Obtaining a degree through one of Alaska's online colleges can help you be prepared to meet this need for higher-skill jobs — whether you live in one of the larger cities or if you're in a more remote area. Another benefit to attending an online college in Alaska is more immediate: you can earn an associate, bachelor's, or master's degree while continuing to work and/or take care of your family.
Here's an overview of online education opportunities in Alaska.
The Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education (ACPE) promotes access to and success in education beyond high school. Online students may take advantage of its education planning tools and resources.
For more information on the best online colleges in Alaska, read on. You can also learn about scholarships and loans that may be available to eligible Alaskan applicants.
The team here at OnlineColleges.com has compiled a range of rankings for the best online schools in Alaska, in order to help students select an online college based on the criteria that matters to them. Every school in the following rankings has been accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting body, such as the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) or the Alaska Department of Education. Visit our "What is College Accreditation?" page to learn more about the importance of attending an accredited college or university, or visit the Alaska Department of Education for state-specific accreditation information.
Online students in Alaska can use these rankings to help them learn about the online colleges in their state and make an informed decision about which they want to attend. Browse these rankings to compare many key data points, such as the number of online programs offered, graduation rate, tuition costs and more. Students can read about why each of these factors are important for distance learners by visiting the "What Makes a Good Online College?" section on our "About Us" page.
When you have distance learning available to you, any college, no matter how far away physically, can be within your reach. Of course it's wonderful to have such freedom, but it can also make it difficult to decide which school to pick. To help with your decision, we have ranked the five best online Alaska colleges offering online programs, using data from the National Center for Education Statistics and our unique methodology. What constitutes "best" depends on the needs of each specific student Top Colleges Tool can help you with that), but to start off your research, we offer you our list of the best online colleges in Alaska.
What is UAF like?
The University of Alaska Fairbanks is well-known for its research focus, particularly on climate change and the northern environment around it. Being only 200 miles away from the Arctic circle, UAF is also home to the Institute of Arctic Biology, the International Arctic Research Center and the Institute of Marine Science, among others. UAF is the state's only sea, space and land grant university, as well as the University of Alaska System's flagship campus.
What online programs are at UAF?
Online classes at UAF are delivered using the Blackboard learning platform. Undergraduates can earn certificates, occupational endorsements, associate degrees and bachelor's degrees. Graduate students can pursue master's degrees.
One noteworthy option for distance learning is UAF's Master of Business Administration, with a concentration in STEM with a focus on fisheries, marine biology and oceanography. The school's location and reputation add to the credibility of this program, and its uniqueness can make it hard to find a similar concentration anywhere else.
What online resources does UAF offer?
Students taking UAF's online courses typically qualify for in-state tuition rates, even if they live outside of Alaska. Distance learners completing occupational endorsements for skills like medical billing and administrative assistance may even be eligible for further reduced rates.
What is UAS like?
Established in 1987 and based in Juneau, the University of Alaska Southeast is the smallest of the three major schools in the University of Alaska System. UAS is known for its maritime studies and community engagement. Despite being a relatively small public school, UAS offers a solid list of online programs to widen the reach of the school's educational offerings.
UAS maintains partnerships with institutions such as the University of Alaska Fairbanks School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences and the Spatial Ecosystem Analysis Lab (SEALAB) to facilitate collaborative research ventures in the surrounding areas.
What online programs are at UAS?
Online programs at UAS can be taken to earn occupational endorsements, degrees and certificates.
Worth noting are the programs that teach Alaska native languages and studies, as they are relatively unique offerings. UAS also lists online occupational endorsement and certificate programs in salmon enhancement, as well as an associate degree in fisheries technology, under a field of research called fisheries pathways.
What online resources does UAS offer?
Like other schools in the University of Alaska System, UAS uses Blackboard as its online learning platform. Another internet-based portal called UASConnect is offered by the school to connect outside of classes through video sessions, virtual study groups and other peer activities among both on-campus and online students.
What is UAA like?
