University of Alaska Fairbanks

A College Experience Near the Arctic Circle

Only 200 miles from the Arctic Circle, the University of Alaska Fairbanks immerses students in the splendor of the Far North, both inside the classroom and beyond. It is the flagship campus of Alaska's university system and its leading research and teaching university.

The University of Alaska Fairbanks, also known as UAF, is the size of a small college in comparison to huge state universities outside Alaska. UAF has 9,500 undergraduates and only 11,000 students overall. The small size gives students the opportunity for one-on-one interaction with professors.

UAF offers degrees from art to health sciences, but its Arctic location allows for programs found nowhere else. The study of polar ice, arctic wildlife, cold-climate engineering and the boreal forest system are just some of the subjects to be found in the UAF curriculum.

A Small University With a Unique History

The college began as the Alaska Agricultural College and School of Mining in 1922. Only six students were in the college's inaugural class and its first commencement consisted of a single graduate.

Like Alaska itself, the university grew in numbers, but the overall population remained low. It wasn't until 1981 that the University of Alaska Fairbanks grew to more than 5,000 students.

A Land, Sea, and Space Institution

The university prides itself for being one of the few grant institutions involving land, sea, and space. The school got its start through a government land-grant program for colleges in the early 1900s. The federal government named the school an ocean research grant institution in 1980 and a space research grant center in 1991.

Alaskan Wilderness for Learning and Recreation

The Alaskan wilderness is both a learning site and recreational playground for UAF students. The university's main campus is located on 2,200 acres in Fairbanks. The college also has community campuses in remote parts of Alaska, including Bethel and Nome, amid more than 360 million acres of wilderness.

Its outdoor adventures recreational program offers guide-led access to Alaska's rivers, glaciers, hiking trails, and wildlife. The program also rents outdoor equipment cheaper than can be found commercially.

Summer expeditions include wilderness backpacking, white river rafting, and rock climbing. Examples of winter activities are snowshoeing, dog mushing, ice climbing, and cross-country skiing.

Diversity of Degree Programs for Undergraduates

The university has 8 schools and colleges that together offer 200 degrees and certificates. Among them are the School of Education, the School of Management, the College of Engineering and Mines, and the College of Rural and Community Development.

Entering students complete a core curriculum of liberal arts studies before entering a major program at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Core classes include academic writing, science, and mathematics.

More than fifty percent of undergraduates at UAF are from Alaska. The school also attracts students from throughout the United States and nearly 50 countries.

A Curriculum from Art to Interdisciplinary Studies

UAF undergraduates earn bachelor's degrees in fields such as biological sciences, business, elementary education, mechanical engineering, computer science, and journalism. Other majors at UAF include art and emergency management.

Some programs are offered only as minors but give students the opportunity to expand interests. Examples are global studies, leadership and civic engagement, arctic skills, and aviation technology.

In addition, an interdisciplinary studies program is available to students who wish to pursue a course of study outside of established majors.

Programs in Eskimo Language and Russian Studies

The university also is devoted to the unique features of the polar north, its inhabitants, and history. Degrees in Alaskan native languages, rural development, and resource management are offered at UAF.

For instance, undergraduates can pursue degrees in Yup'ik, an Eskimo language. Other BA programs such as Russian studies are related to Alaska's geographical and ethnic heritage. Academic fields at UAF, including fisheries and mining engineering, are enriched by the proximity of the state's abundant resources.

State's Leading Research Institution

The University of Alaska Fairbanks is the state's leading research institution with more than $114 million in annual expenditures. Its emphasis is on the circumpolar north and the region's challenges and opportunities, such as climate change and resource management.

UAF is home to more than a dozen research centers. Undergraduate students have the opportunity to join research projects that may take them to Alaskan rivers, glaciers, mountains, and forests.

A University-Owned Rocket Range

The university's Geophysical Institute includes the Poker Flat Research Range, the only university-owned rocket range in the world. The Poker Flat Research Range launches sounding rockets for atmospheric research under contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Other important research centers include UAF's Institute of Arctic Biology, the site of studies on arctic climate change and wildlife, and the Institute of Northern Engineering, which explores engineering vital to cold regions.

The Gateway to Spectacular Natural Resources, Northern Lights

Fairbanks is located about 350 miles north of Anchorage in the interior region of Alaska. With a population of 35,000, Fairbanks is Alaska's largest interior city, nestled in the central Tanana Valley.

