Your browser is outdated. Please use a modern or updated browser such as Chrome or Firefox.

Net Price of Alaska Colleges by Income

Cost of Alaska Colleges Zoom In

Source: National Center for Educational Statistics. This is the most recent data available as of January 2023

Questions & Answers

What do all these numbers mean?

All costs shown here are the average net cost paid by families in each income bracket for one year at the college in question. Net cost is the total cost of attendance for one year, minus government grants and institutional scholarships. Figures are based on data from the 2020-21 school year, which is the latest available as of January 2023.

What is “Total Cost” on the chart?

Total cost is the total cost of attendance for one year at that particular college. It includes:

  • Tuition and fees (in-state tuition for public schools)
  • Room and board (on campus)
  • Books and supplies
  • Other expenses (travel and personal)

There are detailed chart below for each school that shows these expenses. Click here to go to the individual cost breakdown for schools.

How can I use this information?

This information is useful for building a realistic college budget. It's a good place to start until you better understand your specific circumstances. For example, let's say your income is $100,000 per year. This chart shows that the average state school would run $16,114 and the average private school would be $23,212. You can also get information on specific Alaska schools in the chart above or the tables below.

Will my family pay the amount on this chart?

Probably not. The numbers are averages. You may be below average or above average. However, there are two key points we can learn from this data:

  1. Families with higher incomes ($75,000-$110,000 and $110,000+) will most likely pay close to full price at the public schools.
  2. Private colleges have a higher list price but offer more discounts. This brings their net price much closer to the cost of state-funded schools.

Where did this information come from?

As part of federal financial aid, colleges are required to provide detailed cost information to the U.S. government. This data is made available to the public through the National Center for Education Statistics. For more details, click here.

What about athletes, merit aid or minority students?

Athletes, high achieving students, and those with minority status are averaged in with everyone else. Within each income bracket, there are families that pay more than average and families that pay less than average.

The costs on this chart seem large. How can families afford to pay it?

For many families paying for college is not easy, but in the end they figure out. Most families will pay their net cost of college with some combination of:

  • College savings and investments
  • Payments from current income
  • Loans
  • Outside scholarships (check out the Scholarship Guide For Busy Parents to learn how your student can win scholarships)
  • Tax planning
  • Student work
Cost of Alaska Schools Explanation

Net Price:

Net prices is the total cost of attendance for one year, minus the average amount in government grants and institutional scholarships the school awards. This is an average, so you may pay above the average or below the average. Your exact net price is likely to be different and sometimes drastically different.

Most families will pay the net price with some combination of savings and investments, current income and various loans. Some students will also receive scholarships from sources other than the federal or state government or the college. Any scholarships and grants from these outside sources are not included in the data. However, government grants and institutional scholarships are included in the averages.

Total Cost at University of Alaska-Fairbanks (2020-21)
Tuition and Fees $7,176
Room and Board $10,540
Books $2,000
Other Expenses $2,650
Total $22,366

Total Cost:

Total cost is the total cost of attendance for that particular institution for the 2020-21 school year. This is the latest data available as of January 2023. Total costs include:

  • Tuition and fees (in-state tuition for public schools)
  • Room and board (on campus)
  • Books and supplies
  • Other expenses (travel and personal)

College Total Cost
Family Income AK Public $24,193 AK Private $34,670
$0 - $30k $7,667 $20,463
$30,001 – $48k $7,120 $20,490
$48,001 – $75k $11,049 $19,601
$75,001 – $110k $16,114 $23,212
$110,001+ $14,802 $0

Public vs. Private Averages

This table shows the average total cost of attendance for the Alaska public and private colleges we have included in our analysis. The costs include a breakdown of the average net price paid by family income. Notice that the average private college is $8,000-$14,000 more than the average public school, depending on your income bracket. It is important to stress that these are averages. Most families will not be average, and their individual circumstances could be drastically different. I encourage all families to work with their preferred colleges to get information specific to their family.

Below are similar charts for each individual private and public college in Alaska. Click a school to view its complete chart.

Public AK Schools Cost Breakdown

  • University of Alaska Anchorage

    Anchorage
    Year 2020-21 2021-22
    Tuition and Fees $8,622 $8,622
    Room and Board $12,662 $12,662
    Books $1,320 $1,320
    Other Expenses $7,000 $8,276
    Total $29,604 $30,880
    Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated)
    $0-$30k $9,450 $9,857
    $30,001 - $48k $10,832 $11,299
    $48,001 - $75k $13,311 $13,885
    $75,001 - $110k $15,855 $16,538
    $110,001+ $16,132 $16,827
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks

    Fairbanks
    Year 2020-21 2021-22
    Tuition and Fees $7,176 $7,248
    Room and Board $10,540 $10,540
    Books $2,000 $2,000
    Other Expenses $2,650 $2,650
    Total $22,366 $22,438
    Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated)
    $0-$30k $7,394 $7,418
    $30,001 - $48k $5,850 $5,869
    $48,001 - $75k $9,916 $9,948
    $75,001 - $110k $16,373 $16,426
    $110,001+ $14,816 $14,864
  • University of Alaska Southeast

    Juneau
    Year 2020-21 2021-22
    Tuition and Fees $6,960 $6,960
    Room and Board $9,800 $9,800
    Books $1,400 $1,400
    Other Expenses $2,448 $2,448
    Total $20,608 $20,608
    Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated)
    $0-$30k $6,157 $6,157
    $30,001 - $48k $4,677 $4,677
    $48,001 - $75k $9,920 $9,920
    $75,001 - $110k $0 $0
    $110,001+ $13,457 $13,457

Private AK Schools Cost Breakdown

  • Alaska Pacific University

    Anchorage
    Year 2020-21 2021-22
    Tuition and Fees $20,760 $20,760
    Room and Board $8,300 $8,300
    Books $1,200 $1,200
    Other Expenses $4,410 $4,410
    Total $34,670 $34,670
    Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated)
    $0-$30k $20,463 $20,463
    $30,001 - $48k $20,490 $20,490
    $48,001 - $75k $19,601 $19,601
    $75,001 - $110k $23,212 $23,212
    $110,001+ $0 $0
 

View Other States

Select a state from the map below to view colleges in nearby states.

If you found the information of this page useful, subscribe to our podcast on iTunes or Stitcher. Get great information on all aspects of planning for college. We have interviews with experts, students and their stories, and the latest news in college admissions. Listen to each half-hour episode while you’re driving or working out. Use your favorite podcast app, iTunes, or listen directly at the website.