Colleges in Alaska: Universities, Trade and Technical Schools

Alaska Colleges Summary

Alaska offers more than phenomenal views of the Northern Lights and the excitement of the Iditarod dog races. There are many opportunities to pursue higher education at colleges in Alaska. The public University of Alaska System provides campus-based education at sites like Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau, but also distance learning through UAOnline — for two- and four-year degree programs. Students looking for community colleges in Alaska can also find information from the University of Alaska System about programs for obtaining vocational certificates and associate degrees.

Education Initiatives in Alaska

To support indigenous cultures in Alaska, the Consortium of Alaska Native Higher Education was formed. This consortium provides resources for native students, including cultural information and studies that could be of interest to them. Furthermore, Alaska Can! is an initiative geared toward all students to help increase the number of adults pursuing some form of higher education. In fact, a state goal is to have 65 percent of all adults have some type of higher education by 2025. A nonprofit group has been created to help build partnerships in the state to increase opportunities for students at Alaska colleges.

Alaska Colleges and Universities: A Few Highlights

The University of Alaska at Anchorage is the largest institution among the public universities in Alaska. Students can find a wide variety of programs here, including in the sciences. Of note, a 2014 alumnus recently had a journal article published about her research on the diets of wolves in Lake Clark National Park and Preserve in Alaska. Prince Williams Sound College, in Valdez, is a small, two-year school. It has no out-of-state tuition for students, who include online and international learners. It also offers unique programs, such as an Associate of Applied Science in Outdoor Leadership. Alaska Pacific University is an example of a private school in the state that is focused on experiential learning. Two of its bachelor's degree programs are focused on outdoors studies and sustainability studies.

For more details on public institutions of higher education in Alaska, see http://www.alaska.edu/alaska/

Sources:

• About Prince William Sound College, Prince William Sound College, Accessed March 2018, https://pwsc.alaska.edu/about/index.cshtml
• Alaska's Largest University, University of Alaska at Anchorage, Accessed March 2018, https://www.uaa.alaska.edu/
• Alaska Pacific University, Alaska Pacific University, Accessed March 2018, https://www.alaskapacific.edu/
• University of Alaska System, University of Alaska System, Accessed March 2018, http://www.alaska.edu/alaska/