Alaska Fairbanks: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Officially University of Alaska Fairbanks · Fairbanks, Alaska · Public · Moderately selective · CDS 2025-2026
Admission at a glance
Common Data Set 2025-2026
- Test-optional
- 5,836
- Applicants
- 3,749
- Admitted64%
- 875
- Enrolled
- 23%
- Yield rate
Selectivity
Moderately selective64% admittedRanked #382-422 in National Universities; Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs #160 (tie), Business Programs #301 (tie), Computer Science #235 (tie)U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027
Admission figures come from the 2025-2026 Common Data Set published by University of Alaska Fairbanks (see the source), read on 2026-09-20. The admission-factor grid was re-read from that file to confirm each weighting.
Is Alaska Fairbanks a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places Alaska Fairbanks against it in about a minute. No account needed.
Alaska Fairbanks is a public university in Fairbanks, Alaska that admits about 64% of applicants, making it a moderately selective school. The average family pays about $10,892 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Business Administration, Management and Operations, Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other and Biology, General, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 41% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 5.9 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
Alaska Fairbanks is a public institution located in Fairbanks, Alaska with a moderately selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, Alaska Fairbanks admits about half to three-quarters of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 64%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1160 and an ACT composite around 22. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $10,892 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for Alaska Fairbanks?
59% of enrolled students at Alaska Fairbanks had a high school GPA of 3.50 or above, and the average was 3.48, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
Compare Alaska Fairbanks with the other schools on your list
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What does Alaska Fairbanks weight in admissions?
Alaska Fairbanks reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean
Very Important
1- Academic GPA
Considered
1- Standardized test scores
Not Considered
16- 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 Alaska Fairbanks typically admits
Many applicants here submit scores; even slightly below the average can be competitive when combined with a strong GPA and curriculum.
| 25th percentile | 1050 |
| 50th percentile | 1160 |
| 75th percentile | 1280 |
| % submitting SAT | 11% |
| 25th percentile | 17 |
| 50th percentile | 23 |
| 75th percentile | 28 |
| % submitting ACT | 7% |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Checked for Fall 2027 applicants on Alaska Fairbanks's admissions site. Policies change; confirm before you apply.
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 class | 2% |
| Top 25% of class | 9% |
| Top 50% of class | 26% |
| % submitting class rank | 10% |
How much does Alaska Fairbanks actually cost?
Published tuition is $8,736 for in-state students and $22,320 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $10,590 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $10,892 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 22% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | $8,940 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $26,940 |
| Room and board | $13,220 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $10,892 |
| Share of financial need metaverage, for students with need | 65% |
| Average need-based grant | $12,039 |
| Average merit award, no financial need234 first-year students received one | $5,302 |
| Graduates who borrowed | 27% |
| Average debt at graduationamong those who borrowed | $21,451 |
| Financial aid forms | FAFSA only (no CSS Profile)College Board 2026-27 list |
| Application fee | $50 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for Alaska Fairbanks
| Regular deadline | 6/15 |
| Notification date | 1-Jan |
| Rolling admissions | Yes |
Will my child graduate from Alaska Fairbanks?
These predict outcomes at Alaska Fairbanks better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at Alaska Fairbanks
The most popular undergraduate programs at Alaska Fairbanks, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Business Administration, Management and Operations, Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other and Biology, General. Across all programs, Alaska Fairbanks confers roughly 269 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Business Administration, Management and Operations program report a median income of about $68,416 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 53 | $68,416 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | 36 | n/a |
| Biology, General | 35 | $47,069 |
| Homeland Security | 35 | n/a |
| Psychology, General | 33 | $39,830 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 27 | n/a |
| Mechanical Engineering | 26 | $94,625 |
| Social Work | 24 | $42,999 |
Is Alaska Fairbanks safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Alaska Fairbanks disclosed 25 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 5.9 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 8 violent offenses and 11 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at Alaska Fairbanks?
About 17% of undergraduates at Alaska Fairbanks live in campus housing, so a meaningful share of students commute or live off campus. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
Next steps for Alaska Fairbanks
Common questions parents ask about Alaska Fairbanks
What GPA do I need for Alaska Fairbanks?
59% of enrolled students at Alaska Fairbanks had a high school GPA of 3.50 or above, and the average was 3.48, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
What SAT or ACT score does Alaska Fairbanks typically admit?
Alaska Fairbanks does not publish standardized test ranges in the most recent reporting cycle. Scores are optional here, and a strong one can still help when the rest of the application is borderline.
How much does Alaska Fairbanks actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Alaska Fairbanks after grants and scholarships is $10,892 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $8,736 and $22,320 out of state. Budget against the net figure.
Is Alaska Fairbanks realistic for my child?
Alaska Fairbanks admits 64% of applicants, so the transcript and course rigour carry the decision, with no published score band to place against. Then check the $10,892 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at Alaska Fairbanks?
Alaska Fairbanks accepts about 64% of applicants out of roughly 5,836 who apply each year. That makes it a moderately selective school.
Is Alaska Fairbanks test-optional?
Yes. Alaska Fairbanks is test-optional for Fall 2027 applicants, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered.
What is the graduation rate at Alaska Fairbanks?
About 41% of students at Alaska Fairbanks graduate within six years. 74% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
What does Alaska Fairbanks look for in applicants?
Alaska Fairbanks rates GPA as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is Alaska Fairbanks a public or private school, and where is it located?
Alaska Fairbanks is a public institution located in Fairbanks, Alaska.
What are the most popular majors at Alaska Fairbanks?
The largest undergraduate majors at Alaska Fairbanks by annual graduates are Business Administration, Management and Operations, Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other and Biology, General. The school awards about 269 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is Alaska Fairbanks safe? What is its campus crime rate?
Alaska Fairbanks reported 25 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 5.9 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at Alaska Fairbanks?
At Alaska Fairbanks, 17% of undergraduates live on campus, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by University of Alaska Fairbanks, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers