Founded in 1917, University of Alaska Fairbanks. is a Public college. Located in Alaska, which is a city setting in Alaska, the campus itself is Suburban. The campus is home to 7,162 full time undergraduate students, and 1,121 full time graduate students.
The University of Alaska Fairbanks Academic calendar runs on a Semester basis. In the school year the student to faculty ratio was 9:1. There are 357 full time instructional teachers. Degrees awarded at University of Alaska Fairbanks include: Bachelor's Degree, Masters Degree, Post-master's certificate, Doctor's degree.
Quick Facts
Acceptance Rate
73%
Application Deadline
Application Fee
50
SAT Range
950-1200
ACT Range
19-26
Admissions at UAF are considered Selective, with ,33% of all applicants being admitted.
In the school year, of the students who applied to the school, only 50 of those who were admitted eventually ended up enrolling.
61% of incoming freshmen are in the top half of their high school class. 34% were in the top quarter, and 14% were in the top tenth. You can apply online.
STUDENT LIFE Reviews
We asked, and students answered these important questions about student life at University of Alaska Fairbanks.
86 Students rated on-campus housing 3.5 stars. 13 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate off-campus housing?
77 Students rated off-campus housing 3.3 stars. 0 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate campus food?
98 Students rated campus food 2.8 stars. 8 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate campus facilities?
101 Students rated campus facilities 3.9 stars. 25 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate class size?
101 Students rated class size 4.1 stars. 37 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate school activities?
100 Students rated school activities 3.8 stars. 33 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate local services?
103 Students rated local services 3.8 stars. 33 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate academics?
101 Students rated academics 4.1 stars. 38 % gave the school a 5.0.
University of Alaska Fairbanks REVIEWS
What's your overall opinion of University of Alaska Fairbanks?
44 Students rated University of Alaska Fairbanks
Cajun
02/14/2025
I had an opportunity to visit the campus and talk to financial aid, SSS (Student Select Services), admissions counselors, a professor, and some students. They provided solid and strong conversations about any questions and concerns about living on campus and getting my degree. I had an opportunity to have a one-on-one conversation with one of the professors of Marine Science. She was kind and we talked about my plans and goals; during this conversation, she offered very kind advice and gave me hope that this is the campus I want to attend.
Jaylee
06/07/2024
My opinion of the University of Alaska is that everyone is heard. If there is a problem it gets solved! It is an amazing school with excellent professors. All students are able to be in a club or activity that suits their best interests for example I really enjoy sewing, and we have a sewing club! It's great!
Juliann
06/02/2024
I believe that UAF is a great school if you're goal oriented. There's plenty of friendly students to get to know, plenty of fun activities as well as holidays to celebrate with the Nanook family! They were very welcoming and helpful to new students, they have better housing options on campus than off campus. The professors are very involved with the success of the students that they work with. The students are very down to earth and care about their studies. The greek life is very involved with the success of their students. This school is very isolated from the rest of Alaska, but it is very valuable for research opportunities.
Solveig
04/17/2023
I enjoyed attending the University of Alaska Fairbanks. I did quite a few of my classes online. Most of them were very good. I feel that my degree programs at UAF, which were Paralegal Studies and Justice, prepared me well for my next step, which is law school. The food on campus was overpriced and not great. Also, freshmen who live in dorms are required to purchase a meal plan. I avoided living on campus for this reason. I lived off-campus, ate off-campus, and participated in a mixture of online and in-person classes. Overall, I had a very good experience. UAF is also relatively inexpensive, especially for residents of Alaska. I believe it is a good value school with good academic opportunities.
Katie
03/09/2023
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Tristian
12/28/2022
The UAF campus is welcoming and accommodating to out of state and/or visiting students. There are campus-wide events, a good selection of food, and on-campus housing was a positive experience. Fairbanks is a fun and beautiful city; you are not too far from more rural spots. Excellent school choice for a solid educational experience and to take advantage of what Alaska has to offer!
Blake
02/05/2020
Nice small school atmosphere and I always feel safe on campus. However, the food is not very good and you are forced to purchase a dinning plane even if you don't want one when you live on campus. The dinning plans they do have could be structured differently so as to not waste so much of the students money and they shouldn't change the rules in the middle of a semester. Overall I would recommend this school as there are some great opportunities available.
Grace
01/29/2020
Overall, UAF has many knowledgable professors, but there are only a select few that I have come across that will always be available and really want you to succeed in class and not simply take the class for credit. The food is pretty good, and there seem to be activities occurring most every week whether it's a play, concert, Pub Trivia, etc.
