Alaska College Tuition Trends from 2015 to 2025

Tuition trends by school type and level for Alaska colleges

There are 7 four-year colleges and universities in Alaska—4 public institutions and 3 private institutions. This page summarizes average tuition & fees and how costs have changed over time based on the latest available IPEDS data.

Undergraduate Tuition Trends

Public colleges: In 2025, average in-state tuition & fees are $8,004, while out-of-state tuition & fees are $19,329. Year-over-year, in-state costs changed by 1.12% and out-of-state costs changed by -1.72%. Since 2015, cumulative growth is 40.81% (in-state) and 26.38% (out-of-state).

Private colleges: The average tuition & fees are $16,277 in 2025. That is a -1.88% change from last year and 1.51% cumulative growth since 2015.

Graduate Tuition Trends

Public graduate schools: In 2025, average in-state graduate tuition & fees are $11,868, while out-of-state graduate tuition & fees are $23,233. Year-over-year, in-state costs changed by -2.12% and out-of-state costs changed by -3.53%. Since 2015, cumulative growth is 24.82% (in-state) and 25.91% (out-of-state).

Private graduate schools: The average graduate tuition & fees are $20,760 in 2025. That is a 71.43% change from last year and -17.21% cumulative growth since 2015.

Public vs. private comparison (increase rates): In 2025, private undergraduate tuition changed by -1.88% year-over-year. Public undergraduate in-state changed by 1.12% (higher by 3.00 percentage points vs. private), and public out-of-state changed by -1.72% (higher by 0.15 percentage points vs. private). Over the full period since 2015, private undergraduate tuition grew by 1.51%, compared with public in-state 40.81% (higher by 39.31 percentage points vs. private) and public out-of-state 26.38% (higher by 24.87 percentage points vs. private).

Graduate comparison: In 2025, private graduate tuition changed by 71.43% year-over-year. Public graduate in-state changed by -2.12% (lower by 73.55 percentage points vs. private), and public graduate out-of-state changed by -3.53% (lower by 74.96 percentage points vs. private). Since 2015, private graduate tuition grew by -17.21%, compared with public graduate in-state 24.82% (higher by 42.03 percentage points vs. private) and public graduate out-of-state 25.91% (higher by 43.11 percentage points vs. private).

COA Trends

Undergraduate cost of attendance change by school type (tuition & fees + room & board): In 2025, estimated on-campus COA is $24,837 (public in-state), $36,162 (public out-of-state), and $33,110 (private). Year-over-year, on-campus COA changed by 4.42%, 1.75%, and 2.01%, respectively. Since 2015, cumulative on-campus COA growth is 47.07% (public in-state), 36.47% (public out-of-state), and 21.56% (private).

Off-campus COA: In 2025, estimated off-campus COA is $30,874 (public in-state), $42,198 (public out-of-state), and $39,147 (private). Year-over-year, off-campus COA changed by 5.41%, 2.82%, and 3.12%. Since 2015, cumulative off-campus COA growth is 48.09% (public in-state), 38.55% (public out-of-state), and 25.48% (private).

Tuition & Fees Trends of Alaska Colleges from 2015 to 2025

The tables and charts below show how average college tuition and fees have changed in Alaska from 2015 through 2025.

All figures are based on the latest available IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) data published by the U.S. Department of Education. To keep the comparisons consistent, these averages reflect 4-year colleges and universities in Alaska and exclude most community colleges and trade schools due to differences in reporting and availability.

Under. (Public) Under. (Private) Graduate (Public) Graduate (Private)

For Alaska public schools, the 2025 undergraduate in-state tuition & fees are $8,004 which has increased by 40.81% over the current decade and the out-of-state cost is $19,329 which has risen by 26.38%. In average, the rate of increase in tuition is 2.64% while last year increase rate was -1.72%.

