Higher education in Alaska

in  Alaska

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* * *

Higher education

* * *

Enrollment statistics
Tuition statistics
Financial aid statistics
Retention rates
Graduation rates
Higher education funding

## Contents

* 1 Overview
* 1.1 Overview
* 1.2 State agencies
* 2 Admissions
* 2.1 Enrollment
* 2.2 Demographics
* 2.2.1 Enrollment by race and ethnicity
* 2.2.2 Enrollment by sex
* 2.3 Affirmative action
* 3 Student costs
* 3.1 In-state and private tuition
* 3.2 Out-of-state tuition
* 3.3 Financial aid
* 3.4 Student debt
* 4 Outcomes
* 4.1 Retention rates
* 4.2 Graduation rates
* 4.3 Study on college affordability and outcomes
* 5 Funding
* 5.1 Total state funding
* 5.2 Funding per student
* 6 Faculty
* 6.1 Faculty
* 6.2 Employment status
* 6.3 Salaries
* 6.4 Demographics
* 6.5 Recent news
* 6.6 See also
* 6.6.1 Higher education in the 50 states
* 6.7 Footnotes

Alaska's higher education system is composed of 10 colleges and universities. Of these, five are public institutions, three are nonprofit private schools, and two are for-profit private institutions.[1]

HIGHLIGHTS

* At public four-year colleges in Alaska, 10.4 percent graduated within four years, while 30.6 percent graduated within six years. These figures were lower than in neighboring states.

* Alaska students who graduated from public colleges during 2014 had far greater debt on average, $27,728, than those who graduated from private colleges, $8,922.

* In Alaska, the percentage of all part-time faculty, including graduate assistants, increased from 4.5 percent to 49 percent between the 1993-1994 and 2013-2014 school years.

Higher education policy decisions can affect college access, the retention of students and the eventual completion of their degrees, student rights on campus, students' financial burden in the form of debt, and their employment prospects after graduation. Click on the tabs below to learn more about higher education in Alaska.

# Overview[edit]

* * *

Overview
Total number of schools:

Public schools:

State agency:
Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education
Retention rate:
68%[2]
Graduation rate:
30.6%[3]
Average public in-state tuition:
$6,141
Total funding for public higher education:
$382,551,600
Funding per full-time student:
$13,978

* * *

* * *

Higher education in the United States • Education policy • Education policy in the United States • Public education in Alaska

### Overview[edit]

Higher education policy refers to the decisions made by the federal government, state legislatures, higher education boards, and colleges and universities themselves. These decisions can affect how state funding is allocated, who sets tuition and at what level, campus resources available for academically struggling students, degrees and programs offered, and state financial aid eligibility and award amounts, as some examples. Higher education entities also set policies that manage campus environments, such as the prohibition or allowance of guns on campus and rules regarding free speech and student protests.[4]

Generally speaking, there are four types of postsecondary educational institutions in the United States:[5][6]

1. Public two-year institutions, which are most commonly known as community colleges, typically "award associate degrees in vocational fields [and] prepare students for transfer to four-year institutions." These schools are financed in large part with public funds. Prince William Sound Community College is an example of a public two-year institution in Alaska.[5][6]
2. Public four-year colleges and universities award baccalaureate and/or graduate degrees. Traditionally, a distinction has been made between colleges and universities, with colleges awarding only four-year degrees and universities awarding both four-year and graduate-level degrees; however, these two terms are often used interchangeably today. Like their two-year counterparts, public four-year colleges and universities are financed largely with public funds. The University of Alaska is an example of a public four-year institution in Alaska.[5][6]
3. Private nonprofit institutions can vary dramatically in size, course offerings, and mission. These institutions do not receive public funding directly. Instead, private nonprofit schools are financed primarily by tuition, gifts, and endowments. These schools do not generate profit. Alaska Pacific University is an example of a private nonprofit institution in Alaska.[5][6]
4. Private for-profit institutions typically specialize in vocational education. Like their nonprofit counterparts, these schools do not receive public funds. These mainly online universities generally serve older students and endeavor to generate profits. An example in Alaska includes Alaska Career College.[5][6]

The state's higher education system was established in 1917 with the founding of the Alaska Agricultural College and School of Mines. The institution was renamed as the University of Alaska in 1935. Today, the University of Alaska system is composed of three campuses: Fairbanks, Anchorage and Southeast.[7]

As of July 2016, there were five public colleges and universities in Alaska, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. These are listed in the table below.[1]

Public postsecondary institutions in Alaska

School  |  Type
AVTEC-Alaska's Institute of Technology | Two-year
Ilisagvik College | Two-year
University of Alaska Anchorage | Four-year
University of Alaska Fairbanks | Four-year
University of Alaska Southeast | Four-year
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, "College Navigator - Alaska"

### State agencies[edit]

Community and Technical College of the University of Alaska, Fairbanks

The Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education (ACPE) was formed in 1974 "to centralize planning for higher education and administer financial aid programs." Services provided by ACPE include:[8]

“  |

* programs creating early awareness of the importance of preparing for success in higher education
* education planning tools and resources
* advocacy and support for postsecondary participation in Alaska
* financial aid for college and career training
* education consumer protection through institutional authorization and complaint investigation[8][9]

|  ”

|
|

—Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education

The commission's governing board is composed of 14 members representing the general public and educational institutions.[8]

# Admissions[edit]

### Enrollment[edit]

See also: Higher education enrollment statistics

According to the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association, college enrollment typically rises during economic downturns and declines as the economy improves. In 2014, higher education enrollment nationwide was 8.6 percent higher than pre-recession levels in 2008. However, enrollment has been declining since 2012. Full-time enrollment in higher education institutions rose sharply following the recession before peaking in 2011 and then dropping off.[10]

College enrollment in Alaska followed this trend; between 2012 and 2014, full-time enrollment decreased from about 21,700 to about 20,500. In 2014, full-time college enrollment in Alaska was 9.4 percent lower than in 2008. Click [show] on the green bar below the bar chart to view full-time public university enrollment in Alaska as compared to surrounding states.