Georgia
12/18/2019
The University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) campus is a world-class higher education institution. My experience has been that UAF delivers a superior education and educational experience over other University of Alaska institutions due to its established campus. The UAF campus is home to top Engineering, Geology sciences in the nation. Other Schools within the UAF system deliver employable graduates who continue to perform high in their fields of study.
Another standout for UAF is their online learning programs. With electronic learning and distance education becoming standard deliveries of higher education, more people of all regions in Alaska can attend UAF. The learning reach of UAF Distance Education extends beyond Alaska to other States. Additionally, the online program that UAF provides is competitive with cutting edge technology of instructor to student interaction and real-time classroom exchange.
For students and families who desire on-campus life and learning, UAF is a well-established campus with state of the art facilities for research, arts, and life skills for the new college student. The UAF campus Security and an on-site Fire Station are embedded into and on the UAF campus. Student safety is high as is the education from UAF.
Serenity
09/09/2019
This university is truly terrible. Please, do not attend this university. Facility members of all sorts are sexually assaulting students, and when reported to the on campus police department, cops pat you on the back, sweep it under the rug and tell you to learn something. There's at least one suicide ON CAMPUS annually. The university use to be so involved with arts, being proud of their arts, now suddenly cutting it completely out basically for their "research", when none of the students have even been told what research. Just as of 2018-2019 a student fell from the 8th floor dorm window after being on drugs. And no one was held accountable, not even other students. Another student was raped by her RA and it resulted in her becoming pregnant. A young man named Ross jumped from the top of a popular campus building with a note literally stapled to his chest, right before the 2018 Fall semester was supposed to begin. Professors make the classes seem simple and ready to jump in the first two weeks, but after the withdrawal deadline they suddenly pull the rug and make the content 100% more difficult, impossible even. Students are not happy on this campus, not unless they're a favorite or were born in Fairbanks. The university will also try to give unreasonable fines and won't tell students why they are being fined.
When first attending, I thought this was normal. I thought "wow this is the real world guess I better buck up". But after leaving and attending other universes and speaking with other professors about the experience, they were even mortified.
Please, do not waste your time and money on this poor education system. And don't risk your safety.
Heather
07/30/2019
I love being a student at this college. Everyone is so friendly! The online classes are awesome and I haven’t had one professor that I didn’t like. They are always willing to help. The online classes are very well put together and easy to access. I love being an online student.
Ashley
07/10/2019
In my opinion, UAF is a good school to attend. I have had zero issues with students or staff. Hockey is a big deal up here though and I'm not a huge hockey fan. A car is recommended because the shops are not really in walking distance unless you really enjoy walking and remember to bundle up!
Amanda
06/13/2019
University of Alaska Fairbanks offers a unique experience for its student body. The extracurricular activities and clubs are interesting and exciting. The class sizes are smaller and more personal, allowing students to get to know the professor. The faculty are knowledgeable and always willing to help.
Alfredo
04/23/2019
I love it the staff and students are committed to helping out everyone to achieve the best possible education and learning. The cost is very efficient and everyone is very welcoming. I love the location of it and I feel safe. I would recommend to everyone who asks
Jasmine
04/16/2019
Personally, I would say avoid the school overall. UAA is way better than the piece of trash UAF has to offer. TA's rarely show during their hours, professors think 60% as a class average is really great, the people here are just arrogant. UAF is just the flagship, nothing else is special, its cold, filled with hate, and the campus is in a really dumb spot. Only good think about it is instate institution is fairly cheap(however, the fees are insane. $42 for a student government fee, I never seen the student government ever(and I've tried!)
The fall 2020 acceptance rate for University of Alaska Fairbanks is 73%. That means, out of _____ applications received in 2020, _____ students were offered admission.
What should every freshman at your school know before they start?
There isnt anything that I would change about transitioning to school. The only advice I would have given was to possibly have started searching for a job earlier.
What do you consider the worst thing about your school? Why?
The school itself is a wonderful school. They have great people, great students, and the energy level and livliness is great. However, the unfortunate thing about it is that Alaska has very cold weather, so when we have classes that are on upper campus and lower campus, it's hard to get back and forth. Sometimes you'll have to wait for the shuttle for a while or just walk, which is a little unfortunate.
What kind of person should not attend this school?
Someone who is not serious about getting an education should not attend this school. You must be willing to work hard, study hard, and be committed to your educational goals. You must have a strong sense of self and be willing to make sacrafices in order to be successful. You do not necessarily need to know what you want to be when you grow up, but you must grow up!
What's the one thing you wish someone had told you about freshman year?
Nothing really came as a shock to me coming to this school, especially with family having worked here before and friends attending the school before myself.
Describe how your school looks to someone who's never seen it.
The University of Alaska Fairbanks is disorientated, busy, expensive, and spread out, but in the end, I love their scenic views of the city and its "home-like" feel when you forget that you're in school away from your family and friends.
