University in United States
Fairbanks, AK, United States
University profile
The University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) is a public university in Fairbanks, in the interior of Alaska, founded in 1917. Undergraduates make up 89 percent of the student body, and the university describes itself as a land, sea and space grant institution and the principal research university of the University of Alaska system. It is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities and has been continuously accredited since 1934.
The main Troth Yeddha' Campus in Fairbanks covers 2,250 acres, with two lakes, miles of trails, a student recreation complex, the Wood Center student hub, Davis Concert Hall and Salisbury Theatre, Rasmuson Library (Alaska's largest) and the UA Museum of the North. Branch campuses across the state belong to the College of Indigenous Studies: Bristol Bay (Dillingham), Chukchi (Kotzebue), Kuskokwim (Bethel) and Northwest (Nome), plus the Interior Alaska Campus and the Community and Technical College in Fairbanks.
UAF has nine colleges and schools offering 218 degrees and certificates in about 100 disciplines: the College of Business and Security Management, College of Engineering and Mines, College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, College of Liberal Arts, College of Natural Science and Mathematics, College of Indigenous Studies, Community and Technical College, Graduate School and School of Education. An Honors College and many online programs through UAF eCampus are also offered.
Research is a defining strength. Six major units, including the Geophysical Institute, the Institute of Arctic Biology, the Institute of Marine Science, the Institute of Northern Engineering and the International Arctic Research Center, work on Arctic and northern topics, and 48% of 2023-2024 bachelor's graduates completed a research, thesis or honors project. Direct research expenditures were $200.3 million in FY24.
Student life centres on the Fairbanks campus, where residence halls (Bartlett, Moore, Skarland, Eileen Panigeo MacLean House, Lathrop, Wickersham) and the Cutler Apartment Complex house undergraduates, with apartments for graduate students and families. Alaska Nanooks teams compete in NCAA Division I (men's ice hockey) and Division II, and the rifle team has won 11 NCAA championships. In fall 2024, enrollment was 7,486 students from 52 states/territories and 51 countries.
International students receive dedicated advising from International Student and Scholar Services, which handles F-1 and J-1 immigration documents, and students from listed English-speaking countries, including Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa and others, are exempt from proof of English proficiency.
Basic fees include a $56/credit consolidated fee, a $25/credit UA infrastructure fee and a one-time $225 matriculation fee. Estimated undergraduate semester cost (12 credits, with housing and food): $11,442 resident, $18,930 non-resident, $13,302 WUE. Upper-level CBSM courses carry a 25% surcharge and CEM courses 20%.
From fall 2027 all UAF students, including international students, receive the Alaska resident tuition rate automatically, with no application and no residency requirement. It covers tuition and fees, not housing. Alaska Unlocked
Emergency scholarships are available for students facing circumstances that interrupt study. The Financial Aid Office is at [email protected], 907-474-7256. See the UAF scholarships page and the costs page.
Alaska Unlocked Resident Tuition for All Students →
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View scholarships for University of Alaska Fairbanks →Bachelor's degree applicants need a high school diploma, must pass the 16-credit high school core curriculum with at least a 2.5 and hold a cumulative GPA of 2.5. Certificate and associate programs require a high school diploma or GED and age 18 or older. Applicants who do not meet the requirements can contact an admissions counselor about starting as a pre-undeclared or nondegree student. Since December 6, 2023 UAF does not require ACT or SAT scores for any undergraduate degree program, and test scores are not considered for UAF scholarships. Apply through the UAF application portal or the Common App.
Late applications may incur a late fee; application fee waivers are available for many circumstances. Final official transcripts with a posted graduation date finalize acceptance.
Minimum scores: TOEFL 79, IELTS 6.5, PTE 55, Duolingo English Test 110 (undergraduate) or 120 (graduate). Applicants from exempt countries, which include Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda and the United Kingdom, do not need to prove English proficiency. Secondary and university transcripts go to a NACES-approved evaluation service for a course-by-course report (The Evaluation Company is recommended). After admission, applicants submit the UAF Financial Statement for International Students with supporting documents, a passport copy, home address and city of birth so an I-20 (F-1) or DS-2019 (J-1) can be issued, then apply for the student visa. International deadlines: March 1 (fall) and September 1 (spring).
Applicants generally need a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution with a 3.0 cumulative GPA and a 3.0 in the major. Standard materials: resume or CV, statement of academic and professional goals, three official letters of recommendation, GRE or GMAT scores where the program requires them, official transcripts from all institutions attended and a $75 nonrefundable application fee. Deadlines: June 1 (fall), October 15 (spring), May 1 (summer); many programs set their own deadlines. Many programs offer teaching and research assistantships that waive tuition.
Transfer applicants apply through the same portal and send official transcripts from each institution attended.
Credits earned at any UAF campus are recognised at all UAF campuses. Residence hall rates for 2026-27 range from $6,750 to $8,215 per semester including a meal plan (double to super single).
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