Alaska's largest public university offering 150+ programs from certificates to doctorates across Anchorage and four regional campuses.
UAA offers over 150 certificate and degree programs ranging from short-term workforce credentials to master's degrees and select PhD programs through cooperating universities. The university is organized into five instructional units at the main Anchorage campus: College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business and Public Policy, College of Engineering, College of Health, and Community and Technical College, plus a School of Education. Notable strengths include Alaska Native Studies (required for all undergraduates), aviation technology (air traffic control, professional piloting, aviation administration), nursing, and engineering. UAA is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities and participates in the WWAMI medical school partnership.
The main campus spans 1,702 acres in the University-Medical District, adjacent to the Alaska Native Medical Center and Providence Alaska Medical Center. UAA operates four community campuses: Kenai Peninsula College, Kodiak College, Matanuska–Susitna College, and Prince William Sound College. On-campus housing includes approximately 950 beds across five residential areas (East Hall, North Hall, West Hall, Main Apartment Complex, and Templewood Townhomes). The university hosts 13 NCAA sports teams (the Seawolves) competing in Division I (gymnastics, ice hockey) and Division II (basketball, volleyball, cross country, track and field, skiing). The Alaska Airlines Center (5,000 seats, opened 2014) serves as the primary athletic and events venue.
UAA is an open-access public institution with an acceptance rate of 75–80% (2010–2014). The student-faculty ratio is 12:1, with 53.1% of classes enrolling fewer than 20 students. The average freshman retention rate is 71.3%. Most popular majors include Business, Management, Marketing; Health Professions; Engineering; Psychology; and Social Sciences. The university serves a large commuter population and has the largest population of student veterans in Alaska. As of 2020, 201 international students were enrolled.
UAA is a hub for applied and theoretical research in health, engineering, and physical and social sciences. The university sponsors numerous research centers and institutes including the Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER), Institute for Circumpolar Health Studies (ICHS), Environment and Natural Resources Institute (ENRI), and the Alaska Center for Rural Health. UAA students have received nationally competitive scholarships including Fulbright (12 as of 2016), Marshall, Rhodes, Truman, and German Academic Exchange Service awards. The university emphasizes undergraduate and graduate research opportunities with faculty mentors.