Full-time enrollment in public postsecondary institutions, FY 2008 to FY 2014

State  |  FY 2008 (pre-recession)  |  FY 2009  |  FY 2012  |  FY 2013  |  FY 2014  |  1-year change  |  5-year change  |  Change since recession
Alaska |  18,703  |  19,010  |  21,654  |  21,131  |  20,464  |  -3.2%  |  7.6%  |  9.4%
California |  1,507,467  |  1,624,753  |  1,527,259  |  1,479,181  |  1,511,300  |  2.2%  |  -7.0%  |  0.3%
Oregon |  129,626  |  141,532  |  169,806  |  165,564  |  165,480  |  -0.1%  |  16.9%  |  27.7%
Washington |  221,264  |  236,742  |  253,902  |  248,273  |  245,011  |  -1.3%  |  3.5%  |  10.7%
United States |  10,254,148  |  10,721,466  |  11,563,321  |  11,288,232  |  11,137,541  |  -1.3%  |  3.9%  |  8.6%
Note: Full-time enrollment excludes medical students.[10]
Source: State Higher Education Executive Officers Association, "State Higher Education Finance: FY 2014"

### Demographics[edit]

#### Enrollment by race and ethnicity[edit]

In Alaska, total enrollment--full-time and part-time--in all public and private higher education institutions amounted to 34,890 in fall 2013. About 61.8 percent of these students were white. American Indian and Alaska Native students comprised approximately 11.7 percent of the total postsecondary student population in Alaska. During that time, 63 percent of the state's general population was white and 11.9 percent was American Indian and Alaska Native, with other ethnic groups making up the remainder. The table below lists demographic information for both postsecondary students and the general population in Alaska and surrounding states.[11]

Higher education enrollment by race/ethnicity, 2013

State  |  Population category  |  White  |  Black  |  Hispanic  |  Asian  |  Pacific Islander  |  American Indian/Alaska Native  |  Two or more races  |  Non-resident alien
Alaska | Postsecondary students  |  61.8%  |  3.2%  |  8.3%  |  4.6%  |  1.1%  |  11.7%  |  7.5%  |  1.9%
General population  |  63.0%  |  3.2%  |  8.5%  |  4.7%  |  1.1%  |  11.9%  |  7.6%  |  N/A
California | Postsecondary students  |  32.3%  |  7.0%  |  36.1%  |  15.3%  |  0.6%  |  0.4%  |  4.2%  |  4.2%
General population  |  33.7%  |  7.3%  |  37.6%  |  16.0%  |  0.6%  |  0.5%  |  4.3%  |  N/A
Oregon | Postsecondary students  |  70.6%  |  3.2%  |  10.0%  |  5.3%  |  0.6%  |  1.4%  |  4.3%  |  4.6%
General population  |  74.0%  |  3.3%  |  10.5%  |  5.5%  |  0.7%  |  1.4%  |  4.5%  |  N/A
Washington | Postsecondary students  |  63.4%  |  4.5%  |  10.1%  |  8.9%  |  0.6%  |  1.2%  |  5.8%  |  5.6%
General population  |  67.2%  |  4.8%  |  10.7%  |  9.4%  |  0.6%  |  1.3%  |  6.1%  |  N/A
United States |  Postsecondary students  |  56.9% | 14.1% | 15.2% | 5.9% | 0.3% | 0.8% | 2.7% | 4.1%
General population  |  59.3% | 14.7% | 15.8% | 6.1% | 0.3% | 0.8% | 2.9% | N/A
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, "Table 306.60. Fall enrollment in degree-granting postsecondary institutions, by race/ethnicity of student and state or jurisdiction: 2013"

#### Enrollment by sex[edit]

In 2013, 59.1 percent of all postsecondary students in Alaska were female, which was higher than the national rate of 56.5 percent. The table below lists postsecondary student enrollment by sex in Alaska and surrounding states.[12]

Higher education enrollment by sex, 2013

State  |  Total students  |  Male students  |  Percentage  |  Female students  |  Percentage
Alaska |  34,890  |  14,280  |  40.9%  |  20,610  |  59.1%
California |  2,636,921  |  1,207,738  |  45.8%  |  1,429,183  |  54.2%
Oregon |  251,106  |  113,742  |  45.3%  |  137,364  |  54.7%
Washington |  363,377  |  163,646  |  45.0%  |  199,731  |  55.0%
United States |  20,375,789 | 8,860,786 | 43.5% | 11,515,003 | 56.5%
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, "Table 304.30. Total fall enrollment in degree-granting postsecondary institutions, by attendance status, sex, and state or jurisdiction: 2012 and 2013"

