Top Four Schools in Alaska
University of Alaska Anchorage
Founded in 1954 as Anchorage Community College, the University of Alaska Anchorage is the largest institution in the University of Alaska System. The college has 15,322 undergraduate students who study on either its main campus or the four available community campuses. One of the fastest growing academic divisions is aviation technology, which is quickly becoming nationally recognized. The University of Alaska Anchorage campus is located in the southern part of the state and is usually accessible when other parts of this rugged state are not.
University of Alaska Fairbanks
The University of Alaska Fairbanks is the flagship institution for the University of Alaska System. It was founded in 1917 as the Alaska Agricultural College and School of Mines and has grown to enroll 7,273 undergraduate students. The University of Alaska Fairbanks campus lies just 200 miles south of Arctic Circle, making it the ideal location for Arctic and northern research. As the university was originally founded as the Alaska Agricultural Experiment Station, the institution continues to have a strong research emphasis.
University of Alaska Southeast
The University of Alaska Southeast is located in Juneau, which is found in the southeastern corner of the state and is also the capital. Founded in 1972, The University of Alaska Southeast currently has 2,752 undergraduate students on this campus. Many students who live in remote areas take classes using the university's distance learning division or by attending one of its two community campuses. Many of the university's academic programs take advantage of the surrounding wildlife and nature, and the nearby sea provides the perfect opportunity for research by undergraduate students.
Alaska Pacific University
Founded in 1957 as a private, Methodist institution, Alaska Pacific University is one of six colleges within the Eco League, a consortium of six small colleges dedicated to the study of the environment and similar topics. There are 516 students enrolled on the campus in Anchorage, and students can choose from 12 undergraduate majors. The campus is known for providing a rich atmosphere for individual learning rather than requiring students to stick to a rigid schedule of courses.
