Best College ROI in Ak 2026
7 colleges in Ak analyzed for return on investment. University of Alaska Anchorage leads with a ROI Score of 95/100 (STRONG BUY).
Ak has 7 colleges tracked in the Department of Education's College Scorecard, split between 4 public institutions and 3 private ones. Across the 7 schools with enough data to score, graduates of the top-paying major at each school carry a median federal debt of $24K and earn $76K in their first year out — the gap that determines whether a degree pays back.
86% of Ak colleges earn an A or B on the ROI Score, with the rest landing at C or below. First-year earnings top out at University of Alaska Anchorage (median $95K on Computer Science). The lowest median debt comes from Alaska Bible College at $19K.
All numbers come from the latest College Scorecard release, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients only — graduates who paid cash or used private loans aren't in this dataset, so actual median debt at high-income schools may be lower than shown. The ROI Score weights debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), BLS job outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%).
Top 3 Best ROI Colleges in Ak
University of Alaska Anchorage
Public · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Tops Ak's ROI rankings on its Computer Science program. Graduates earn a median $95K in their first year against $22K in median debt.
University of Alaska Southeast
Public · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Second-best ROI in the state, driven by Mathematics. Five-year median earnings: $126K.
Charter College
Private · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Third on the ROI Score with Computer and Information Sciences. Graduation rate 10000%, debt $24K.
Top 7 Colleges by ROI in Ak
| # | School | Best Major | Median Debt | 1yr Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Alaska Anchorage(public) | Computer Science | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 2 | University of Alaska Southeast(public) | Mathematics | $22K | $78K | A (95) |
| 3 | Charter College(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $24K | $95K | A (94) |
| 4 | University of Alaska Fairbanks(public) | Mechanical Engineering | $23K | $92K | A (84) |
| 5 | Ilisagvik College(public) | Business Administration, Management and Operations | $24K | $65K | B (79) |
| 6 | Alaska Pacific University(private) | Business Administration, Management and Operations | $30K | $65K | B (76) |
| 7 | Alaska Bible College(private) | Bible/Biblical Studies | $19K | $40K | C (62) |
College debt and earnings data for Ak is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients.
Frequently Asked Questions
University of Alaska Anchorage has the best ROI in Ak with a score of 95/100 (STRONG BUY). The top major is Computer Science, with $95K in first-year median earnings against $22K in median debt.
Across 7 Ak colleges with ROI data, graduates carry a median debt of about $24K on the best-paying major at each school. First-year median earnings on those same programs average $76K.
University of Alaska Anchorage graduates earn the most one year out, with median first-year pay of $95K on its top major (Computer Science). After five years, those graduates earn a median of $147K.
Ak has 7 colleges in our database (4 public, 3 private). Of the 7 with reportable ROI, 86% earn an A or B grade.
The ROI Score (0-100) weighs debt-to-income ratio (35%), earnings premium over a high school graduate (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%). Scores are graded A-F with verdicts from "Strong Buy" to "Avoid." Data comes from the College Scorecard and BLS occupational projections.
ROI Score: debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), debt vs. national average (10%).