Alaska Pacific University

Alaska Pacific University: Academics, Admissions & Tuition Info

Learn about Alaska Pacific University. Read about its admission info, financial aid and degree and certificate programs to make an informed education decision.

About Alaska Pacific University

Located near the center of Anchorage, Alaska, this 4-year, private, liberal arts school has been educating students at a variety of degree levels since 1960. The university is accredited by the Northwest Commission of Colleges and Universities and is a founding member of Eco-League, a nationwide exchange program for institutions of higher learning that have strong marine biology, environmental science and outdoor studies programs.

Alaska Pacific University places strong emphasis on both Alaska Native education and its Judeo-Christian heritage.

Academics

Offering awards at five different levels that range from a less-than-one-year certificate to doctoral degrees, Alaska Pacific University has 36 programs in 11 different departments. The most popular programs include business administration and management at the associate's degree level, teacher education for certificate and undergraduate level students and counseling psychology for graduate studies.

The college also offers unique nature opportunities through its outdoor studies courses, with the campus and location akin to a study-abroad experience for out-of-state students. In addition, there is an early honors program for high school seniors to earn college credit as full-time Alaska Pacific University students while completing their final year of high school.

With a full instructional teaching staff made up of 50 full-time and 56 part-time faculty members, the school keeps its student-faculty ratio at seven to one and maintains small class sizes.

Admissions

Alaska Pacific University's admissions are rolling, though ACT and SAT test scores must be submitted by August 15 of each year. Notification of general admission is sent to applicants within a week of completing admission requirements, including Alaska Pacific University's application, high school transcripts, a personal essay, letters of recommendation and either an ACT or SAT test score. The college does accept AP and CLEP scores for college credit.

Considered selective, Alaska Pacific University has a 33 percent admission rate and 43 percent of admitted students choose to enroll at the college. The undergraduate population is made up of 59 percent full-time students who are 67 percent female. In-state students make up 45 percent of the population, with 57 percent white, 16 percent either American Indian or Alaska Native and four percent African American.

In graduate programs, 61 percent of students are part-time. Prospective graduate students must submit a centralized application for admission; however, each graduate degree program has additional specific admission requirements.

Tuition & Financial Aid

The estimated total cost of an academic year for an undergraduate student living on campus is $40,460. Tuition for undergraduates is $27,110 and for graduates it is $11,340 plus a $110 fee; there is no difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition. A tuition payment plan is available to students as an alternative to paying tuition in full at the beginning of each term.

Expected room and board for a student living on campus is $9,300 per academic year, and is lower than the estimated $13,600 expense of room and board off campus. Books and supplies are projected to cost students about $1,000 per year.

Merit scholarships are available to students based on academic prowess, and the college maintains a limited number of graduate assistants.

ALASKA PACIFIC UNIVERSITY QUICK FACTS
School Type	4-year, private, not-for-profit*
Degrees Offered	Less than two years certificate Associate's degree Bachelor's degree Master's degree Doctoral degree*
Religious Affiliation	United Methodist*
Academic Calendar	Semester***
School Setting	City, large*
Student Body	In 2011: 482 undergraduate students and 210 graduate students*
Student Housing	Four on-campus housing facilities**
ACADEMICS
Programs	36 programs in 11 departments*
Student-Faculty Ratio	7:1*
Most Popular Fields of Study by Degree Level (Number of Recipients)	In 2010-2011: Associate's: business administration and management (4) Bachelor's: teacher education (13) Master's: counseling psychology (19) Certificate: teacher education (19)*
Undergraduate Graduation Rates	For students who enrolled in 2003: 30% in four years 48% in six years 48% in eight years*
ADMISSIONS
Admission Rate	33% in fall 2010*
Entering Class Size	About 50 in fall 2010*
First-Year Retention Rates	In 2010-2011: 76% full-time and 50% part-time*
Average SAT and ACT Score of Admitted Students	Middle 50% of SAT critical reading and math is 960-1160; middle 50% of ACT composite is 21-27*
Application Due Date	Rolling admissions; ACT or SAT scores are due by August 15***
Decision Notification Date	Within a week of submitted completed application**
TUITION & FINANCIAL AID
Tuition (2011-2012)	Undergraduate: $27,110 Graduate: $11,340*
Financial Aid Sources Available (Percent of Students Receiving it)	In 2010-2011: federal grants (36%), state and local grants (2%), institutional grants and scholarships (98%), federal student loans (67%)*
Percent of Students Receiving Some Form of Aid	74%**

Sources: *National Center for Education Statistics, **Alaska Pacific University, ***U.S. News and World Report Rankings

School Contact Information

Address: 4101 University Drive, Anchorage, AK 99508
Phone: (907) 564-8248
Website: www.alaskapacific.edu