Alaska Pacific University vs University of Alaska Anchorage
Side-by-side college ROI comparison from College Scorecard data
Verdict
Alaska Pacific University has a 100.0% graduation rate compared to University of Alaska Anchorage at 100.0%. Average median debt: Alaska Pacific University at $30,818 vs University of Alaska Anchorage at $26,216. Average first-year post-graduation earnings: $53,800 vs $59,100.
| Metric | Alaska Pacific University | University of Alaska Anchorage |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation Rate | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| School Type | Private | Public |
| State | Ak | Ak |
| Avg Median Debt Average median debt across all tracked majors | $30,818 | $26,216* |
| Avg 1yr Earnings Average first-year earnings across all tracked majors | $53,800 | $59,100* |
| Majors Tracked | 10 | 20 |
| Best ROI Major | Business Administration, Management and Operations (76/100) | Computer Science (95/100)* |
| Best Major Debt | $29,776 | $22,396* |
| Best Major 1yr Earnings | $65,000 | $95,000* |
Alaska Pacific University has a 100.0% graduation rate compared to University of Alaska Anchorage at 100.0%. Average median debt: Alaska Pacific University at $30,818 vs University of Alaska Anchorage at $26,216. Average first-year post-graduation earnings: $53,800 vs $59,100.
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Alaska Pacific University and University of Alaska Anchorage graduate students at similar rates — 100.0% and 100.0% respectively. With completion rates comparable, the comparison reduces to cost, earnings, and program mix; the institutional-effect-on-completion question essentially nets out.
The schools sit within a moderate debt range of each other: $26,216 versus $30,818. Read those alongside the earnings figures — debt by itself is misleading, what matters is the debt-to-first-year-earnings ratio, which captures the real burden of repayment relative to the income the degree produces.
Median first-year earnings are roughly comparable between the schools — $53,800 and $59,100. With earnings close, the financial comparison turns mostly on the cost side: total debt at graduation is the lever, since the earnings denominator essentially nets out.
Both schools sit in Ak, which simplifies the in-state-vs-out-of-state tuition question and aligns the regional labor markets students will enter post-graduation. Cross-school comparisons within the same state should weight program mix and employer-pipeline depth heavily — the cost-of-living and labor-market backdrop is effectively held constant, so program-level differences are the differentiator.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, 2026.