What's the most frustrating thing about your school?
The most frustrating thing about my school is that you have to walk to your classes. It's really cold out there! It's not so bad though, if you dress in layers you don't get quite so cold, and, if your class ends at the right time, you can catch a shuttle instead of having to walk. We also don't have very good parking. It's pretty much impossible to drive to class, because there's nowhere to park.
Here's your chance: Say anything about your college!
The University of Alaska Fairbanks is a small, friendly campus. Because of the location, it's a great place for people who are interested in Native Alaskan cultures and winter sports.
Someone that is native alaskan, or an athelete should attend this school. By being an athelete there are things to do and opporunities to leave the state and the campus and experience other things. Being alaskan native means that person is used to the climate and how rural Fairbanks is.
What is the stereotype of students at your school? Is this stereotype accurate?
A common stereotype of students at the University of Alaska Fairbanks is that they are scholastic. Many students take their studies seriously and are very into research. We do have some stoners/partiers, but they often quit coming back to school after the first two years or less. We have a few honor societies at UAF and many student organizations and clubs. Students are also very active and outdoorsy.
One of the best features of UAF is that the school itself is constantly evolving. The campus is growing to allow for more students and faculty; however, I feel that the campus is just about the right size. While the university offers shuttles around campus it is easily walked on any given day. Going to school in Alaska brings new adventures on a regular basis. The weather can be a challenge, the wildlife can be intimidating, but the education I have recieved cannot compare to any other. UAF is located in the second largest city in Alaska; Fairbanks. This city is also home to a large military base, and a short drive to the North Pole which houses a large airforce base. While the atmosphere near campus does adhere to a college town, the rest of the city is based on a professional standard. UAF is unique because of its geographical location. It allows students and faculty to study things in the field that cannot be studied in other parts of the country. The weather also offers it's own unique perspective; negative temperatures can be one of the largest complaints from new students. Thankfully, UAF is so beautiful and offers so many educational venues that most decide it is worth the cold for a chance to learn here. I will always remember the first time I walked out of my apartment on a brisk fall day to find three moose standing in my yard. It was thrilling and terrifying all at once. Just another adventure at UAF.
Academics are good, but it is hit or miss with professors. Professors do try to know all of the student's names and i think they do a very good job, but if you want the professor to know your name all you have to do is take the time to talk to them a few times and show interest in their class. My favorite class was a Journalism television production class. I had a really incredible professor and we learned all about broadcasting news. The whole class was like a hands on lab, we didn't even have a text book! Students study often. There are always a bunch of people in the library at all hours which is nice because you know you aren't alone if you are working late trying to finish something. Education is definitely geared towards getting a job, which is excellent because that's what all of us want in the end. There are a ton of great opportunities to get experience for when you are looking for a job. For example the head of the Comm Department sent me this application, which is really great to build more job experience. I am a Communication major and i really enjoy it. I haven't had a bad Comm professor yet.
What are the most popular student activities/groups?
Sports are always a crowd pleaser, yet here at UAF many artistic venues can draw in large crowds as well. The Fairbanks community is heavily involved with the university and supports the activities that are hosted here. Alaskan Native artwork, tribal dances, and talks are always heavily attended by students, faculty, and the community. I am currently involved with the developement of a joint program between the ROTC and the Communication Department. This program will benifit troops that are currently deployed. Students at UAF do not typically leave there doors open for fear that they will freeze that way. Do not let this fool you; the campus is very freindly and most people do not lock their doors. Many students take advantage of the on campus Pub or "The Tilly". Both are located only a few footsteps from the doorms and offer gathering places and food. The Pub also has live music and other entertainment as well as local brews. Fairbanks has an array local eateries, outdoor and indoor activities, and on clear night the Northern Lights are amazing, Because not everyone feels that the risk of frostbite is worth a good time, the communicty offers other activities. Such as; roller derby for women, ice hocky for men and women, in addition to semi-professional and professional teams.
My classes are fun and challenging. Like many other Universities, some students don't look at the classes they take as beneficial or challenging. They sometimes do the bare minimum. At UAF professors challenge students and students who respond to those challenges get a lot out of the courses. The atmosphere in UAF classes are fun and exciting because we are always learning and helping each other with projects and assignments.
All students must apply yearly for financial aid. This process starts with the FAFSA.
Though financial aid deadlines vary by school, it is a good idea to apply as soon as possible. For the upcoming school year, you can apply as early as October 1 for the FAFSA. Additional school aid will be dependent on the FAFSA results.
84% of students attending University of Alaska Fairbanks receive some sort of financial aid.
27% were awarded federal grants.30%received federal loans. Many students do also need to apply for additional private student loans.