### Affirmative action[edit]

See also: Affirmative action and Affirmative action in Alaska

Federal law requires government contractors and other departments and agencies receiving federal funding to develop and implement affirmative action plans for the hiring process. Public colleges and universities are considered federal contractors and must utilize affirmative action in their employment practices. However, many private and public colleges and universities across the country have also implemented similar measures in their admissions processes. These actions are typically voluntary, although a handful of states have adopted rules that require state universities to take affirmative action in admissions.[13][14][15]

Affirmative action admissions programs were undertaken by public and private universities alike, beginning in the late 1960s and 1970s. Some universities initially established quotas in order to achieve a demographically diverse student body; these quotas were outlawed by the United States Supreme Court in Regents of the University of California v. Bakke in 1978.[13][16]

Affirmative action can also take other forms, such as targeted outreach campaigns. Today, a common form of affirmative action in college admissions is that of racial preferences. A preference occurs when a group of applicants is more likely to be admitted than other applicants with similar or better qualifications due to other factors, such as race or ethnicity. Preferences are also sometimes extended towards women, athletes, and children of alumni. The use of racial preferences may be related to college selectivity: scholars such as law professor Richard Sander have found that preferences are strongest at elite institutions.[13][16][17][18]

Eight states have enacted laws banning the consideration of race in university admissions. As of March 2015, Alaska was not one of these states. Of three public four-year universities in Alaska, none reported considering race in admissions, as indicated in the chart below.

Consideration of race at public four-year universities in Alaska

School  |  Race/ethnicity is...  |  School selectivity*
Very important  | Important  | Considered  | Not considered
University of Alaska Anchorage  |  N/A  |  Less selective
University of Alaska Fairbanks  |  N/A  |  Open admission
University of Alaska Southeast  |  |  |  |

|  N/A
Sources: The College Board, "Big Future". Reproduced with permission.
CollegeData, "College 411"
*Note: This scale of college selectivity comes from The College Board and is measured as follows: Most selective, less than 25 percent admitted; Very selective, 25 percent to 50 percent admitted; Somewhat selective, 50 percent to 75 percent admitted; Less selective, more than 75 percent admitted; Open admission, all or most admitted.

Click [show] to learn more about the data

Information on which colleges consider race in admissions came from individual college profiles provided by two websites that aim to assist students in choosing a college: The College Board and CollegeData. Such information was reported to The College Board by the colleges themselves. Note that schools may have updated their policies since reporting them. To see the data:

1. College Board: Click the link to the college's profile provided in the table below. Click "Applying" on the side menu and scroll down. Listed will be several criteria of admission into the college, separated by importance. If Race/Ethnicity is not listed, it was not reported as considered by the college's admissions officers.
2. CollegeData: Click the link to the college's profile provided in the table below. Scroll down to the section titled "Selection of Students" to see a chart of admission criteria ranked from "Very Important" to "Not Considered."

|  Links to school profiles

School  |  School profiles  |  School  |  School profiles
College Board  | CollegeData  | College Board  | CollegeData
University of Alaska Anchorage  |  Link |  Link |  University of Alaska Southeast  |  Link |  Link
University of Alaska Fairbanks  |  Link |  Link |

# Student costs[edit]

See also: Higher education tuition statistics

### In-state and private tuition[edit]

Tuition accounts for just a portion of student costs; in many states, the cost of room and board equals or surpasses the cost of tuition at public universities. However, unlike room and board, tuition has risen much faster than inflation, increasing by 40 percent between the 2005-2006 and the 2015-2016 school years. The consumer price index increased by 21.5 percent over the same time period. Some studies suggest that universities have increased tuition as a response to state budget cuts, while others correlate rising tuition with the availability of financial aid.[19][20][21]

In the 2013-2014 academic year, the national average in-state cost for tuition and required fees at a public four-year school totaled $8,312. For a private four-year school, the average was $25,696. In Alaska, these figures were lower: $6,141 and $20,943, respectively. Public university tuition in the state increased 42 percent between 2005-2006 and 2015-2016. The graph below displays average tuition prices in Alaska as compared to the nationwide average for each year during that time. Hover over the points to view precise figures. The table below the graph compares 2013-2014 average annual tuition costs in Alaska with those in surrounding states.[20][22]

Note: Discrepancies in data between the line graph and the table below are due to differing sources of information.

Higher education tuition and fees at 4-year institutions, 2013-2014 (in current dollars)

State  |  Public in-state  |  Private
2012-2013  |  2013-2014  |  Percent change  |  2012-2013  |  2013-2014  |  Percent change
Alaska |  $6,317  |  $6,141  |  -2.8%  |  $21,496  |  $20,943  |  -2.6%
California |  $8,892  |  $8,903  |  0.1%  |  $28,345  |  $29,678  |  4.7%
Oregon |  $8,294  |  $8,616  |  3.9%  |  $30,195  |  $31,599  |  4.6%
Washington |  $8,856  |  $8,766  |  -1.0%  |  $30,133  |  $31,599  |  4.9%
United States |  $8,070 | $8,312 | 3.0% | $24,525 | $25,696 | 4.8%
Note: Dollar figures do not account for differences in the cost of living between states. Learn more here.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, "Table 330.20. Average undergraduate tuition and fees and room and board rates charged for full-time students in degree-granting postsecondary institutions, by control and level of institution and state or jurisdiction: 2012-13 and 2013-14"

### Out-of-state tuition[edit]

See also: Higher education tuition statistics

Public postsecondary schools receive some of their funding from their state's government. This money in turn comes from taxation of the state's residents. Since neither out-of-state students nor their parents paid that state's taxes, the schools charge these students additional tuition to account for the difference. This additional charge is a significant increase over in-state tuition in all 50 states. In the 2013-2014 school year, out-of-state students nationwide paid an average of $22,603 in annual tuition and required fees, 272 percent higher than the in-state average of $8,312.[20]

Students attending public postsecondary institutions in Alaska from outside of the state were required to pay an average of $18,458, a 301 percent difference over the average in-state tuition of $6,141. The average out-of-state tuition price for Alaska was lower than the national average by about $4,400. The table below compares in-state and out-of-state tuition figures for Alaska with those of surrounding states.

