Cost of college in Alaska
In-state tuition at a public 4-year college in Alaska averages $8,000 a year, or $13,510 as a real net price after aid. Graduates earn a median $50,484 and owe about $20,157. The net price pays back in about 6.2 years.
How Alaska compares to the US
Alaska ranks #41 of 51 for public in-state tuition (#1 is the most expensive), and #39 of 51 for graduate earnings. It ranks #39 of 51 for payback, where #1 is the fastest.
| Metric | Alaska | US average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition | $8,000 | $9,518 | -$1,518 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $21,447 | $23,652 | -$2,205 |
| Net price after aid | $13,510 | $13,788 | -$278 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs out | $50,484 | $56,427 | -$5,943 |
| Median debt at graduation | $20,157 | $17,856 | +$2,301 |
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education, 2026 release. Public 4-year institutions, aggregated to the state level and enrollment-weighted.
Does a degree in Alaska pay for itself?
Payback is the ROI figure this index adds: the years the college earnings premium takes to recoup the net price. A public 4-year degree in Alaska costs about $54,040 over four years at net price, and recoups in about 6.2 years from the roughly $8,684-a-year premium graduates earn over a high-school graduate (a $41,800 baseline). That ranks #39 of 51 states and DC for payback. See the methodology for how it is built.
Private nonprofit 4-year colleges in Alaska list about $20,210 in tuition and net out to about $21,411 after aid.
Frequently asked questions
How much does college cost in Alaska?
At a public 4-year college in Alaska, in-state tuition and fees average about $8,000 a year and out-of-state runs about $21,447. The net price after grants and scholarships, which also covers living costs, averages about $13,510. The national figures are $9,518 in-state and $13,788 net price.
What do college graduates in Alaska earn and owe?
Ten years after starting, students from Alaska's public 4-year colleges earn a median of about $50,484 a year and carry a median federal debt of about $20,157 at graduation, against a national median of $56,427 earnings and $17,856 debt.
Is college worth it in Alaska?
A public 4-year degree in Alaska costs about $54,040 over four years at net price and recoups in about 6.2 years from the roughly $8,684-a-year premium graduates earn over a high-school graduate (a $41,800 baseline). Nationally the payback is about 3.8 years.