306 | - |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Nursing is UAA's highest-volume high-earning program: 130 graduates, $86,823 at year one, $93,001 at year four. Median debt of $25,000 and a B+ debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.288. Alaska's healthcare labor market is chronically understaffed in rural and remote regions, creating persistent demand for UAA nursing graduates. The strong year-one earnings reflect Alaska's cost-of-living wage premiums and healthcare sector compensation. In-state tuition is $7,738.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering (24 graduates) earns $71,501 at year one and $98,156 at year four, with an A-grade debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.194 and only $13,876 median debt. This is UAA's best ROI outcome by debt-to-earnings ratio.
Accounting
Accounting (27 graduates) earns $65,560 at year one and $77,625 at year four, with a B+ debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.255 and $16,700 median debt. Alaska's accounting labor market includes petroleum company finance teams, state government fiscal functions, and federal contractor accounting roles. The low debt load ($16,700) makes this one of UAA's most debt-efficient programs. The 4-year trajectory to $77,625 reflects steady advancement in a field with strong regional employer demand.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration (63 graduates) earns $51,451 at year one and $63,122 at year four, with a B-grade debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.411 and $21,157 median debt. Business graduates access Anchorage's commercial and government employer base - the state's largest city has the full range of corporate, retail, and professional services employers. At UAA's public price, the business degree payback is manageable. The 4-year trajectory is solid for a regional public business program.
Air Transportation
Air Transportation (25 graduates) earns $40,796 at year one but jumps to $80,981 at year four, with a C-grade debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.613 and $25,000 median debt. The large gap between year-one and year-four earnings reflects the aviation career ladder: entry-level commercial pilots or aviation technicians start low, but Alaska's aviation sector is uniquely large and active, creating a strong regional demand for credentialed graduates. The year-four figure is more representative of the career arc than the year-one figure.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 74.6% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 79.2% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 59.3% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 68.4% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of Alaska Anchorage’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Enrollment | 7,212 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 18.5% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $10,110 |
UAA's open-access admissions policy means no selectivity barrier to enrollment. The UA system guarantees admission for Alaska residents meeting minimum academic standards. The absence of test score data reflects the system's policy and the diverse adult-learner population UAA serves. Academic preparation for specific professional programs (nursing, engineering) is the relevant admissions consideration, not institutional selectivity.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
UAA's 29.7% completion rate is its most significant competitive disadvantage.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Alaska Anchorage (this school) | 54 | $15,301 | $51,871 |
| University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point | 55 | $14,559 | $52,021 |
| William Paterson University of New Jersey | 54 | $18,745 | $57,780 |
| Lamar University | 53 | $9,366 | $49,652 |
| University of Alaska Fairbanks | 52 | $10,892 | $48,866 |
| Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania | 51 | $19,608 | $53,032 |
Who Thrives Here
Enrollment includes a significant share of part-time students, which depresses the institutional completion rate but is a feature of the population served rather than institutional failure alone. Students seeking nursing, engineering, or accounting at affordable Alaska public prices will find strong program-level outcomes. Students entering fine arts, social sciences, or interdisciplinary programs face poor payback at UAA's net price.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for University of Alaska Anchorage is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $15,301 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $51,871 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 11.9 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What it has going for it: manageable debt relative to earnings. What to keep an eye on: its 29.7% graduation rate.
Median debt of $20,210 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $41,500 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.49, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
University of Alaska Anchorage: Common Questions
Is University of Alaska Anchorage worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. University of Alaska Anchorage scores 54/100 on our ROI scale. At $15,301 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $51,871 ten years after entry, so it takes about 11.9 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does University of Alaska Anchorage cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $15,301 a year, or roughly $61,204 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do University of Alaska Anchorage graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $51,871 ten years after enrolling, roughly $10,071 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off University of Alaska Anchorage?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 11.9 years for University of Alaska Anchorage. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of Alaska Anchorage graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $20,210, against average earnings of $41,500 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.49. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at University of Alaska Anchorage?
The six-year graduation rate is 29.7%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.