Average annual in-state and out-of-state tuition and required fees, 2013-2014

State  |  Average in-state tuition  |  Average out-of-state tuition  |  Percent difference
Alaska |  $6,141  |  $18,458  |  301%
California |  $8,903  |  $30,663  |  344%
Oregon |  $8,616  |  $26,144  |  303%
Washington |  $8,766  |  $27,714  |  316%
United States | $8,312 | $22,603 | 272%
Note: Dollar figures do not account for differences in the cost of living between states. Learn more here.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, "Table 330.20. Average undergraduate tuition and fees and room and board rates charged for full-time students in degree-granting postsecondary institutions, by control and level of institution and state or jurisdiction: 2012-13 and 2013-14"

### Financial aid[edit]

See also: Higher education financial aid statistics

The federal government provides financial aid to undergraduate students in the form of grants and loans. Notable grants administered by the United States government include Pell Grants and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG). Loan programs administered by the federal government include the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program and Federal Perkins Loan Program. Perkins Loans have an interest rate of 5 percent, while Direct Loans have interest rates that vary based on the date of disbursement and the loan type: loans disbursed between July 1, 2014, and July 1, 2017, have interest rates ranging from 3.76 percent to 7.21 percent. According to the U.S. Department of Education, the average default rate on Perkins Loans was 11.8 percent for borrowers who entered into repayment in 2012; the rate reflects borrowers who defaulted prior to September 30, 2014. This is compared to average default rates of 7.2 percent on home loans and 2.23 percent on credit card loans in 2014.[23][24][25][26][27][28]

In addition, colleges and universities often offer institution-specific financial aid to their students, and individual states may also administer student financial aid programs. According to the National Association of State Student Grant and Aid Programs, the states disbursed approximately $11.7 billion in state-based financial aid to postsecondary students in the 2013-2014 academic year. This represented about 5 percent of all financial aid provided to undergraduate students, according to The College Board. Alaska awarded $18.2 million in state-based financial aid during that time. The table below provides state-based aid figures for Alaska and surrounding states in 2013-2014.[29][30]

Total state-based financial aid, 2013-2014 (in millions)

State  |  Need-based grant aid  |  Non-need-based grant aid  |  Non-grant aid  |  Total
Alaska |  $3.89  |  $7.82  |  $6.53  |  $18.24
California |  $1671.94  |  $2.38  |  $21.38  |  $1695.7
Oregon |  $55.37  |  $0.03  |  $91.08  |  $146.48
Washington |  $354.26  |  $0.53  |  $14.9  |  $369.69
United States |  $7,491.27 | $2,446.92 | $1,756.51 | $11,694.70
Note: Dollar figures do not account for differences in the cost of living between states. Learn more here.
Source: National Association of State Student Grant and Aid Programs, "45th Annual Survey Report on State-Sponsored Student Financial Aid"

### Student debt[edit]

See also: Student debt in higher education in the United States

Student debt is a major concern for both parents and students. According to the Institute for College Access and Success, in school year 2013-2014, an average of 62 percent of all students nationwide graduated with debt at an average of about $27,779 per borrower. The state with the lowest average debt held by students was Utah, where average student debt was about $18,921. Conversely, students who graduated from colleges and universities in Delaware held an average of about $33,808 in debt, the highest in the country.[31][32]

During the 2013-2014 school year, about 50 percent of postsecondary students at both public and private schools in Alaska graduated with debt. Average debt held amounted to about $26,742, ranking 23rd highest in the country. The table below compares the average student debt, percentage of graduates with debt, and national rankings of Alaska and surrounding states.

Average student debt and percentage of graduates with debt, 2013-2014

State  |  Average debt  |  National rank  |  Percentage with debt  |  National rank
Alaska |  $26,742  |  23  |  50%  |  44
California |  $21,382  |  46  |  55%  |  40
Oregon |  $26,106  |  29  |  62%  |  24
Washington |  $24,804  |  40  |  58%  |  35
United States | $27,779 | \-- | 62% | \--
Source: CollegeInSight, "Explore All Data"

While tuition for private schools is typically higher than that of public schools, debt does not always follow this same pattern. The Institute for College Access and Success analyzed data on student debt held by graduates of public and private schools. They found that in the 2013-2014 school year, about 60 percent of students nationwide who graduated from a public institution had debt, which averaged about $25,665 per borrower. For private schools, they found that approximately 65 percent of students graduated with an average of $28,498 in debt. However, in some states, such as New Hampshire, students on average graduated from private schools with less debt than those who graduated from public schools.[31][32]

During the 2013-2014 school year, about 50 percent of graduates from Alaska's public schools graduated with an average of $27,728 in debt. About 63 percent of private school students graduated with an average of $8,922 in debt. As this data shows, students who graduated from public schools during this year had far less debt on average than those who graduated from private schools. The table below compares these statistics for Alaska with those of its surrounding states.