Established as Anchorage Community College in 1954, the University of Alaska Anchorage is now the largest higher education institution in the University of Alaska System, as well as in the entire state. As a public research university, UAA students and faculty participate in the school's Arctic Initiative through taking and contributing to Arctic studies and coursework.
What online programs are at UAA?
Unlike other universities in the state System, UAA does not offer any distinctive online program based on Arctic research it participates in. Instead, the focus of the majority of distance education programs at UAA is healthcare and its related disciplines. UAA is the only school in the University of Alaska System to offer online baccalaureate and post-baccalaureate programs in nursing.
Blackboard is the online learning portal of choice for UAA. Most programs facilitated through it are 100 percent online, with a few exceptions. UAA's online master's degree programs in public health practice and social work have on-site course requirements, as do a few other options.
What online resources does UAA offer?
Online tutoring through a partnership with Tutor.com is available seven days a week. UAA also provides video tutorials through Hoonuit via Blackboard to explain and teach students how to use technology and applications needed for distance learning, including Adobe Acrobat, Google Apps for Educations, Office 365 and Blackboard.
On top of services available to the entire student body, such as career development and financial aid assistance, UAA offers specific resources for online students. The school has an online newsletter called eLearning eXpress, which disseminates distance learning-related information such as important dates and campus events.
Whether you live far from urban centers or are a resident of Fairbanks or Anchorage, you're probably looking for affordable and flexible degree program options. The following colleges offer students just that. This list of affordable online colleges in Alaska includes information on tuition costs as well as the number and type of online programs offered.
Tuition cost and affordability is a concern for students all over the United States, and Alaska is no exception. Fortunately, financial aid can help to ease the price of college, especially in the form of grants -- which are awarded based on need -- and scholarships -- which are awarded based on merit. It's important to seek out and apply for financial aid that could be of use to you, in order to mitigate the net costs of your education as much as possible.
Browse some of the financial aid options for students studying in Alaska in the tables below. For more information on how to apply to grants or scholarships, see our articles the Ultimate Guide to Grants and the Ultimate Guide to Scholarships.
Alaska offers its students two supplemental education loan options through the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education (ACPE). The state is committed to providing rates exactly as they are advertised and promises to lower costs whenever it is possible. They also pride themselves on their customer service, provided by Alaska-based agents, and the fact that their loans have a lower interest rate than the Federal PLUS loan.
Learn more about student loans of all types in the Ultimate Guide to Student Loans.
If you want to study in Alaska but don't already live there, you could find yourself paying non-resident tuition rates. Even if you're relocating for a job and plan to permanently settle in the state, it can take two years before you qualify for in-state tuition through public institutions like the University of Alaska.
However, you may be able to minimize the amount of out-of-state tuition you have to pay. In-state rates may be extended to students who fall into one of the following categories:
The Western Undergraduate Exchange can also reduce costs for some out-of-state students studying in Alaska Through the exchange, students in 16 Western states and territories can study in an another participating state for a rate that is no more than 150 percent of in-state tuition.
If you're worried about affording non-resident tuition rates in Alaska, talk to your school's admissions and financial aid office. There may be scholarships available to offset the cost of out-of-state tuition.
You can read more about tuition assistance programs for out-of-state students in Alaska at these links:
Online students in Alaska have many different career paths from which to choose, from traditional industries such as oil and gas production to emerging industries such as renewable energy. Students can use the data in the following section to compare statewide employment, job projections and average salaries for many of the most in demand jobs in Alaska. Using this data can help students narrow down their career choices prior to enrolling in online colleges in Alaska.
| Employment | Employment Growth | Median High School Salary | Median Bachelor's Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 332,280 | 5.1% | $35,939 | $57,335 |
*Industry rankings determined by annual mean wage, employment, projected growth and location quotient. Data sourced from the BLS, 2019 dataset.
