Alaska Pacific University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Anchorage, Alaska. It enrolls 457 students (a very small, intimate student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorNorthwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Fair
52/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes25
Value43
Affordability46
Selectivity7
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 96.5%, Alaska Pacific University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
96.5%
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Alaska Pacific University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↓
3.0 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Alaska Pacific University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $21,616 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$21,616
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
32%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
40%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$20,760
Room & Board (on-campus)
$8,932
Room & Board (off-campus)
$20,000
Books & Supplies
$1,200
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$5,500
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$5,500
Total Cost of Attendance
$34,026
Application fee: $35 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$19,404
$30,001 – $48,000
$13,365
$48,001 – $75,000
$16,037
Over $110,000
$31,181
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,25010%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$23,500Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$36,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $12,000
↓ $11,500
No Pell $14,749
↓ $8,751
Dependent students $10,125
↓ $13,375
Independent students $14,632
↓ $8,868
Female students $12,696
↓ $10,804
Male students $12,000
↓ $11,500
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,250, less than completers ($23,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
53% of full-time students who enrolled at Alaska Pacific University graduate within six years, and 68% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
53%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
68%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Alaska Pacific University earn a median of $54,271 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$54,271
Earning > $25K
75%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$39,100
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$56,300
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$39,200
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$46,400
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$50,700
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $17,200, about 31% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
15.0 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 78% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Alaska Pacific University is home to 457 students, an intimate, close-knit community.
Total Enrolled
457
Part-Time
25%
First-Generation
—
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Other 37.2%170
White 32.0%146
Hispanic 8.5%39
Asian 8.1%37
Black 4.8%22
International 0.7%3
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Alaska Pacific University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityAnchorage, Alaska
Housing
Partly residential91 beds available
Adult Learners
54%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Alaska Pacific University offers
a varied set of programs:
24 distinct programs across
9 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Alaska Pacific University is 8:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
8:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$153M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$65,795
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
53 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
9
17%
$79,189
Associate Professors
19
36%
$68,083
Assistant Professors
23
43%
$59,714
Instructors
2
4%
$53,713
Pros & Cons of Alaska Pacific University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Alaska Pacific University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Below-average completion rate
First-year retention is below typical
Best for:
Based on the data, Alaska Pacific University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Alaska Pacific University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Alaska Pacific University.
Is Alaska Pacific University hard to get into?
Alaska Pacific University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 96.5%.
What is the acceptance rate at Alaska Pacific University?
Alaska Pacific University has an acceptance rate of 96.5%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Alaska Pacific University cost?
The average net price after aid at Alaska Pacific University is $21,616 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Alaska Pacific University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $54,271 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $21,616 per year. That's roughly 2.5x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Alaska Pacific University known for?
Alaska Pacific University is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Nursing, Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Alaska Pacific University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Alaska Pacific University are $54,271, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Alaska Pacific University accredited?
Yes. Alaska Pacific University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
How many students attend Alaska Pacific University?
Alaska Pacific University enrolls 457 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Alaska Pacific University?
Alaska Pacific University graduates 53% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Alaska Pacific University a public or private college?
Alaska Pacific University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Alaska Pacific University located?
Alaska Pacific University is located in Anchorage, Alaska.
What programs does Alaska Pacific University offer?
Alaska Pacific University offers 24 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Nursing, Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Alaska Pacific University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Alaska Pacific University is 8:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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