Fairbanks is a gateway to the spectacular natural resources of Alaska. These natural features draw tourists and adventurers from around the world. The glow of the aurora borealis, called the Northern Lights, can be seen in Fairbanks nearly 200 days each year.

In addition, the city is within easy access of the Yukon River and Denali National Park.

• Area and ethnic studies
• Russian Studies
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Area Studies Related
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• American Indian/Native American Studies
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Biological/life sciences
• Biology/Biological Sciences
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Business/marketing
• Business Administration and Management
  Associate Degree offered for this major. Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Accounting
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Accounting Technology and Bookkeeping
  Associate Degree offered for this major.
• Human Resources Management
  Associate Degree offered for this major. Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Construction Management
  Associate Degree offered for this major.
• Communication/Journalism
• Speech Communication and Rhetoric
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Journalism
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Computer and information sciences
• Computer and Information Sciences
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Computer Science
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Construction trades
• Carpentry
  Associate Degree offered for this major.
• Education
• Education
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Elementary Education
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Early Childhood Education
  Associate Degree offered for this major.
• Teacher Assistant/Aide
  Associate Degree offered for this major.
• Engineering
• Engineering
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Civil Engineering
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Computer Engineering
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Electrical and Electronics Engineering
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Mechanical Engineering
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Mining and Mineral Engineering
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Petroleum Engineering
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Industrial Engineering
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Geological/Geophysical Engineering
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Engineering technologies
• Industrial Production Technologies Related
  Associate Degree offered for this major.
• Mining and Petroleum Technologies Related
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Drafting and Design Technology
  Associate Degree offered for this major.
• English
• English
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Family and consumer sciences
• Child Development
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Child-Care Provision
  Associate Degree offered for this major.
• Foreign languages and literature
• Foreign Languages and Literatures
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Linguistics
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Japanese
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• American Indian/Native American Languages
  Associate Degree offered for this major. Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Foreign Languages Related
  Associate Degree offered for this major. Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Health professions and related sciences
• Dental Assisting
  Associate Degree offered for this major.
• Dental Hygiene
  Associate Degree offered for this major.
• Medical/Clinical Assistant
  Associate Degree offered for this major.
• Clinical/Medical Laboratory Assistant
  Associate Degree offered for this major.
• Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions Related
  Associate Degree offered for this major.
• Public Health
  Associate Degree offered for this major.
• History
• History
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting, and protective services
• Corrections and Criminal Justice Related
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Fire Science/Firefighting
  Associate Degree offered for this major.
• Crisis/Emergency/Disaster Management
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Interdisciplinary studies
• Biological and Physical Sciences
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Natural Sciences
  Associate Degree offered for this major.
• Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies Related
  Associate Degree offered for this major. Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Law/legal studies
• Legal Assistant/Paralegal
  Associate Degree offered for this major.
• Liberal arts/general studies
• Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies
  Associate Degree offered for this major. Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• General Studies
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Mathematics and statistics
• Mathematics
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Applied Mathematics
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Mechanic and repair technologies
• Computer Installation and Repair Technology
  Associate Degree offered for this major.
• Aircraft Powerplant Technology
  Associate Degree offered for this major.
• Natural resources/environmental science
• Natural Resources Management and Policy
  Associate Degree offered for this major.
• Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Wildlife, Fish and Wildlands Science and Management
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Natural Resources and Conservation Related
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Personal and culinary services
• Culinary Arts
  Associate Degree offered for this major.
• Philosophy and religious studies
• Philosophy
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Physical sciences
• Chemistry
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Geology/Earth Science
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Physics
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Physics Related
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Psychology
• Psychology
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Public administration and social services
• Community Organization and Advocacy
  Associate Degree offered for this major. Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Social Work
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Science technologies
• Science Technologies Related
  Associate Degree offered for this major.
• Social sciences
• Anthropology
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Economics
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Geography
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Political Science and Government
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Sociology
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Transportation and materials moving
• Airline Pilot and Flight Crew
  Associate Degree offered for this major.
• Visual and performing arts
• Theater Design and Technology
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Film/Cinema/Video Studies
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Art
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.
• Music
  Bachelor's Degree offered for this major.

