UAF: the complete school report for parents

What does UAF actually weigh in admissions?

UAF rates 1 of the 18 factors "Very Important": GPA. It does not consider 16 of them at all. Every college reports these weights in section C7 of its Common Data Set; below is UAF's 2025-2026 answer, read from the grid in its own file.

What GPA do admitted students actually have?

59% of enrolled students had a 3.50 GPA or above. The average was 3.48 on a 4 scale, reported for 66.67% of the entering class. This is the school’s own distribution, not an estimate from its admit rate.

Is transferring in easier than applying as a freshman?

UAF admitted 62.6% of 910 transfer applicants, against 64.2% of first-year applicants. The two routes are similarly competitive here. The minimum college GPA considered is 2.

When do we apply, and does timing change the odds?

UAF offers neither Early Decision nor Early Action, so there is no early round to strategize about and every applicant is read in one pool.

What does my child need to take in high school?

UAF requires 16 academic units. A college-preparatory program is required. A GED is accepted.

What will UAF actually cost us?

Families pay an average of $10,892 a year at UAF after grants and scholarships, against a published in-state tuition of $8,940. The published price is not what most families pay. The university reports meeting 64.9% of demonstrated need on average. It also gave 234 merit awards averaging $5,302 to first-years with no demonstrated need.

What families at each income level actually paid:

27% of UAF graduates borrow, leaving with an average of $21,451 in debt, which the federal data puts at about $215 a month in repayment. UAF’s net price calculator gives your own figure.

Does a degree from UAF pay off?

Graduates earn a median $48,866 ten years after entering, and $40,746 at six years. 70% out-earn a typical high school graduate within six years. 55% are actively paying down their loans three years in.

Four-year net cost against that earnings premium:

A scale, not a forecast: it assumes aid and earnings hold steady.

$94,625 to $39,830, depending on the major. Median earnings five years out at UAF:

College Scorecard, by field of study.

Will my child actually graduate?

74% of first-years return for a second year. 41% within six (2019 cohort). The rate holds up across income: 25.3% of Pell-grant recipients graduate within six years against 49.3% of everyone else, a gap of 24.0 points.

How big are the classes?

76% of class sections have fewer than 20 students, while 1% have 100 or more. The student-faculty ratio is 11:1, and 62% of faculty are full-time. Accredited by Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

What is life at UAF like?

6,209 undergraduates, 20% of first-years from out of state. 54% of freshmen live in university housing, falling to 17% across all undergraduates. 40% of students are the first in their family to attend college, and the median family income is $65,084.

What this means for your student

• 59% of enrolled students are at a 3.50 GPA or above, averaging 3.48. Below that line the rest of the application has to carry real weight.
• Skip demonstrated-interest tactics here. Visits and emails are not tracked, so save that effort for schools where they count.
• Its highest-earning major returns $94,625 five years out against $39,830 at the other end, a gap wider than the one between most schools.
• See where your student actually stands: calculate their GPA and compare it against the distribution above.

Common questions about UAF

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