University of Alaska Anchorage — ROI, Cost & Payback
University of Alaska Anchorage charges a net price of $15,301/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $61,204. Graduates earn a median $51,871 ten years after entry, $3,511/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 17.4 years — a 20-year net return of $9,016, a slow but positive payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
University of Alaska Anchorage's 17.4-year payback ranks #1,018 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 21% of them, and #2 of 6 in Alaska.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $15,301/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $61,204 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $51,871 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $3,511/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $20,210 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 17.4 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $9,016 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on University of Alaska Anchorage's own numbers. Net price $15,301 × 4 years = $61,204 total. Median earnings $51,871 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $3,511 a year of premium. $61,204 ÷ $3,511 = 17.4 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $9,016. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do University of Alaska Anchorage students graduate with?
A median $20,210 in federal loans among completers, or 39% of the $51,871 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of University of Alaska Anchorage students graduate?
30% finish their degree — 70% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $61,204 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $204,013 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is University of Alaska Anchorage expensive compared with other Alaska colleges?
Its $15,301 net price runs $2,425 below the $17,726 median across the 6 Alaska colleges we profile, and $9,698 less across the full degree.