Average student debt from public and private colleges, 2013-2014

State  |  Public in-state institution  |  Private institution
Average debt  |  Percent of graduates with debt  |  Average debt  |  Percent of graduates with debt
Alaska |  $27,728  |  50%  |  $8,922  |  63%
California |  $19,476  |  53%  |  $27,493  |  61%
Oregon |  $25,862  |  59%  |  $26,917  |  72%
Washington |  $23,314  |  55%  |  $29,076  |  68%
United States | $25,902 | 60% | $29,657 | 64%
Source: CollegeInSight, "Explore All Data"

# Outcomes[edit]

### Retention rates[edit]

See also: Higher education retention rates

Retention rates indicate the percentage of freshman postsecondary students who enroll the following academic year as sophomores. According to the NCHEMS Information Center for Higher Education Policymaking and Analysis:[33]

“  |  Students are more likely to drop out of postsecondary education during the first year than any other time. If a state can implement policies that help to increase retention rates either within institutions or through transfer, the likelihood of students persisting to graduation is far greater.[33][9] |  ”

|
|

—NCHEMS Information Center for Higher Education Policymaking and Analysis

Compared to neighboring states, Alaska had the second-lowest total retention rate in the 2013-2014 school year at 68 percent, just above Oregon's. The table below compares retention rates in Alaska and surrounding states.[34]

Higher education retention rates, 2013-2014

State  |  Total  |  Public  |  Private nonprofit  |  Private for-profit
2-year  |  4-year  |  2-year  |  4-year  |  2-year  |  4-year
Alaska |  68%  |  94%  |  73%  |  47%  |  65%  |  82%  |  43%
California |  76%  |  71%  |  88%  |  64%  |  87%  |  72%  |  70%
Oregon |  67%  |  52%  |  80%  |  90%  |  83%  |  75%  |  45%
Washington |  75%  |  60%  |  84%  |  78%  |  86%  |  73%  |  63%
United States |  71% | 60% | 79% | 62% | 80% | 68% | 54%
Source: CollegeInSight, "Explore All Data"

### Graduation rates[edit]

See also: Higher education graduation rates

The table below, built from data compiled by The Chronicle of Higher Education, details graduation rates for Alaska and surrounding states. Although postsecondary schools are classified as four-year and two-year institutions, relatively few students actually complete degrees within these time frames. At four-year schools, students commonly take between four and six years to complete their degrees. Likewise, students at two-year institutions commonly take three years to complete their degrees. To illustrate this point, both four-year and six-year graduation rates are provided in the table below (only three-year rates are provided for two-year institutions, owing to a lack of information regarding two-year completion rates).[35]

At public four-year colleges in Alaska, 10.4 percent graduated within four years, while 30.6 percent graduated within six years. These figures were lower than in neighboring states. About 27 percent of Alaska students at public two-year colleges graduated within three years; this figure was higher than all of its neighboring states except for Washington.[36]

Graduation rates by state, 2013

State  |  Four-year institutions  |  Two-year institutions
Completion within four years  |  Completion within six years  |  Completion within three years
Public  |  Private nonprofit  |  Private for-profit  |  Public  |  Private nonprofit  |  Private for-profit  |  Public  |  Private for-profit
Alaska |  10.4%  |  25.0%  |  21.9%  |  30.6%  |  40.0%  |  21.9%  |  27.0%  |  N/A
California |  33.6%  |  61.3%  |  13.5%  |  64.0%  |  73.9%  |  27.1%  |  26.2%  |  67.5%
Oregon |  30.3%  |  58.6%  |  10.1%  |  55.5%  |  67.5%  |  25.5%  |  16.1%  |  71.6%
Washington |  44.1%  |  57.8%  |  25.8%  |  68.1%  |  70.8%  |  37.3%  |  28.8%  |  67.8%
United States |  33.3% | 52.8% | 23.3% | 57.6% | 65.4% | 33.2% | 19.4% | 63.1%
Source: The Chronicle of Higher Education, "Graduation rates by state"

### Study on college affordability and outcomes[edit]

College affordability and student debt have become major issues in higher education policy, particularly since the 2008 recession. The College Affordability Guide is an organization that evaluates colleges for their value, which is defined as providing a high-quality education that is affordable "not only for the average student, but for lower-income students as well." According to the College Affordability Guide, there is one college in Alaska that provides high-quality education at an affordable price. The College Affordability Guide's rankings consider a number of factors and are based on the idea that income-appropriate tuition, completing one's studies, and being able to pay back one's loans are the key elements of a worthwhile college experience. Colleges considered the best value by the guide meet the following criteria:[37]

* Tuition at an average net price of $15,000 per year or less after financial aid for families making $48,000 per year or less
* At least 50 percent of students graduate or transfer
* At least 50 percent of students are actively paying down student loan debt three years after graduation

Additionally, all colleges considered are not-for-profit, offer associate or higher degrees, and have at least one non-standard way for students to earn college credits, such as AP or CLEP credit. The table below lists the college in Alaska that the College Affordability Guide considers to be the best value. A full description of the college can be found here.