Table. Undergraduate Tuition Trends (Public Schools) From 2015 to 2025 for Alaska Colleges

	2015-2016	2016-2017	2017-2018	2018-2019	2019-2020	2020-2021	2021-2022	2022-2023	2023-2024	2024-2025
In-State Costs	$6,059	$6,446	$6,610	$7,311	$7,411	$7,888	$7,861	$7,777	$7,916	$8,004
Year-to-Year Rates	6.59%	6.38%	2.55%	10.61%	1.37%	6.43%	-0.34%	-1.08%	1.79%	1.12%
Cumulative Rates	6.59%	13.39%	16.29%	28.62%	30.38%	38.77%	38.30%	36.81%	39.25%	40.81%
Out-of-State Costs	$16,223	$17,109	$17,358	$19,266	$20,686	$20,312	$20,153	$19,502	$19,667	$19,329
Year-to-Year Rates	6.07%	5.46%	1.46%	10.99%	7.37%	-1.81%	-0.78%	-3.23%	0.85%	-1.72%
Cumulative Rates	6.07%	11.86%	13.49%	25.97%	35.25%	32.81%	31.77%	27.51%	28.59%	26.38%

For private schools in Alaska state, the 2025 undergraduate tuition & fees are $16,277 which has increased by 1.51% over the current decade. In average, the rate of increase in tuition is 0.15% while last year increase rate was -1.88%.

Table. Undergraduate Tuition Trends (Private Schools) From 2015 to 2025 for Alaska Colleges

	2015-2016	2016-2017	2017-2018	2018-2019	2019-2020	2020-2021	2021-2022	2022-2023	2023-2024	2024-2025
Tuition & Fees	$16,349	$16,871	$17,771	$17,672	$16,207	$16,579	$16,289	$16,148	$16,588	$16,277
Year-to-Year Rates	1.96%	3.19%	5.33%	-0.56%	-8.29%	2.29%	-1.75%	-0.87%	2.73%	-1.88%
Cumulative Rates	1.96%	5.22%	10.83%	10.21%	1.07%	3.39%	1.59%	0.70%	3.45%	1.51%

The average graduate school tuition & fees of Alaska public schools are $11,868 which has increased by 24.82% over the current decade and the out-of-state graduate cost is $23,233 which has risen by 25.91%. In average, the rate of increase in graduate tuition is 2.59% while last year increase rate was -3.53%.

Table. Graduate Tuition Trends (Public Schools) From 2015 to 2025 for Alaska Colleges

	2015-2016	2016-2017	2017-2018	2018-2019	2019-2020	2020-2021	2021-2022	2022-2023	2023-2024	2024-2025
In-State Costs	$10,031	$10,567	$10,670	$11,210	$12,541	$12,245	$12,475	$12,113	$12,125	$11,868
Year-to-Year Rates	5.50%	5.34%	0.97%	5.06%	11.88%	-2.36%	1.88%	-2.90%	0.10%	-2.12%
Cumulative Rates	5.50%	11.14%	12.22%	17.90%	31.90%	28.78%	31.20%	27.39%	27.52%	24.82%
Out-of-State Costs	$19,511	$20,487	$21,141	$22,264	$25,090	$24,600	$24,842	$24,119	$24,084	$23,233
Year-to-Year Rates	5.74%	5.00%	3.19%	5.31%	12.69%	-1.95%	0.99%	-2.91%	-0.15%	-3.53%
Cumulative Rates	5.74%	11.03%	14.57%	20.65%	35.97%	33.31%	34.63%	30.71%	30.52%	25.91%

For private graduate schools in Alaska state, the 2025 tuition & fees are $20,760 which has increased by -17.21% over the current decade. In average, the rate of increase in graduate tuition is -1.72084% while last year increase rate was 71.43%.

Table. Graduate Tuition Trends (Private Schools) From 2015 to 2025 for Alaska Colleges

	2015-2016	2016-2017	2017-2018	2018-2019	2019-2020	2020-2021	2021-2022	2022-2023	2023-2024	2024-2025
Tuition & Fees	$22,585	$22,735	$10,759	$10,857	$12,110	$12,110	$12,110	$12,110	$12,110	$20,760
Year-to-Year Rates	-9.93%	0.66%	-52.68%	0.91%	11.54%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	71.43%
Cumulative Rates	-9.93%	-9.33%	-57.09%	-56.70%	-51.70%	-51.70%	-51.70%	-51.70%	-51.70%	-17.21%

You can check the changes of other college costs including room & board costs, book & supplies, and other living expenses at Alaska college cost trends.

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