Best Colleges in Alaska

Alaska is home to ten accredited universities and many technical and vocational colleges. With so many schools to pick from, choosing the one that best aligns with your academic and professional interests can be tricky. Prospective students need to consider a variety of factors as they evaluate colleges, including program length, cost, location and scholarship availability.

The Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development projects employment across all industries in the state to increase by 5.1% from 2016 to 2026, which is roughly in line with the projected rate of growth for the entire United States economy. As in other parts of the country, Alaska’s healthcare industry should experience considerable growth during this time, driven largely by the state’s increasingly aging population.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the annual mean wage in Alaska was $58,710 in 2018. However, jobs requiring a college education generally offer considerably higher compensation. For example, that same year, budget analysts earned an average salary of $79,650, while information security analysts earned an average salary of $105,280. These types of roles typically require at least a bachelor’s degree.

Attending college can enable you to take advantage of new professional opportunities. To help you determine the best place to enroll, we have compiled this list of the best colleges in Alaska. Our ranking includes information on elements like general admission requirements, available courses of study, and financial aid offerings. It also indicates whether each college offers online degrees, an important factor both for working professionals and students from more rural parts of the state.

Each school on this ranking holds regional accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.