Most affordable colleges in Alaska, 2016

College  |  Average net price  |  Percent of students graduating or transferring  |  Percent of students repaying loans
University of Alaska Fairbanks  |  $7,000  |  52.0%  |  69.5%
Source: College Affordability Guide, "2016 Most Affordable Colleges in Alaska"

# Funding[edit]

### Total state funding[edit]

See also: Higher education funding and Alaska state budget and finances

Higher education funding mechanisms differ depending on the type of institution. Public colleges receive the lion's share of their funding from state and local governments. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, state and local appropriations accounted for 53 percent of higher education revenues nationwide in 2013. By contrast, private institutions do not receive direct government funding. Instead, these institutions rely primarily on tuition, gifts, and endowments.[38][39]

The 2008 recession led to decreased public higher education funding as college enrollment increased:

“  | By 2012, the tuition revenues collected by public universities in 20 states covered more educational costs than did state-provided dollars.[9] |  ”

|
|

—Texas Coalition for Excellence in Higher Education[40]

While there have been moderate increases in state allocations between 2012 and 2015, the average amount of spending "is still 15 percent less, per student, than before the economic downturn," according to a study by the State Higher Education Executive Offices (SHEEO).[41]

According to Grapevine, which is published by Illinois State University's Center for the Study of Education Policy and SHEEO, financial support for public higher education in Alaska totaled $382 million in fiscal year 2015, a 3.4 percent increase over fiscal year 2013. The table below lists higher education fiscal support figures for Alaska and surrounding states.[42]

State funding for higher education

State  |  Fiscal year 2013  |  Fiscal year 2014  |  Fiscal year 2015  |  Percent change
Alaska |  $369,797,900  |  $384,666,000  |  $382,551,600  |  3.4%
California |  $9,577,505,000  |  $10,535,904,000  |  $11,688,629,379  |  22.0%
Oregon |  $580,701,607  |  $631,121,950  |  $694,391,073  |  19.6%
Washington |  $1,372,858,000  |  $1,570,807,000  |  $1,580,750,000  |  15.1%
United States |  $72,493,483,464 | $76,950,508,609 | $80,973,621,292 | 11.7%
Note: Dollar figures do not account for differences in the cost of living between states. Learn more here.
Source: Grapevine, "Table 1: State Fiscal Support for Higher Education, by State, Fiscal Years 2009-10, 2012-13, 2013-14, and 2014-15"

### Funding per student[edit]

According to the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association, average adjusted public postsecondary appropriations per full-time student declined 13.3 percent from fiscal year 2009 to 2013 on average in the United States. In Alaska, appropriations per full-time student rose 2.4 percent during that same period. The table below lists adjusted public higher education appropriations per full-time student for Alaska and surrounding states in fiscal years 2009, 2013, and 2014.[10]

Public higher education appropriations per full-time student (in constant 2014 dollars)

State  |  Fiscal year 2009  |  Fiscal year 2013  |  Fiscal year 2014  |  1 year change  |  5 year change  |  Change since recession
Alaska |  $13,650  |  $13,188  |  $13,978  |  6.0%  |  2.4%  |  5.8%
California |  $7,938  |  $7,252  |  $7,509  |  3.5%  |  -5.4%  |  -14.9%
Oregon |  $5,587  |  $3,952  |  $4,214  |  6.6%  |  -24.6%  |  -29.4%
Washington |  $7,178  |  $4,945  |  $5,700  |  15.3%  |  -20.6%  |  -25.2%
United States |  $7,553 | $6,215 | $6,552 | 5.4% | -13.3% | -18.9%
Notes: "Educational appropriations are a measure of state and local support available for public higher education operating expenses including ARRA funds, and exclude appropriations for independent institutions, financial aid for students attending independent institutions, research, hospitals, and medical education."
"Adjustment factors, to arrive at constant dollar figures, include Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA), Enrollment Mix Index (EMI), and Higher Education Cost Adjustment (HECA). The Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) is not a measure of inflation over time."
Source: State Higher Education Executive Officers Association, "State Higher Education Finance: FY 2014"

# Faculty[edit]

### Faculty[edit]

See also: Higher education faculty statistics

Across the country, as student enrollment at postsecondary institutions has changed, so has the faculty. To meet rising demand, the number of faculty increased nationwide by just over 55 percent, from 515,684 to 800,611, between the 1993-1994 and 2013-2014 school years. In Alaska, the total number of faculty rose from 1,022 to 3,791. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the college faculty profession has one of the fastest growth rates in the nation and will see a 19 percent increase in jobs between 2012 and 2022.[43][44][45]

### Employment status[edit]

Employment of faculty at four-year public institutions in Alaska

While the total number of faculty at public colleges and universities continued to rise over the previous two decades, the portion of faculty who work part-time rose more quickly. By the mid-1990s, part-time faculty comprised over half of total instructional faculty, a figure which continued to increase before leveling off in 2013. In the 2013-2014 school year, just over 55 percent of instructional faculty nationwide worked part time. The number of part-time faculty, including teaching and research assistants, outnumbered full-time faculty in all but 11 states. The number of teaching and research assistants alone outnumbered full-time faculty in five states. Alaska was not one of these states. According to the Southern Regional Education Board,[43][44]

“  | The fact that part-time faculty and teaching/research assistants are a majority of the instructional staff does not mean they do a majority of the instruction, because part-time faculty members and teaching/research assistants typically do not teach as many classes as full-time faculty members. Part-time faculty members generally do not have campus committee assignments or participate in student activities.[9] |  ”

|
|

—Southern Regional Education Board[43]

In Alaska, the percentage of all part-time faculty, including graduate assistants, increased from 4.5 percent to 49 percent between the 1993-1994 and 2013-2014 school years. Below is a table that provides figures on full-time and part-time faculty employment in Alaska as compared to surrounding states.[44]

