Best Colleges in Alaska

Why Should I Consider Studying in Alaska?

Alaska is certainly a state of extremes, which can be ideal for adventurous students. The summers enjoy long days of sunshine and incredibly rapid changes in nature, enabling hours of outdoor enjoyment unlike anywhere in America. On the flipside, unfortunately those long summer hours invert in the winter and turn into days with almost no sunshine. Although, you’ll still be comforted with incredible scenery and the northern lights - which provide yet another completely unique feature of any US-based higher education institutions. Of course, there are still year-round activities of hiking and camping in some incredible spots, but the shift from season to season is very dramatic.

Alaska also boasts a strong selection of higher education opportunities. You can find the University of Alaska Anchorage, the University of Alaska Fairbanks, Alaska Pacific University, and the University of Alaska Southeast campuses in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau, respectively. These schools offer industry-leading research opportunities in engineering and the sciences.

Home to some truly natural wonders, along with proven education options, Alaska truly provides an one of a kind experience. Given the extreme swings in lifestyle throughout the year, it’s highly recommended to visit both in summer and winter separately before committing to a 4-year journey in the tundra.

Alaska Higher Education By The Numbers

Colleges in Alaska

Alaska has the fewest colleges in the USA with 10 colleges based there. For reference, The average state has 113 colleges. 40% of colleges in Alaska are private and 60% of its colleges are public. (4 private colleges & 6 public colleges). It has the 5th highest public to private college ratio of any state.

Our top three public colleges in Alaska are Alaska Vocational Technical Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks, and University of Alaska Southeast. Our top three private colleges are Alaska Career College, Alaska Pacific University, and Alaska Christian College. University of Alaska Anchorage has the most students in the top 25 colleges (20,526 students).

Students in Alaska

The median state has 314,827 college students. Alaska has 88% fewer. There are 37,421 public college students and 1,404 private college students in Alaska. It has the 3rd fewest public students and the 2nd fewest private students of any state. Its 38,825 total students make it the least popular destination in the USA. 96% of students in Alaska attend public schools which is the 2nd highest percentage around the nation.