Public
Accredited · Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Anchorage, Alaska
66.5% Acceptance Rate
University of Alaska Anchorage — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
66.5%Acceptance Rate
3.39Avg GPA
$21,848Annual Cost
$51,871Grad Salary
19.1%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
66.5%
Avg GPA
3.39
Selectivity
Somewhat Selective
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
SAT Middle 50%
-40–30
Avg Net Price
$13,780
Need-Based Aid
19.1% receive Pell
University of Alaska Anchorage is the state's largest university and a hub for Arctic research, health sciences, and engineering programs. UAA serves Alaska's diverse population through multiple campus locations.
The 400-acre main campus includes the Alaska Native Science & Engineering Program (ANSEP) facility, health sciences simulation labs, and the new Engineering and Industry Building. The university's research addresses critical Arctic and subarctic challenges.
University of Alaska Anchorage Acceptance Rate
At 66.5%, admission to University of Alaska Anchorage is achievable for most students who meet the basic academic profile.
What UAA Admissions Looks For
- Whole-Person Review: Personal circumstances and career goals are weighed alongside grades.
- Flexible on GPA: Strong extracurriculars or work experience can offset an average transcript.
Selectivity at a Glance
Somewhat Selective
Selectivity scale: Somewhat Selective — 66.5% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.39 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.19 – 3.38
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 2.94
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
University of Alaska Anchorage Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Mark November 1 for University of Alaska Anchorage (International — other plans are listed below).
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 95 days left — International
International
November 1
Regular (term-based)
November 15
Regular (term-based)
May 1
International
June 1
Regular (term-based)
July 15
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
UAA GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at UAA is 3.39. That makes admissions here competitive, but not extremely selective. Most admitted students carry a mix of A's and B's.
In the 3.09–3.39 range, a high SAT or ACT score still carries real weight.
Note the scale: this figure reflects an unweighted 4.0 GPA. Add AP or IB coursework and the equivalent weighted GPA usually lands around 3.59–3.79.UAA GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Admission here leans heavily on holistic review.
Recommended Strategy: Leans on context — leadership, personal circumstances, or a standout talent.
This range is a rough map — where you land determines what else needs to carry weight in your application:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.39 – 4.00
Strategic Reach
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.19 – 3.38
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
2.99 – 3.18
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 2.98
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- No essay, recommendation letters, or SAT/ACT scores required for general undergraduate admission; selective programs (Nursing, Western exchange medical program, certain allied health fields) have separate, additional requirements.
- Home to the only FAA-approved collegiate flight training program in Alaska and the state's only medical school pathway (WWAMI, in partnership with University of Washington, Alaska residents only).
- Acceptance rate clusters between roughly 60% and 67% across recent cycles and sources; largest university in the Alaska system with about two-thirds of all University of Alaska System students.
- Operates four distinct community campuses beyond Anchorage (Kenai Peninsula, Kodiak, Matanuska-Susitna, Prince William Sound), each serving specific regional populations.
- Rigor Over Raw Number: Course rigor is read alongside the number itself — a 3.8 with a demanding schedule can beat a 4.0 without one.
- Trajectory Matters: Grades that climb toward graduation tend to matter more than a flat average — the trajectory tells its own story.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at UAA
Admission Chance Predictor
Built from University of Alaska Anchorage's own verified admissions data — adjust the sliders below
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
⚠️ Note: Predicting based on regional averages as this institution does not publicly report full score datasets.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) Test Requirements
Scores aren't just a formality at UAA — landing within or above the 2026 admitted class's middle 50% keeps you fully competitive, even where submission is optional.
Can I Get Into UAA Without SAT or ACT?
UAA neither requires nor recommends test scores. Submit yours only if it's above the state or national average — otherwise, leaving it off works in your favor.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for UAA
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Getting into UAA isn't the hard part — building a solid academic foundation and securing aid early is where the real strategy lives.
For aspiring pilots, treat UAA's flight program as a one-of-a-kind in-state option
UAA hosts the only FAA-approved collegiate flight training program in the state of Alaska - a genuine structural exclusivity, not just a strong offering among several options. For Alaska-based or Alaska-bound aviation students, frame this explicitly as a reason to consider UAA over out-of-state alternatives, since no other in-state collegiate program offers equivalent FAA-approved training.
For pre-med Alaska residents, build the WWAMI pathway into the plan from the start
UAA hosts Alaska's only medical school pathway through the WWAMI program (a partnership with the University of Washington School of Medicine), which exclusively accepts Alaska residents and includes a targeted TRUST track linking students to rural and underserved Alaska communities for all four years. This is a structural opportunity unavailable to non-residents, so confirm Alaska residency status early for any pre-med student, since establishing residency (two years of in-state living) is itself a multi-year planning consideration.
Skip essay and recommendation prep for general admission
UAA does not require or recommend a personal essay, recommendation letters, or SAT/ACT scores for general undergraduate admission - though selective programs like Nursing or the Western exchange medical program carry separate, more demanding requirements. Confirm a student's intended major against this split immediately, since "UAA is easy to get into" doesn't apply uniformly across all programs.
Match the right UAA campus to the student's actual geography and goals
Beyond the main Anchorage campus, UAA operates four distinct community campuses (Kenai Peninsula College, Kodiak College, Matanuska-Susitna College, and Prince William Sound College) serving specific regions - Kodiak College, for example, explicitly serves the nation's largest U.S. Coast Guard base alongside the city of Kodiak and seven rural communities. Help students match the right physical campus to their location and program needs rather than treating "UAA" as a single undifferentiated option.
Expert Insight:
Sources disagree on whether UAA has a strict open-admission policy or a more conditional one - some describe it as open admission, while others note a required secondary school record and GPA-based selectivity around 60-67%. Confirm the current policy directly with UAA admissions rather than assuming blanket open admission, since this affects how much weight a student should place on their GPA and coursework rigor.
UAA Profile
Full Name
University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA)
City
Anchorage
State
Alaska
ZIP Code
99508
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
Is a UAA Degree Worth It?
At $21,848/year against a $51,871 median graduate salary, UAA is worth weighing against your specific program and financial situation — the numbers below give you a real basis for that decision.
Admitted students' families report a median household income around $72,100, and graduates see a 5.22% unemployment rate.
How much does a degree from UAA Cost?
Listed tuition runs $21,848/year at UAA; factor in Pell and federal grant aid and most students land closer to $13,780.
At UAA, 19.1% receive a Pell Grant and 14.9% carry federal loans. Filing FAFSA early and naming UAA on it improves your shot at both.
How much does a UAA Graduate earn?
Ten years out from enrollment, UAA graduates report a median income of $51,871, about 28% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Degree Programs at UAA
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About UAA Admissions
University of Alaska Anchorage graduates earn a moderate median salary of $51,871/year, with some variation by field.
Tuition at University of Alaska Anchorage is relatively affordable, around $21,848/year.
19.1% receive a Pell Grant here, below the ~35% national average — University of Alaska Anchorage skews toward higher-income students, though merit aid may still be worth checking.
University of Alaska Anchorage's acceptance rate is 66.5%, comparatively higher than most selective universities — admission is more attainable here.
The average GPA of admitted University of Alaska Anchorage students is 3.39, reflecting a competitive applicant pool.
There's no strict cutoff, but a GPA at or above 3.09 puts you in the standard applicant pool at University of Alaska Anchorage. Below that, your essays and recommendations need to work harder to provide context.
A GPA of 2.99 or below makes admission tougher at University of Alaska Anchorage, but strong test scores, activities, and essays — plus AP/IB coursework — can still keep you in contention.
University of Alaska Anchorage's deadline is November 1 (International).
Transferring in is a well-trodden path here. Line up your transcripts, recommendations, and a strong personal statement before applying.
The biggest levers are academic performance, a clear extracurricular focus, and essays that stand out — plus a solid test score where the school considers one.