Employment status of instructional faculty at public four-year institutions

State  |  1993-1994  |  2013-2014
Full time faculty  |  Part time faculty  |  Graduate assistants  |  Part-time total as a percent of all faculty*  |  Full time faculty  |  Part time faculty  |  Graduate assistants  |  Part-time total as a percent of all faculty*
Alaska |  976  |  46  |  0  |  4.5%  |  1,934  |  1,381  |  476  |  49.0%
California |  25,432  |  10,253  |  16,318  |  51.1%  |  31,330  |  17,155  |  25,078  |  57.4%
Oregon |  3,520  |  1,172  |  3,025  |  54.4%  |  4,740  |  2,558  |  4,119  |  58.5%
Washington |  5,729  |  1,029  |  2,725  |  39.6%  |  9,512  |  3,472  |  5,615  |  48.9%
United States |  265,469 | 83,579 | 166,636 | 48.5% | 359,586 | 163,962 | 277,063 | 55.1%
*"Part-time total" includes teaching and research assistants, who also work part-time.
Source: Southern Regional Education Board, "Fact Book Tables"

### Salaries[edit]

According to the Southern Regional Education Board, although the salaries of full-time faculty at public four-year institutions are higher than the those of the average American worker, their growth has not kept pace with the average rate of salary increases across all professions. However, salary growth at private institutions has outpaced the national average rate. From the 2008-2009 to the 2013-2014 school years, the average salary for full-time instructional faculty at public four-year institutions nationwide rose from $76,009 to $79,293. In Alaska, the average salary increased from $68,867 to $77,178. The table below provides faculty salary information for the school years 2008-2009 and 2013-2014 for Alaska and surrounding states. Dollar figures have not been adjusted for inflation.[44]

Average salaries of full-time instructional faculty at public four-year institutions, 2013-2014

State  |  Average salary 2008-2009  |  Average salary 2013-2014  |  Percent change  |  Inflation-adjusted percent change
Alaska |  $68,867  |  $77,178  |  12.1%  |  2.5%
California |  $89,930  |  $96,374  |  7.2%  |  -1.3%
Oregon |  $67,108  |  $75,121  |  11.9%  |  0.5%
Washington |  $76,711  |  $81,171  |  5.8%  |  -2.5%
United States | $76,009 | $79,293 | 4.3% | -1.5%
Note: Dollar figures do not account for differences in the cost of living between states. Learn more here.
Source: Southern Regional Education Board, "Fact Book Tables"

### Demographics[edit]

Over the previous two decades, the proportions of female, black, and Hispanic faculty members at public colleges and universities nationwide increased to reach their highest levels ever in the 2013-2014 school year. In Alaska, 46.5 percent of full-time college faculty were female, 0.9 percent were black, and 3.2 percent were Hispanic. Female, black, and Hispanic representation in college faculty at that time was higher than in the 1993-1994 school year. However, it still fell below the proportions of both the general and college student populations who were female, black, and Hispanic. Click [show] on the green bar below the pie charts to view demographic information for full-time faculty at public four-year colleges and universities in Alaska from the 1993-1994 to the 2013-2014 school years. For this reason, the pie chart displays a different figure for 'Other' than the table.

|

Demographics of full-time faculty at public four-year colleges and universities

State  | Year  | Total full-time faculty  | Percent men  | Percent women  | Percent white  | Percent black  | Percent Hispanic  | Percent other*
Alaska | 1993-1994  |  976  |  67.4%  |  32.6%  |  90.6%  |  1.4%  |  0.7%  |  7.2%
2013-2014  |  1,934  |  53.5%  |  46.5%  |  86.3%  |  0.9%  |  3.2%  |  7.9%
California | 1993-1994  |  25,432  |  71.3%  |  28.7%  |  81.0%  |  3.1%  |  4.7%  |  11.3%
2013-2014  |  31,330  |  59.7%  |  40.3%  |  69.9%  |  3.0%  |  7.5%  |  19.1%
Oregon | 1993-1994  |  3,520  |  67.3%  |  32.7%  |  93.5%  |  0.6%  |  1.8%  |  4.0%
2013-2014  |  4,740  |  56.5%  |  43.5%  |  86.2%  |  1.1%  |  4.5%  |  7.5%
Washington | 1993-1994  |  5,729  |  72.2%  |  27.8%  |  89.9%  |  1.5%  |  1.9%  |  6.7%
2013-2014  |  9,512  |  55.5%  |  44.5%  |  77.4%  |  1.9%  |  4.6%  |  14.3%
United States |  1993-94  |  265,685 | 70.2% | 29.8% | 87.1% | 4.8% | 2.2% | 6.0%
2013-2014  |  359,586 | 57.7% | 42.3% | 77.9% | 5.4% | 4.3% | 11.8%
*Represents Asian/Pacific Islanders and American Indian/Alaskan Native
Source: Southern Regional Education Board, "Fact Book Tables"

## Recent news[edit]

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Alaska higher education. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

Higher education in Alaska - Google News

## See also[edit]

* Public education in Alaska
* Alaska state budget and finances
* Historical higher education information in Alaska

### Higher education in the 50 states[edit]

Click on a state below to read more about higher education in that state.

