University of Alaska Fairbanks: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes

Fairbanks, Alaska · Public · Unknown · CDS 2024-2025

Acceptance rate
3,677 applicants
Avg SAT
1190
Mid 50: 1070–1310
In-state tuition
$8,640
per year, before aid
Net price (avg)
$9,634
after aid, what families pay

University of Alaska Fairbanks is a public institution located in Fairbanks, Alaska. Admitted students typically post an ACT composite around 22. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $9,634 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price. For parents weighing whether University of Alaska Fairbanks is realistic for their teenager, the most useful planning step is comparing your child's current GPA and most recent SAT or ACT against these admitted-student ranges — not the headline acceptance rate alone.

What GPA does my child need for University of Alaska Fairbanks?

Successful applicants to University of Alaska Fairbanks typically present unweighted GPAs at or near 4.0 with the most rigorous course load their school offers, including multiple AP, IB, or dual-enrollment courses. Parents tracking their child's GPA toward this tier of school can use Solyo's free calculator to see weighted, unweighted, and college-recalculated numbers side by side.

Actual GPA distribution of admitted students
3.75–3.99
31.0%
3.50–3.74
19.0%
3.25–3.49
17.0%
3.00–3.24
10.0%
2.50–2.99
13.0%
Below 2.50
9.0%
From the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by University of Alaska Fairbanks.

What does University of Alaska Fairbanks weight in admissions?

University of Alaska Fairbanks reports the following factor importance in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). These are the criteria the admissions committee weighs when reviewing applications.

Very Important1 factor
  • Academic GPA
Considered1 factor
  • Standardized test scores
Not Considered16 factors
  • Rigor of secondary school record
  • Class rank
  • Application essay
  • Recommendations
  • Interview
  • Extracurricular activities
  • Talent/ability
  • Character/personal qualities
  • First generation status
  • Alumni/ae relation
  • Geographical residence
  • State residency
  • Religious affiliation/commitment
  • Volunteer work
  • Work experience
  • Level of applicant's interest

SAT and ACT scores University of Alaska Fairbanks typically admits

Many applicants to schools in this tier submit test scores, though the policy varies by year — check the latest test-optional status before deciding.

SAT Composite
25th percentile1070
50th percentile1190
75th percentile1310
% submitting SAT14%
ACT Composite
25th percentile18
50th percentile22
75th percentile25
% submitting ACT11%
Current testing policy
  • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
  • • Policy detail: Not considered

Where admitted students ranked in their high school class

Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort — often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.

Top 10% of class3%
Top 25% of class11%
Top 50% of class30%
% submitting class rank44%

How much does University of Alaska Fairbanks actually cost?

Published tuition is $8,640 for in-state students and $22,752 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $10,450 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $9,634 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 22% of students receive Pell Grants, a useful indicator of how much need-based aid the school distributes.

In-state tuition$8,670
Out-of-state tuition$25,650
Room and board$10,590
Average net price (after aid)$9,634
Application fee$50 (waivers available)

Application deadlines and early decision data for University of Alaska Fairbanks

Regular admission
Regular deadlineJune 15
Notification dateNo set date
Rolling admissionsYes

Will my child graduate from University of Alaska Fairbanks?

Retention and graduation rates are the most overlooked numbers in college planning, but they predict actual outcomes far better than acceptance rate. They tell you whether admitted students stay and finish on time.

Freshman retention
74.1%
returned for sophomore year
4-year graduation
25.38%
finished on time
6-year graduation
38.69%
finished within 6 years

Other colleges in Alaska parents ask about

How parents track GPA toward selective schools like University of Alaska Fairbanks

Solyo helps parents track grades pulled directly from school emails, calculate GPA the same way colleges like University of Alaska Fairbanks recalculate it, and ask an AI college counselor specific questions about their teen's odds. The platform is built for parents — not students — and turns what's usually a fragmented planning process into a single dashboard.

Common questions parents ask about University of Alaska Fairbanks

What GPA do I need for University of Alaska Fairbanks?

Successful applicants to University of Alaska Fairbanks typically present unweighted GPAs at or near 4.0 with the most rigorous course load their school offers, including multiple AP, IB, or dual-enrollment courses.

What SAT or ACT score does University of Alaska Fairbanks typically admit?

University of Alaska Fairbanks does not publish standardized test ranges in the most recent reporting cycle. Test-optional policies have made scores less universally required, but submitting strong scores still helps when available.

How much does University of Alaska Fairbanks actually cost after financial aid?

The average net price at University of Alaska Fairbanks after grants and scholarships is $9,634 per year. That figure is more useful for budgeting than the published sticker price, because it reflects what families actually pay after aid is applied.

Is University of Alaska Fairbanks realistic for my child?

Compare your teen's current unweighted GPA and most recent SAT or ACT against the ranges above. If both numbers fall inside the school's middle-50, University of Alaska Fairbanks is a target school. If both fall below the 25th-percentile mark, treat it as a reach and balance the application list accordingly.

Data sourced from the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by University of Alaska Fairbanks, and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Solyo extracts admissions data from official Common Data Set publications and refreshes it annually.