• Acceptance Rate
• Applied1,541
• Accepted1,163
• Acceptance Rate75%
• Enrolled8,131
• Female Applicants804
• Females Accepted609
• Female Acceptance Rate75%
• Male Applicants737
• Males Accepted554
• Male Acceptance Rate75%
• Applying
• Application Fee$50
• Required for All Transcript of high school record
  Minimum high school GPA of 2.5
  
• Required for Some
• Average high school GPA for first-year freshman3.15
• Application Deadlines
• Type Application Closing Notification Date Rolling Admissions
• Fall freshmen July 1st --
• Out-of-state Fall freshmen July 1st --
• Early decision plan Not Reported
• Other early decision plan Not Reported
• Transfer July 1st --
• Test Scores Accepted
• Test Average School Accepted 25th Percentile* 75th Percentile*
• SAT Critical Reading 530 470 590
• SAT Math 522 450 590
• SAT Writing 498 440 560
• ACT Composite 22 18 25
• * 25th and 75th percentile is the score that 25/75 percent of students score at or below.

• Tuition
• In-state tuition *$5,580
• Out-of-state tuition *$18,270
• In-district tuitionNot Reported
• * Tuition costs are based on a full academic year typically extending from September to June.
• Fees
• Full-time student feesNot Reported
• Room and board *$7,200.00
• Room only *$3,680.00
• * Room and board charges vary according to board plan selected (i.e., 12-meal plan, 19-meal plan, etc.) and student level (freshman, sophomore, etc.)
• Other Payment Considerations
• Guaranteed tuition plan offeredNo
• Tuition pre-payment planNo
• Tuition payment plans offeredDeferred paymentsDeferred payments and Installments
• Student groups that qualify for full or partial waiver of tuitionChildren of Alumni, Employees or children of employees, Senior Citizens

• Gender
• Total Undergraduate Students8,131
• Male Student Percentage42%
• Female Student Percentage58%
• Ethnicity
• Hispanic/Latino3.47%
• Black or African American1.81%
• White or Caucasian33.72%
• American Indian or Alaska Native9.59%
• Asian.95%
• Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander.15%
• Two or more races3%
• Unknown17.34%
• Other Student Statistics
• International Breakout1.3% representing 49 other countries
• Out-of-state Students12% out-of-state student

• Housing
• College-owned housing available Yes
• Housing Requirements Not Reported
• Housing options Coed housing , Special housing for disabled
• Percentage of undergraduate students who live in college-owned housing 24%
• Student Activities
• Student-run campus newspaper Yes
• Drama / theater group Yes
• Student-run radio station Yes
• Student-run television station Yes
• Marching band No
• Choral groups Yes
• Student Services
• Legal services Yes
• Health clinic Yes
• Personal / psychological counseling Yes
• Women's center Yes
• Student Organizations
• Greek fraternities Yes
• Greek sororities Yes
• Local fraternities No
• Local sororities No
• Other organizations Not Reported
• Most popular organizations Alpha Phi Omega, Festival of Native Arts, Socratic Society, Parkour and Free Running Club, Gay-Straight Alliance
• Campus Security and Safety
• 24-hour emergency telephone / alarm services Yes
• 24-hour patrols by trained officers Yes
• Students patrols Yes
• Late-night transport / escort services Yes
• Electronically-operated dormitory entrances Yes
• Other ID check at door of residence halls, crime prevention and safety workshops

• Men's Sports
• Sport Intramural Intercollegiate Scholarship
• Archery Yes No No
• Badmington Yes No No
• Basketball Yes Division 2 Yes
• Cross-country running Yes Division 2 Yes
• Fencing Yes No No
• Ice hockey Yes Division 1 Yes
• Rifle Yes Division 2 Yes
• Rugy Yes No No
• Skiing Yes No No
• Skiing (cross-country) Yes Division 2 Yes
• Soccer Yes No No
• Swimming Yes No No
• Tennis Yes No No
• Volleyball No No No
• Women's Sports
• Sport Intramural Intercollegiate Scholarship
• Archery Yes No No
• Badmington Yes No No
• Basketball Yes Division 2 Yes
• Cross-country running Yes Division 2 Yes
• Fencing Yes No No
• Ice hockey Yes No No
• Rifle Yes Division 2 Yes
• Rugy Yes No No
• Skiing Yes No No
• Skiing (cross-country) Yes Division 2 Yes
• Soccer Yes No No
• Swimming Yes Division X Yes
• Tennis Yes No No
• Volleyball Yes Division 2 Yes

• Faculty Breakout
• Total Faculty1,060
• Full-time Percentage32%
• Part-time Percentage68%
• Female Percentage46%
• Male Percentage54%
• Student:Faculty Ratio11:1 or 6,688 students to 597 faculty