Choose your state...AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWashington, D.C.West VirginiaWisconsinWyoming

http://ballotpedia.org/Higher_education_in_STATE

## Footnotes[edit]

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 National Center for Education Statistics, "College Navigator - Alaska," accessed July 12, 2016
2. ↑ Note: This indicates the retention rate for all postsecondary students, both full-time and part-time.
3. ↑ Note: This indicates the percentage of students who graduated from a public four-year institution within six years.
4. ↑ American Association of State Colleges and Universities, "Top 10 Higher Education State Policy Issues for 2013," January 2013
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 American Council on Education, "An Overview of Higher Education in the United States: Diversity, Access, and the Role of the Marketplace," accessed December 16, 2014
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 U.S. News and World Report, "U.S. Higher Education Glossary," August 15, 2011 Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; name "USnews" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; name "USnews" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; name "USnews" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; name "USnews" defined multiple times with different content
7. ↑ University of Alaska System, "About UA," accessed July 15, 2016
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education, "About ACPE and ASLC," accessed December 29, 2014
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 State Higher Education Executive Officers Association, "State Higher Education Finance: FY 2014," accessed July 11, 2016
11. ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, "Table 306.60. Fall enrollment in degree-granting postsecondary institutions, by race/ethnicity of student and state or jurisdiction: 2013," accessed July 11, 2016
12. ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, "Table 304.30. Total fall enrollment in degree-granting postsecondary institutions, by attendance status, sex, and state or jurisdiction: 2012 and 2013," accessed July 11, 2016
13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Miller Center of Public Affairs, "Affirmative Action: Race or Class?" accessed February 10, 2015
14. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Affirmative Action | Overview," February 7, 2015
15. ↑ Higher Ed Jobs, "Facts and Myths of Affirmative Action," accessed March 25, 2015
16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 PBS, "Challenging Race Sensitive Admissions Policies," May 19, 2015
17. ↑ Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, "Affirmative Action," September 17, 2013
18. ↑ Sander, R. & Taylor S. (2012). Mismatch: How Affirmative Action Hurts Students It's Intended to Help, and Why Universities Won't Admit It. Basic Books.
19. ↑ The Huffington Post, "Obama Wants To Permanently Link Pell Grants To Inflation," February 11, 2016
20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 National Center for Education Statistics, "Table 330.20. Average undergraduate tuition and fees and room and board rates charged for full-time students in degree-granting postsecondary institutions, by control and level of institution and state or jurisdiction: 2012-13 and 2013-14," accessed July 12, 2016
21. ↑ The College Board, "Tuition and Fees and Room and Board over Time, 2005-06 to 2015-16," accessed July 12, 2016
22. ↑ The College Board, "Tuition and Fees by Sector and State over Time," accessed July 12, 2016
23. ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, "Fast Facts - Financial aid," accessed December 18, 2014
24. ↑ Federal Student Aid: An Office of the U.S. Department of Education, "Grants and Scholarships," accessed December 18, 2014
25. ↑ Federal Student Aid: An Office of the U.S. Department of Education, "Loans," accessed December 18, 2014
26. ↑ Credible, "What are average student loan interest rates?" June 29, 2016
27. ↑ Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, "Charge-Off and Delinquency Rates on Loans and Leases at Commercial Banks," May 18, 2016
28. ↑ Federal Student Aid, "Three-year Official Cohort Default Rates for Schools," September 30, 2015
29. ↑ National Association of State Student Grant and Aid Programs, "45th Annual Survey Report on State-Sponsored Student Financial Aid," accessed July 12, 2016 (Click on "45th Annual Survey" and "NASSGAP Survey Report 13-14" to access this report.)
30. ↑ The College Board, "Trends in Student Aid," accessed June 30, 2016 (Click on the dropdown menu under "Trends in Student Aid Report Archive" and select 2014 to access this report)
31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 CollegeInSight, "Explore All Data," accessed July 12, 2016
32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 CollegeInSight, "Student Debt of Graduating Seniors," accessed July 12, 2016
33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 NCHEMS Information Center for Higher Education Policymaking and Analysis, "Retention Rates - First-Time College Freshmen Returning Their Second Year," accessed December 15, 2014
34. ↑ CollegeInSight, "Explore All Data," accessed July 12, 2016
35. ↑ The Chronicle of Higher Education, "College Completion: Who graduates from college, who doesn't, and why it matters," accessed December 15, 2014
36. ↑ The Chronicle of Higher Education, "Graduation rates by state," accessed July 12, 2016
37. ↑ College Affordability Guide, "2016 Most Affordable Colleges in Alaska," accessed August 17, 2016
38. ↑ Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, "States Are Still Funding Higher Education Below Pre-Recession Levels," May 1, 2014
39. ↑ Business Insider, "Public Vs. Private College: Which Is Better For Your Wallet?" May 22, 2013
40. ↑ Texas Coalition for Excellence in Higher Education, "Top 10 Higher Education State Policy Issues for 2013," January 9, 2013
41. ↑ The Chronicle of Higher Education, "State Higher-Education Spending Is Up, but Not Above Pre-Recession Level," April 27, 2016
42. ↑ Grapevine, "Table 1: State Fiscal Support for Higher Education, by State, Fiscal Years 2009-10, 2012-13, 2013-14, and 2014-15," accessed July 12, 2016
43. ↑ 43.0 43.1 43.2 Southern Regional Education Board, "Fact Book on Higher Education, 2013," accessed January 14, 2015
44. ↑ 44.0 44.1 44.2 44.3 Southern Regional Education Board, "Fact Book Tables," accessed July 12, 2016
45. ↑ Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, "Occupational Outlook Handbook, Postsecondary Teachers," accessed January 15, 2015

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