| Top Industries | Employment | Projected Growth | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ambulatory healthcare services | 224,050 | 7% | $68,689 |
| Hospitals; state, local, and private | 249,120 | 7% | $68,415 |
| Educational services; state, local, and private | 281,730 | 5% | $66,961 |
| Nursing and residential care facilities | 212,020 | 9% | $63,709 |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 259,200 | 5% | $64,875 |
| Support activities for mining | 134,250 | 4% | $72,209 |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 262,300 | 5% | $64,788 |
| Petroleum and coal products manufacturing | 120,010 | 4% | $74,147 |
| Social assistance | 235,200 | 7% | $62,956 |
| Chemical manufacturing | 163,830 | 4% | $70,321 |
Any conversation about high demand careers in Alaska should include discussion of the state's oil and gas industry. It's the largest segment of Alaska's economy, with oil revenues accounting for about 85 percent of the state's annual budget.
The 800-mile long Trans Alaska Pipeline Systems moves oil from Prudhoe Bay in the north to the port town of Valdez on the eastern side of Prince William Sound. The industry employs a diverse range of workers, so careers that focus on petroleum manufacturing, management, or ancillary professional and technical support positions are among the many good jobs to have in Alaska. The industry also requires additional skilled workers in the field of chemical manufacturing to support oil production by making new catalysts or polymers that can help increase oil production.
Other leading economic drivers in the state include agriculture, timber production, fishing, tourism and mining. Support activities for mining, in particular, could be one potential avenue of employment for graduates of online colleges in Alaska who earn degrees in geology or professional careers such as accounting, law, engineering, data research and other related occupations.
Despite having the lowest population density of any state in the U.S., Alaska offers some of the highest salaries for teachers -- annual mean wages for elementary and middle school teachers in 2018 was around $75,000, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports. Education supports several of the most needed jobs in Alaska, such as healthcare, management and engineering. However, similarly to many other states, Alaska is suffering from a teacher shortage. These appealing salaries are one of the ways the state is working to alleviate the need for educators in Alaska.
In the section that follows, we'll take a closer look at some of the most in-demand careers for Alaska's two largest metro areas.
Anchorage is the largest population center in Alaska, with more than 291,000 people residing in in Anchorage County in 2018. Four hospitals serve the region, providing ample employment opportunities for skilled healthcare workers. Physician assistants are among the most high demand jobs at Alaska Regional Hospital and Providence Alaska Medical Center, Anchorage's two largest healthcare facilities.
Though construction accounts for a modest portion of Anchorage's total economic composition, there's strong demand for civil engineers and construction managers in the region, especially to meet the needs of the petroleum industry. It therefore makes sense that petroleum engineers are another of the high paying jobs in Anchorage.
| Best Careers | Minimum Education | Average Salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petroleum Engineers | Bachelor's degree | $151,040 | 480 |
| Physician Assistants | Master's degree | $126,910 | 280 |
| Civil Engineers | Bachelor's degree | $105,680 | 940 |
| Massage Therapists | Postsecondary nondegree award | $76,930 | 420 |
| Construction Managers | Bachelor's degree | $102,630 | 760 |
*Career rankings determined by annual mean wage, employment, projected growth and location quotient. Data sourced from the BLS, 2019 dataset.
The Kinross Gold Fort Knox mine located 25 miles northeast of Fairbanks is a major employer in the region with hundreds of employees and additional on-site contractors. Expansion projects at the mine, along with new construction in the Fairbanks region itself, require skilled construction managers, operating engineers and heavy equipment operators. And though the education sector is under-served across the state, kindergarten teachers are particularly high demand jobs in Fairbanks.
| Best Careers | Minimum Education | Average Salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical and Health Services Managers | Bachelor's degree | $127,390 | 110 |
| General and Operations Managers | Bachelor's degree | $94,590 | 670 |
| Construction Managers | Bachelor's degree | $99,870 | 190 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | High school diploma or equivalent | $70,020 | 290 |
*Career rankings determined by annual mean wage, employment, projected growth and location quotient. Data sourced from the BLS, 2019 dataset.